Toile de jouy fabric. The wide world of fabrics can be difficult to navigate. To help you separate your chenille from your jacquard, we offer this primer on some common fabrics.
Chenille
From the French word for "caterpillar." A plush, fuzzy yarn used to create upholstery fabric, which is also known as chenille.
Chintz
Originally, any printed cotton fabric. Now refers to fabric with a glazed or "polished" surface.
Brocade
Originally heavy silk with an elaborate pattern in silver or gold threads. Has an embossed appearance.
Doupioni
A flat finish with very subtle linen-look slubbing. It dyes beautifully, and, as a result, acquires a supple hand.
Brocade cushion.Jacquard
Damasks, tapestries, brocades, matelasse and all upholstery fabrics with elaborate figures woven on a Jacquard loom.
Damask
Named for the ancient city of Damascus, where elaborate floral designs were woven in silk. Flatter than brocade and reversible, though the pattern changes color on the reverse side.
Matelassé
French, meaning "to cushion or pad." Refers to fabric with a quilted surface produced on a loom.
Toile de Jouy
A fabric of cotton or linen printed in a single color with scenes of landscapes and people, especially from 18th-century French prints.
-- Homes & Gardens staff
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