What is the Difference Between Flannel and Plaid

The main difference between flannel and plaid is that flannel is a type of fabric, while plaid is a type of pattern or design.

Most people confuse flannel with plaid because most flannel materials, especially flannel shirts, come with a plaid design. Therefore, most assume that these are the same, but this is not so. Flannel is a soft woven fabric, while plaid is a chequered pattern.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Flannel 
     – Definition, Features 
2. What is Plaid
     – Definition, Features
3. Relationship Between Flannel and Plaid
     – Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Flannel and Plaid
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Fabrics, Flannel, Plaid

What is Flannel

Flannel is a soft woven fabric, usually made of wool or cotton and slightly milled and raised. It’s a warm and comfortable fabric. Due to these properties, most of us use it for winter apparel. This fabric can be brushed to create extra softness or remain unbrushed.

Flannel is commonly used for bed sheets, blankets, sleepwear, and tartan clothing. As mentioned above, plaid patterns are the most common designs in flannel. However, flannel fabrics are also available in a wide range of solid colours as well as patterns.

Figure 1: A Flannel Fabric with a Plaid Design

There are several types of flannel as baby flannel, Ceylon flannel, cotton flannel, and diaper flannel. Baby flannel is used for children’s wear while diaper flannel is used for making cloth diapers. Ceylon flannel is a blend of wool and cotton, whereas cotton flannel is a cotton fabric napped on one side or two sides.

What is Plaid

Plaid is actually a pattern or design that you see on fabric. It’s a classic fabric staple. In a plaid design, you will note stripes with different widths crossing each other and making squares. In other words, it’s a fabric with a crisscross pattern formed by vertical and horizontal bands of colours. These stripes or bands are of different colours. You can observe this design on anything and everything, from bed linen to pyjamas and shirts to wrapping paper.

Figure 2: Fabrics with Plaid Designs

Most importantly, we can notice this pattern in many fabrics like flannel, seersucker, and gingham. However, flannel is the most common fabric using plaid designs. Plaid has its origins in Scotland, with tartans and kilts. This is why we sometimes use the words plaid and tartan interchangeably. In such a case, plaid refers to a chequered pattern on a twilled cloth, typically made of wool.

Relationship Between Flannel and Plaid

• Many flannel fabrics come with a plaid pattern. This is why most people confuse flannel and plaid. It’s important to remember that these are not the same.

Difference Between Flannel and Plaid

Definition

Flannel is a soft woven fabric, usually made of wool or cotton and slightly milled and raised while plaid is a pattern of squares and lines on fabric.

Nature

While flannel is a type of fabric, plaid is a type of pattern or design.

Pattern vs Fabric

Flannel may come in solid colours and various patterns while plaid pattern may be available on different types of fabrics like gingham and seersucker.

Conclusion

Flannel is a soft woven fabric, while plaid is a pattern of squares and lines on fabric. Therefore, the main difference between flannel and plaid is that flannel is a type of fabric, while plaid is a type of pattern or design.

Reference:

1. “What Is Plaid ? {Plaid Vs Check Vs Tartan}.” Sew Guide, 25 Sept. 2020, Available here.
2. “Flannel.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Jan. 2021, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Flannel fabric red” By Lisa Zins – (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Plaid Fabric Photo” (CC0) via Stocksnap.io

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