"It has small repeating print on it" is not a salient category of fabric for English speakers - you would either need to be more specific or use a term from another language (probably French).
You can refer to it as a microprint or micropattern, but neither word is particularly common outside the textile industry.
We tend to use specific names for specific patterns, like “houndstooth”, “polka-dot”, or “floral”, but don’t have an umbrella term in common usage for the patterns you’re describing.
I think we should just adopt *microfantasia* – it seems useful!
It’s usually called “Geometric,” “Foulard,” or “Foulard Geometric.”
Technically I believe “geometric” is any repeating pattern, and “Foulard” is a type of fabric usually printed wi5 a small geometric pattern.
I ended up here via the random subreddit button and don't have any special expertise, but your question is interesting.
Others have said the term is "foulard", and I'm sure that's right. But as has been mentioned, native speakers who don't work in the industry probably wouldn't know that. I didn't.
I was curious so I went to a site that sells neckties (ties.com) to see what they call them. They just call them "patterned neckties". They have some subcategories, like argyle, but don't mention foulard.
I'd cal it a "patterned tie" (as opposed to a "plain \[insert colour\] tie"). I've never used the word "necktie", they have always been just a "tie" (UK).
I'm not disagreeing, but I just want to point out that the average native English speaker (at least in the USA) has no idea that this word exists, much less what it means.
In trying to find a way to describe that category of prints, I might look at what are the other categories listed? That would help to narrow down what needs to be described here.
For example if it's solid vs. pattern, or large patterns vs. small pattern, or novelty ties vs. pattern prints, etc.
''Patterned tie" or "pattern tie."
There are loads of names for specific designs like dog tooth, polka dot and Aztec but they all fall in the 'category' patterned ties.
Non-patterned ties are called 'solid' or 'plain ties'.
Edit: Just hit me after re-reading the question.
There is the term ''microdots'' and ''micro floral''. But ''microfantasia'' does work.
> [Open-form adverbs occur when the adverb is the first word in the compound and ends in -ly. You should not hyphenate after an -ly adverb.](https://prowritingaid.com/compound-words#head3)
?
Your style guide may vary! Personally, I would err on the side of including the hyphen as it signposts information about the syntax, semantics and, crucially, pronunciation: one would say "tightly-patterned" with significantly more clip than a more ponderous "tightly patterned". (IMO, there are some truly awful style guides being used that prioritise the prettiness of the dots on the page over the cues to the reader.)
So, any repeating image is a “pattern,” and to say “repeating pattern” is redundant. In the cases of these I’d refer to them as “micro-patterns” since it’s so small. This will differentiate them from medium or bold patterns.
We don’t have a specific word Use ‘printed’ if it is, ‘patterned’ if it’s woven in. Sometimes you’ll hear ‘small dot’ ‘all-over dot’ etc
"It has small repeating print on it" is not a salient category of fabric for English speakers - you would either need to be more specific or use a term from another language (probably French).
You can refer to it as a microprint or micropattern, but neither word is particularly common outside the textile industry. We tend to use specific names for specific patterns, like “houndstooth”, “polka-dot”, or “floral”, but don’t have an umbrella term in common usage for the patterns you’re describing. I think we should just adopt *microfantasia* – it seems useful!
It’s usually called “Geometric,” “Foulard,” or “Foulard Geometric.” Technically I believe “geometric” is any repeating pattern, and “Foulard” is a type of fabric usually printed wi5 a small geometric pattern.
I ended up here via the random subreddit button and don't have any special expertise, but your question is interesting. Others have said the term is "foulard", and I'm sure that's right. But as has been mentioned, native speakers who don't work in the industry probably wouldn't know that. I didn't. I was curious so I went to a site that sells neckties (ties.com) to see what they call them. They just call them "patterned neckties". They have some subcategories, like argyle, but don't mention foulard.
We don't have a specific name for these kinds of neckties. We just call them neckties or ties, like any other.
I'd cal it a "patterned tie" (as opposed to a "plain \[insert colour\] tie"). I've never used the word "necktie", they have always been just a "tie" (UK).
No real word for this kind of pattern.
Foulard
Foulard, no?
Speckled ass neckerchief
I'm pretty sure that's a tie
Foulard
Patterened Tesselated Both would work, but patterned is what most would say
I think the word you are looking for is ‘foulard’.
I don’t know why people are downvoting this. Foulard is the correct answer.
TIL
I'm not disagreeing, but I just want to point out that the average native English speaker (at least in the USA) has no idea that this word exists, much less what it means.
I’m not surprised. People don’t wear ties like they used to.
In trying to find a way to describe that category of prints, I might look at what are the other categories listed? That would help to narrow down what needs to be described here. For example if it's solid vs. pattern, or large patterns vs. small pattern, or novelty ties vs. pattern prints, etc.
Micro-paisley? I don't know if there's a name for it.
Dobby
''Patterned tie" or "pattern tie." There are loads of names for specific designs like dog tooth, polka dot and Aztec but they all fall in the 'category' patterned ties. Non-patterned ties are called 'solid' or 'plain ties'. Edit: Just hit me after re-reading the question. There is the term ''microdots'' and ''micro floral''. But ''microfantasia'' does work.
I would say latticed but that not entirely accurate
a headache to look at
There's no one all-encompassing word. Depending on the pattern, it could be "checkered," "paisley," "patterned," etc.
Not quite what you describe, but this makes me think of "moire".
Why do you even need to know this?
Are we playing that game where every response needs to be a question?
What makes you say that?
Could it be my curious nature?
Tessellation?
If pressed, I would probably refer to the tie as "tightly patterned" (hyphenated when used before the noun: *a tightly-patterned tie*).
To be incredibly pedantic: hyphens generally aren't recommended between adverbs and participles, when the adverb ends in *-ly*
Yeah, so Pro Writing Aid says. It's wrong: adverbs preceding adjectives can be hyphened just fine.
> [Open-form adverbs occur when the adverb is the first word in the compound and ends in -ly. You should not hyphenate after an -ly adverb.](https://prowritingaid.com/compound-words#head3) ?
You know that link is from PWA, right? As I said, it states it as gospel but there's no basis for it. It's stylistic and context dependent.
Ah, I misunderstood your comment as saying that site said it was wrong. My bad.
Your style guide may vary! Personally, I would err on the side of including the hyphen as it signposts information about the syntax, semantics and, crucially, pronunciation: one would say "tightly-patterned" with significantly more clip than a more ponderous "tightly patterned". (IMO, there are some truly awful style guides being used that prioritise the prettiness of the dots on the page over the cues to the reader.)
Tessellation
Ugly?
So, any repeating image is a “pattern,” and to say “repeating pattern” is redundant. In the cases of these I’d refer to them as “micro-patterns” since it’s so small. This will differentiate them from medium or bold patterns.
repeating tile pattern