Let's Talk Gingham

We found these great articles from Fairy-Crafts blog  and NY Star Cards depicting the difference between gingham, plaid and tartan.

People have asked what is the difference between "gingham" and "plaid." Gingham originally came from a Malaysian/French word meaning "stripes." Later, it came to mean a cloth made of cotton that has been dyed before weaving instead of being printed with color patterns afterward or dyed after it's taken off the loom whether or not it has stripes

Gingham is two colors of stripes, usually the same width. One color is usually white. Think of picnic tablecloths.

"Plaid" is derived from a Gaelic word meaning "sheep skin," which is logical, as the early fabrics in the region where the plaid was first found (Scottish Highlands) were wool.

Source: prettycommaplease.blogspot.com via Joani on Pinterest

"Tartan" is usually more than two colors on a solid background. The widths of the stripes change, each forming a distinctive design. It is these patterns that have been adopted by individual Highland families as their own - and now, even different countries and states in the U.S.A. have their own tartans. 

Source: shoppingthetrend.com via Marleah on Pinterest

 In this era, "plaid" is the name applied to the tartan patterns, so gingham is actually a woven plaid - a very simple form.
 
With Love From the East Coast,
XO