What is Gingham Fabric?
Gingham is a lightweight, plain-woven fabric that features a simple, symmetrical check pattern. Traditionally made from cotton or cotton blends, gingham's charm lies in its two-colour design, usually white combined with another bold hue such as red, blue, green, or black. The checks are evenly sized and spaced, giving gingham its neat, regular appearance. You can see its appeal in our Gingham Fabric range.
But is gingham a fabric or pattern? The answer is both! While "gingham" originally referred to the fabric, it's now just as commonly used to describe the iconic pattern itself.
What is Gingham Fabric Used For?
Gingham is incredibly versatile and has long been a favourite in both fashion and interiors. Due to its light weight, gingham is best suited for items that don’t require heavy-duty fabric. In the home, gingham fabric is often used for:
- Curtains and Roman blinds: Great for adding a country cottage charm for windows where you don’t want anything too heavy.
- Tablecloths and napkins: Typically used in diners and cafés, gingham tablecloth fabric brings a classic, retro vibe to dining.
- Cushions and light upholstery: Ideal for cushions and bean bags, especially in a children’s room.
What is Check Fabric?
Check fabric is a broad term that refers to any textile featuring intersecting horizontal and vertical lines that create a grid of squares. This can include everything from simple windowpane checks to bold tartan fabrics, plaids and, yes, even gingham
What is Check Fabric Used For?
Check fabrics can vary widely in terms of scale, colour, texture, and material. Because of this diversity, check fabrics are widely used across interiors, especially for:
- Check upholstery fabric: Available in a range of styles, from houndstooth checks and plaids to tartan fabrics, check upholstery fabric can be used to create a distinctive style in your home. Heavy duty woollen tartan fabrics, such as the Skye Wool Fabric by the prestigious Abraham Moon, are great for sofas, armchairs, and footstools, being inherently fire retardant and timeless in appeal.
- Check curtain fabric: Add bold patterns to frame a window or bring symmetry to a room using check curtain fabric. For extra sumptuousness and cosiness, choose a woollen tartan fabric such as the Balmoral Fabric which comes in nine colourways.
Gingham or Checks - Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between gingham and check fabric depends on the look and feel you're aiming for:
- Go for gingham: if you're after a soft, homely, or vintage aesthetic. It's ideal for lightweight curtains, cushions, and kitchen textiles.
- Opt for check fabrics: when you want to make a bolder statement or need something more durable for upholstery or structured curtains.
Whether you're decorating a cosy country kitchen or refreshing your living room, there's a check or gingham fabric perfect for your style. At Just Fabrics, we offer a wide selection of check and gingham fabrics, so you can find exactly what you need to bring your vision to life
