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Boutis

Le boutis est un tissu matelassé d'origine Provençale dont le nom provient du mouvement de l'aiguille utilisée pour sa fabrication. En vieux français, bouter - en italien on retrouve le terme buttarer, lancer - correspond au lancer de l'aiguille qui entraîne des mèches de coton remplissant l'espace entre les piqûres de deux épaisseurs de tissu. La technique du boutis est à la croisée de la broderie et du piqué. Le boutis présente des motifs au fort relief, une étoffe unie en taffetas de soie ou de coton sur l'endroit.

Bagdad

Bagdad is a fabric used mainly for voiles.  It is a very light and transparent material.

Baggins / Hessian

Like its name, which comes from the word “bag”, Baggins or Hessian is a heavy jute cloth used for packing sacks and today it is used in decoration for its authentic look.

Batch/bath

The bath used to modify textiles may be the dyeing or any liquid used to ennoble or finish a fabric.  The dye bath may include a treatment such as a softener. 

Batiste (or cambric)

Legend says that batiste (or cambric) was named after its inventor Jean-Baptiste Cambrai who invented it in the 13th century.  This fabric, originally made from linen, has been associated with Cambrai (Northern France) since the 15th century due to its success throughout Europe.  The Mulquiniers produced this fine, transparent, shiny cloth.  It was also known as “toilette”. Today it can also be made of mercerized cotton or synthetic materials.

Bayadere

Bayadere is a fabric with a succession of stripes of varying widths and colours using different weaves.  The alternating width and bright, contrasting bands differentiates it from other striped fabrics.  The name comes from the “bailadeira”, sacred Indian dancers, also called Devadasi with bright costumes who performed in Europe in 1838.  These “bayadère dancers” therefore inspired the fabric which bears their name. 

Boutis (Provençal quilting)

Boutis is a quilted fabric from Provence, the name is derived from the movement of the needle used in its making.  In Old French, “bouter”, in Italian “buttarer” means to throw, the needle is thrown catching cotton fibres to fill the space between two stitches and layers of fabric.  The boutis technique is a mix of embroidery and stitching.  Boutis has prominent patterns, with plain silk or cotton taffeta on the right side. 

Basketweave or Panama weave

Basketweave or Panama weave is a textile with at least two warp and weft yarns woven together in a plain weave.  The weave is square or checked in appearance.  Basketweave groups together two or more yarns but its strength lessens as the number rises.  The fibres and yarns used must be regular and can be very diverse.  Unfinished textiles such as palm fibres or hemp for mats and decorative weaves or cotton or wool can be used.

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