Knits, Weaves, & Patterns - Oh My!

Hats come in all shapes, sizes, and materials with a plethora of textures and eye-catching designs including knits, weaves, and patterned fabrics.

We've compiled a list of the most popularly used finishes across the hat (and fashion) world so you can test your knowledge - or learn all about - the many knits, weaves, and patterns that go into making your favorite hat styles.

	STYLE	DESCRIPTION	EXAMPLE
Knits	Basketweave	A textured, interlocking checkerboard knit resembling that of a woven basket.
	Cable Knit	A textured and layered knit pattern characterized by 2 or more interlaced/braided “cables."
	Rib Knit	A knit characterized by textured vertical "ribs" created by alternating knit (back-to-front loop) and purl (front-to-back loop) stitches.
Weaves	Brisa Weave (Panama Hats)	A Panama (Toquilla Palm Straw) hat weave with a regular diamond pattern. Considered finer & lighter weight than Cuenca weave.
	Cuenca Weave (Panama Hats)	A Panama (Toquilla Palm Straw) hat weave with a regular herringbone pattern. Typically heavier & bulkier than Brisa weave.
	Ripstop	A special grid-like textile weave featuring stronger threads at regular intersecting intervals; designed to prevent the spread of tears and rips.
	Twill	A foundational textile weave with a distinctive diagonal ribbed pattern, aka "wale," created by offsetting the weft (horizontal) threads over and under the warp (vertical) threads.
Patterns	Camouflage	Pattern of assorted colors and irregular patterns (i.e., “disruptive coloration”) intended to obscure the wearer’s outline so they may "blend into" their surroundings. Traditional color combos: Jungle (Green/Brown/Black), Desert (Tan/Brown)
	Chevron	Pattern of repeated and symmetrical zigzags (v-shaped or arrow-like).
	Classic Check	Grid-like pattern of alternate-colored squares. As in a classic checkerboard. Traditional color combos: Black & White, Red & Black. See Iconic Patterned Fabrics section below for popular Check styles.
	Classic Plaid	A layered and multicolored checkered design characterized by intersecting stripes or bands of colors of varying widths. See Iconic Patterned Fabrics section below for popular Plaid styles.
	Herringbone	Pattern created by parallel rectangles or lines that interlock at 90° angles in a staggered fashion for a dynamic effect. Named for its resemblance to a fish's skeleton.
	Houndstooth	A two-tone "broken" check pattern resembling a series of interlocking jagged "tooth" shapes. Traditional color combos: Black & White.
	Marl/Heather	A soft, speckled, or mottled effect intended to produce a muted, multi-tonal color. Created by blending or weaving different colored yarns or fibers. Widely used in Tweed and Jersey fabrics. A.k.a. Melange.
	Paisley	Ornamental pattern of repeating teardrop or almond-like shapes with sharply curved points. Originating from the Near East buta (a.k.a. boteh) motif; introduced to Europe in the 1800s, later mass-produced in the Scottish town of Paisley.
	Pinstripe	A series of very narrow (i.e.,"pin-thin"), evenly spaced vertical stripes typically in a two-toned design. Traditional color combos: Black & White, Black & Grey, White & Black.
	Polka Dot	An array of solid, (usually) equally sized, and evenly spaced circular dots against a solid background. Classically presented in a two-tone design, but may employ multiple colors. Traditional color combos: Black & White, White & Black, Navy & White.
	Stripe	A series of parallel lines or bands against a contrasting background. Stripes may be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal, and may vary in width, scale, or color combinations. Traditional color combos: Black & White, Navy & White, Navy & Red.
	Windowpane	A grid-like pattern formed by thin, intersecting vertical and horizontal lines resulting in a series of large, rectangular or square shapes resembling actual windowpanes.
Iconic Patterned Fabrics	Buffalo	Warm wool fabric with a large, three-toned checked pattern created when bands of two contrasting colors intersect, resulting in a third, gradient-like "overlap" of both colors. Traditional color combos: Red & Black, White & Black.
	Gingham	Lightweight (usually cotton) fabric with a small, three-toned checked pattern created when bands of two contrasting colors intersect, resulting in a third, gradient-like "overlap" of both colors. Traditional color combos: White & Blue, White & Red.
	Madras	Lightweight fabric, traditionally hand-woven and cotton, with bright and colorful plaid patterns originating from the Madras region of India. Traditionally, vegetable dyes (known to bleed) were used, resulting in a characteristically "softer" look.
	Seersucker	Lightweight (usually cotton) fabric characterized by its puckered texture (achieved via slack-tension weaving) and two-toned striped pattern. Traditional color combos: White & Blue, White & Pink.
	Tartan	Woven wool fabric, historically Scottish, with a plaid-like pattern of intersecting multi-colored bands known as a sett. Unlike plaid, however, Tartan designs are vertically and horizontally symmetrical AND traditionally specific to a clan or family.
	Tweed	Coarse woven wool fabric traditionally available in various weaves/patterns: Twill, Herringbone, Houndstooth, and Marl. Pictured: Classic Marl Tweed in Brown.