20+ Differences between Flannel And Plaid (Explained)

We all know how common the Plaid pattern is. It can be seen on some fabrics and several clothing items. But what is the Flannel pattern? Wait! Did you think it was a pattern? You would be surprised to know that Flannel is a fabric.

The flannel fabric uses the Plaid pattern, so most people do not know the difference between Flannel and Plaid. The major difference between Flannel and Plaid is that the former is a piece of fabric while the latter is a print.

Comparison Between Flannel And Plaid

Parameter	Flannel	Plaid
Emergence	It emerged after the emergence of Plaid print. The traces of its emergence take us back to the 17th century.	It emerged way before the emergence of Flannel fabric. It is estimated to have originated during the 8th century. However, its official emergence dates back to the 1700s.
Place of origin	Scotland is considered the place of its origin.	Wales Is considered its place of origin.
Kind	It is a kind of fabric that is very warm and thick.	It is a kind of pattern that makes use of a criss-cross pattern.
Comes in	It comes in a large variety of colors and patterns.	It comes in a large variety of colors and fabrics.
Types	The most popular kinds of Flannel fabric are Wool, Cotton, Synthetic, Ceylon, Baby, Diaper, Vegetable, and Flannelette.	The most popular kinds of Plaid patterns are Buffalo, Gingham, Tartan, Window Pane, Houndstooth, Glen, and Madras.

Major Differences Between Flannel And Plaid

What exactly is Flannel?

Flannel is thought to have originated during the 17th century. Most people think of it as a pattern, just like Plaid, but only a few people know it is a piece of fabric instead. Talking of its connection to the famous Plaid print, this very fabric is the major use of the Plaid pattern.

Thus, it is often confused with the pattern. The major use of Flannel comes during the colder weather as this fabric is very thick and warm.

Features of Flannel:

The traces of the emergence of Flannel lead us back to the 17th century in Scotland.

It is a very thick and warm fabric. Due to this reason, it is largely worn in medium to cold weather.

This fabric is the major user of the famous Plaid pattern.

It can be broadly classified into eight major types: Wool, Cotton, Synthetic, Ceylon, Baby, Diaper, Vegetable, and Flannelette.

Key Differences: Flannel

Flannel is a very thick fabric that is known for its Plaid pattern.

It is usually worn in winter due to its thick and warm fabric.

The traces of its invention take us back to the 17th century.

What exactly is Plaid?

The oldest traces of the Plaid pattern can be found as early as the 8th century B.C. However, the 1700s are considered the official emergence of this pattern. It is a very beautiful pattern that is made from numerous criss-cross lines.

A large variety of fabrics make use of this pattern. Therefore, it can be found in almost all kinds of clothing, whether it is skirts, sweaters, or shirts. Since it comes in various fabrics, thus it can be worn in almost every weather.

Features of Plaid:

The traces of the origin of Plaid can be traced back to the 8th century. But, its official emergence is considered to happen in the 1700s in Wales.

It is a widely used print that makes use of criss-cross lines.

This print is used in numerous fabrics and clothing items. Apart from clothing items, this print is also widely used in curtains and bedsheets.

The main types of this pattern are Buffalo, Gingham, Tartan, Window Pane, Houndstooth, Glen, and Madras.

Key Differences: Plaid

Plaid is a very beautiful pattern of criss-cross lines.

It is a pattern instead of fabric. Thus, it can be worn in almost all kinds of weather, depending on the type of fabric.

The earliest traces of it can be found as early as the 8th century B.C. However, the 1700s are considered more of an official year for its emergence.

The Contrast Between Flannel And Plaid

Origin of the word

Flannel – Flannel is a Middle English word that originated from the Welsh word “gland,” which means “something made from woolen.” The word Gwlanen originated from another Welsh word, “gwlân,” which means “wool.”

Plaid – The word Plaid originated from the Scottish Gaelic word “plaid,” which means “blanket.”

Emergence

Flannel – It emerged after the emergence of Plaid print. It is estimated to have originated during the 17th century.

Plaid – It emerged way before the emergence of Flannel. The earliest traces of this print can be found as early as the 8th century.

Emergence place

Flannel – It is believed that it originated in Scotland.

Plaid – It is believed that it originated in Wales.

Kind

Flannel – It is a type of fabric that is very thick and warm.

Plaid – It is a type of pattern that uses criss-cross lines.

Comes in

Flannel: It comes in a large variety of colors and patterns.

Plaid – This print can be found in almost every fabric, clothing, and textile.

Types

Flannel – Wool, Cotton, Synthetic, Ceylon, Baby, Diaper, and Vegetable are the various types of Flannel fabric.

Plaid – Buffalo, Gingham, Tartan, Window Pane, Houndstooth, Glen, and Madras are the various types of Plaid print.

Types of Flannel fabric:

Wool Flannel: This type of Flannel fabric is the most common type of fabric. As the name suggests, it is made from wool. Europe is known as its major producer.

Cotton Flannel: India is known as its major producer. Since wool is very thick and warm, this type of Flannel is largely made from cotton fabric.

Synthetic Flannel: This type of Flannel is made with the help of synthetic fabrics.

Ceylon Flannel: Ceylon was a place that, in today’s world, is known as Sri Lanka. This type of Flannel was largely produced there. Thus, it gets its name from there. It makes use of wool and cotton in an equal ratio.

Baby Flannel: This type of Flannel creates a raised surface on both sides to give it a smooth texture. Due to this reason, it is largely used to make blankets and quilts for babies. And apparently, it gets its name from there.

Diaper Flannel: Like Baby Flannels, certain fabrics are also made for diapers.

Vegetable Flannel: Cellulose is the major component of this type of Flannel. Due to this reason, they are called Vegetable Flannel.

Types of Plaid fabric:

Buffalo Plaid: This type of Plaid print has huge blocks made from the intersection of lines of two colors.

Gingham Plaid: This type of Plaid pattern resembles the Buffalo pattern. The only difference is that while Buffalo makes large blocks, Gingham makes small ones.

Tartan Plaid: This is the most common Plaid pattern originating from Scotland. It is very beautiful and makes use of numerous lines in numerous colors.

Houndstooth Plaid: This is a unique style of Plaid print that uses four-pointed shapes. Black and white are the widely used colors for this print.

Madras Plaid: This type of Plaid print is estimated to have emerged in the Indian subcontinent, precisely Madras. It makes use of different lines in numerous colors.

Conclusion

Plaid and Flannel are two terms that are known to create lots of confusion in people’s lives. However, both terms are used interchangeably due to their similarities. The major difference between Plaid and Flannel is that the former is a print while the latter is a fabric.

The major connection between Plaid and Flannel is that the Flannel fabric uses the Plaid pattern on a greater scale.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. When and where did Plaid and Flannel emerge?

Plaid is believed to have originated before the emergence of Flannel fabric. The former is estimated to have originated during the 8th century in Wales, while the latter is estimated to have originated during the 17th century in Scotland.

Q2. What are the various types of Plaid print?

Buffalo, Gingham, Tartan, Window Pane, Houndstooth, Glen, and Madras are the various types of Plaid print.

Q3. What are the various types of Flannel fabric?

Wool, Cotton, Synthetic, Ceylon, Baby, Diaper, Vegetable, and Flannelette are the various types of Flannel fabric.

Q4. What are the significant differences between Flannel and Plaid?

The significant differences between Flannel and Plaid are as follows:

1. The former is a piece of fabric, while the latter is a pattern.
2. The former emerged after the emergence of the latter.
3. Wales is considered the place of emergence of the former, whereas Scotland is considered the place of emergence of the latter.