HOUNDSTOOTH PATTERN

 

Denotes a family of patterns, of which, it, itself belongs to the larger twill family. Contemporary history traces it back to a woven tweed from the Scotish lowlands, but there is evidence that its history goes as far back as 100 BC. Houndstooth, also known as ‘Shepherd’s check’ is a traditional duotone pattern that gets its name because particular importance on precise color placement within the weave structure creates a dramatic broken check or abstract four-pointed shape that resembles a dog’s tooth. Made with alternating bands of four dark and four light threads in both warp and weft / filling woven in a simple 2:2 twill, two over/two under the warp - advancing one thread each pass. The way the dark and light yarns interact with the twill creates the ‘tooth’. This figure created by the weave is called a tessellation (tiling) and is then repeated out, with no overlaps, to form a larger collection of patterns Sometimes known by the French name “Pied de poule”, which means “foot of hen”. A more decorative weave than others, whose weaves are based on function. A handsome and masculine pattern that is often taken as a symbol of high-quality fashion.