Where does Argyle come from?

Argyle comes from Argyll, the United Kingdom, first documented in the 1600s.

Plate No. 041pattern

First documented: 1600s
Origin: Argyll, Scotland, United Kingdom
Fiber: wool, cotton
Weave: knitted intarsia or printed
Family: dots

Plate No. 041 · pattern

Argyle

Argyle is a pattern of solid diamonds in two or more alternating colors, crossed by thin diagonal raker lines that pass through the diamond centers. It descends from the tartan hose of the Scottish Highlands, where cutting tartan cloth on the bias for stockings turned the checks into diamonds. Knitted in intarsia, it became golf and country-club knitwear in the early twentieth century, fixed in place by Pringle of Scotland and the Duke of Windsor.

Illustration: a Scottish golf links in the 1920s, golfers at a distance in patterned sweaters and plus fours, dunes, a distant flag, big sky — A Scottish golf links in the 1920s, golfers at a distance in patterned sweaters and plus fours, dunes, a distant flag, big sky.

Named for

Named for Argyll in western Scotland, from the tartan of Clan Campbell of Argyll, whose sett the diamonds echo.

In the record

1920sPringle of Scotland built its knitwear identity on the argyle, worn for golf by the Duke of Windsor.

Common questions

What is Argyle made of?: Argyle is a pattern of solid diamonds in two or more alternating colors, crossed by thin diagonal raker lines that pass through the diamond centers. It is traditionally made of wool or cotton.
Where does Argyle come from?: Argyle comes from Argyll, the United Kingdom, first documented in the 1600s.
What is Argyle named after?: Named for Argyll in western Scotland, from the tartan of Clan Campbell of Argyll, whose sett the diamonds echo.