Inspired by Ticking Fabrics

Ticking (fabric) is a cotton or linen textile, tightly woven for durability, and used to cover mattresses and bed pillows. It commonly has a striped design, in muted colors such as brown, grey or blue, and occasionally red or yellow, against a plain, neutral background.

Although traditionally used for mattresses and pillows, the material has found other uses, such as serving as a backing for quilts, coverlets, and other bedding. Ticking is a tightly woven fabric, originally to prevent down feathers from poking through the fabric.  It is sometimes woven with a twill weave.

Ticking is no longer restricted to a utility fabric, and has found uses in interior decorating styles intending to evoke a homespun or industrial aesthetic. Modern uses for ticking include furniture upholstery, cushion covers, tablecloths, decorative basket liners, and curtains. Occasionally, lighter weight percale cloth is printed with a striped pattern made to resemble ticking fabric, and used to make garments.