P

Paillette: An ornamental disk with a hole at the edge, made to dangle from fabric and catch the light.

Panne Velvet: Lush velvet, often washed down for milky surface tones and drapability.

Patina: A naturally occurring color layer on metals, or any applied color meant to bring out detail and add age.

Peached: Monofilament weaves in which the surface is lightly brushed for a softer feeling. See sueded.

Pearl (Purl) Stitch Edge: An edge of small loops on the side of some kinds of ribbon; also, a narrow kind of thread edging to be sewed on lace or hems. An inversion of stitches in knitting, which gives to the work a ribbed or waved appearance.

Pearl Fiber: Fabrics that have been enhanced with nano grade freshwater pearl powder to increase softness and absorption.

Pebble Silk: Silk fabric with an irregular crepe finish.

Percale: Has many acceptable definitions - for our purposes, a sheeting weave made of combed cotton yarns.

Pile (fabric): Raised loops of fibers deliberately made to stand away from the surface of a fabric. May be trimmed on the surface for a fleecy finish.

Pilling: The formation of hard knots of lint on the surface of fabric. Not desirable.

Pillow, Boudoir: A 12" x 16" decorative pillow or pillow insert.

Pillow, Euro: Large square bed pillows, 26" X 26".

Pillow, King: Larger than standard bed pillow 20" X 36".

Pillow, Queen: Larger than standard bed pillow 20" X 30".

Pillow, Standard: Traditional American bed pillow, 20" x 26".

Pintuck: A straight, stitched down fold in a fabric.

Piqué: Woven or knit cloth with a uniformly dimpled surface.

Pleated: Fabric gathered in a uniform creased fold top to bottom.

Pocket Depth: The length in inches of the corner seams on fitted sheets. There is also a slight curve above the seam that allows for added depth, so a 15" pocket depth may accommodate up to a 17" mattress. With some materials, such as jersey or flannel, there is a natural stretch to the fabric that allows an even deeper mattress to work.

Pointelle: Fine knit fabric made with an ornamental pattern of openings formed in the weaving.

Polyester: "A synthetic fiber that mimics many of the properties of silk. It can be blended with other fibers to add durability."

Polyfill : Polyester fiber fill used in quilting or pillow stuffing.

Print: Any variety of knit or woven fabric in which the design comes from dyes applied to the surface rather than being incorporated in the yarns themselves.

Provencal: Having to do with Provence - rustic, charming European village feel.

Provence: A rural area in the south of France.