Madras Checks

http://www.tablehunt.com/tablelinensprints.html

Madras Checks are another fabric that I had not heard of until I visited Drakes. These beautifully colourful fabrics pick up on smaller sections within my own woven samples, and it is interesting to see how I could perhaps choose an area from one of my samples and replicate it in a similar, geometric and colourful design to that of these Madras Checks.

As stated on the LA Times website (http://articles.latimes.com/2008/may/04/image/ig-essentials4) the Madras checks originate from Madras, in India (now called Chennai). The colours were dyed with vegetable dyes and the checked pattern drew upon Scottish tartan influences in the 1800's when Scottish regiments occupied the land.

The images remind me of my very first initial research for my project when I looked at indian textiles as initial fabric and colour inspirations:

http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/asia/