An argyle (, occasionally spelled argyll) pattern is made of
diamonds or
lozenges. The word is sometimes used to refer to an individual diamond in the design, but more commonly refers to the overall pattern. Most argyle contains layers of overlapping motifs, adding a sense of three-dimensionality, movement, and texture. Typically, there is an overlay of intercrossing diagonal lines on solid diamonds.
History
The argyle pattern derives from the
tartan of
Clan Campbell of
Argyll in western
Scotland, used for kilts and
plaid
Plaid () may refer to:
Fabric
* Full plaid, a cloth made with a tartan pattern, wrapped around the waist, cast over the shoulder and fastened at the front
* A synonym for tartan in North America
* A plaid shirt, typically of flannel and worn du ...
s, and from the patterned socks worn by Scottish Highlanders since at least the 17th century. These were generally known as "tartan hose".
20th century
Argyle knitwear became fashionable in Great Britain and then in the United States after the
First World War of 1914–1918.
Pringle of Scotland popularised the design, helped by its identification with the
Duke of Windsor. Pringle's website says that "the iconic Pringle argyle design was developed" in the 1920s. The Duke, like others, used this pattern for golf clothing: both for jerseys and for the long socks needed for the
plus-fours trouser fashion of the day.
Contemporary use
Payne Stewart (1957–1999), who won the U.S. Open in 1991 and 1999 and the PGA championship in 1989, was known for his flashy tams,
knickerbockers, and argyle socks.
Some sports teams use bright, contemporary interpretations of the argyle pattern. For example, the Norwegian men's curling team at the
2010 Winter Olympics
)''
, nations = 82
, athletes = 2,626
, events = 86 in 7 sports (15 disciplines)
, opening = February 12, 2010
, closing = February 28, 2010
, opened_by = Governor General Michaëlle Jean
, cauldron = Catriona Le May DoanNancy GreeneWayne Gretz ...
and the
Garmin-Slipstream professional cycling team, nicknamed the "Argyle Armada". On 27 April 2013 the professional soccer team
Sporting Kansas City
Sporting Kansas City, often shortened to Sporting KC, is an American men's professional Association football, soccer club based in the Kansas City metropolitan area. The administrative offices are located in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri, and t ...
of
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer (MLS) is a men's professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, which represents the sport's highest level in the United States. The league comprises 29 teams—26 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada ...
(MLS) in the
United States announced their third kit of the 2013 season, featuring an argyle pattern. The
University of North Carolina has used the argyle pattern for its basketball uniforms since 1991, and introduced it as alternate for all sports uniforms in 2015.
The
Belgian football team used such design in 1984, and has an updated version of it in 2018.
Knitting
As a
knitting
Knitting is a method by which yarn is manipulated to create a textile, or fabric. It is used to create many types of garments. Knitting may be done by hand or by machine.
Knitting creates stitches: loops of yarn in a row, either flat or i ...
pattern, argyle is generally accomplished using the
''intarsia'' technique. Argyle patterns are occasionally
woven.
Gallery
See also
*
Check (fabric)
*
Flannel
*
Harlequin print
Harlequin print is a repeating pattern of contrasting diamonds or elongated squares standing on end.
Origins
The harlequin is a character from Commedia dell'arte, a 16th-century Italian theater movement. Harlequins were witty, mischievous clo ...
*
Houndstooth
*
Madras (cloth)
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Argyle (Pattern)
Knitting ornaments
Scottish culture
Textile patterns
Scottish design
Scottish clothing