Ways to group (classify) patterns according to their
traits, such as:
- symmetry (for
example, seventeen planar symmetry types)
- layout type (diamond, drop, gradation,
grid, spot, etc.)
-
layout arrangement (allover, foulard, etc.)
- pattern
directions (one-way, two-way, undirectional, etc.)
- motif or subject
matter (florals, geometrics, paisleys, conversationals, abstract, plaid, stripe, etc.; florals can be further
subdivided into roses, palmette (botanical or stylized), etc.; conversationals can be
subdivided into pictorials, figuratives, etc.; geometrics into line
patterns, argyle, etc.)
- purpose or application (textile, apparel, home furnishing, camouflage, etc.)
- production technique used or imitated (watercolor, airbrush, hound's tooth weaving, herringbone, chevron, satin, picotage, eccentrics, batik, etc.)
- repeating on
the infinite plane or designed to fit a specific shape (engineered)
- scale (small-scale for
contract design or
large-scale for home
furnishing)
- target garment or accessory (rugs,
bandanna, neckwear, etc.)
- coloring (madders,
khaki, etc.)
- historic period, art movement, or place of
origin (Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Liberty style, Pop Art, toile de Jouy, herati, tartan, Islamic, ethnic (Indian, African tribal,
Maya, etc.), contemporary, etc.)
These classifications are not mutually exclusive
and patterns are frequently described as belonging to more than one
class; for example, an abstract undirectional allover madder camouflage pattern, which
has the simple shift symmetry and the half-drop layout.
