‘Hythe’ grey & purple wool houndstooth fabric

We’re in the realms of classic British tailoring with this grey and purple wool houndstooth fabric. It’s a lighter-to-medium-weight wool – perfect for winter suits and coats too. We’d say that the weight of this fabric means that a coat isn’t likely to be one to take you through the coldest of January days but with the right lining and a generous cut, it will hang and move beautifully. The lighter weight also means that trousers as well as skirts and jackets are options. The pliability of this fabric and the lack of bulk, means that top-stitched details and clever cutting are going to be easier than with a heavier melton or mouflon. There’s a wealth of depth of colour in these yarns, with fibres ranging from tungsten grey, through cherry and purple with muted highlights of cream and taupe.

What kind of fabric is this?

Our purple wool houndstooth fabric is a 100% wool cloth, produced in the UK. It’s woven in a classic houndstooth weave, incorporating regular and twill weave patterns to create the distinctive classic dogtooth pattern.

What does this fabric feel like?

This is a fabric with a classic slightly-textured wool tweed handle, with a little crispness. There’s a beautifully-smooth finish to this tweed despite the texture; trousers could be given a half-lining but we’d be equally tempted not to worry.

How does this fabric move?

Our grey and purple wool houndstooth fabric falls in softly-rounded folds. It moves with a bouncing spring and swings beautifully. You can see how it moves and drapes in this video.

NOTE: Our videos are intended to show the movement of a fabric. For accurate colour and pattern detail, please refer to our still images.

Will I need to line this fabric?

You’ll probably want to line this fabric in order to provide additional structure as well as to enable it to move across the body and over clothing layers as well as added warmth, given the likely uses of a fabric of this nature.

What can I make with this fabric?

We think this uplifting rust wool herringbone tweed fabric will prove to be a more versatile cloth than one might imagine. Jackets, winter skirts (longer A-line cuts or pencil skirts alike) or even a winter pinafore would all be options. Fitted and more formal coats would work well, as would more utilitarian designs such as pea coats. Wide-legged trousers are very much to the fore this season – and a sharply-pleated pair would channel your inner Annie Hall. If you’re in the market for a classic jacket however, the ‘Jasika’ Blazer pattern from Closet Case may be the one for you.

Sustainability

Wool is a natural fibre, which uses much less water and fewer chemicals to process than many other fabrics. It is long-lasting and can be repaired, all of which make it a more sustainable choice. This wool is manufactured in the UK which means it has made less environmental impact than a fabric imported from overseas.

Deadstock? ✅

Organic? ❎

OEKO-TEX standard? ❎

Fabric width

154m

Fabric composition

100% wool

Fabric preparation

Steam gently before cutting, holding a steam iron 1 inch away from the fabric and working down the length. Use a steam iron and a pressing cloth to press areas of the garment during construction where necessary.

Fabric care

We recommend spot- and dry-cleaning wool-rich garments, particularly if they’re lined. Find out more on our About our fabric pages