The origins of flannel fabric can be traced back to late seventeenth-century Wales, when Welsh textile workers began using leftover sheep's wool to create a fabric that was comfortable, warm, and moisture-wicking.

Although flannel and plaid often go together, flannel is a fabric; plaid is a pattern. Plaid can appear in any number of fabrics and colors, and flannel can come in a variety of patterns (although, unless you're looking at flannel sheets or pajamas, plaid is by far the most common pattern on flannel).

Plaid as we know it, however, emerged in Scotland in the 1700s. Geographically separated weavers produced different patterns based on which dyes and materials were available. The specific associations with families and clans came much later - and after that they grew to have political significance, too.

The fabric itself can be traced back to 17th century Wales. Textile workers in the late 1600s began using a surplus of sheep's wool, using a process called “carding” to disentangle and soften yarns. This allowed for a softer fabric that still retained the toughness of wool.

The word's origin is uncertain, but a Welsh origin has been suggested as fabric similar to flannel can be traced back to Wales, where it was well known as early as the 16th century.

The popularity of flannel in cold climates can be attributed to its warmth, comfort, and versatility. Flannel is a soft, warm fabric made from wool or cotton. It is thick enough to provide insulation but light enough to be comfortable even in the coldest of weather.

Flannel is a soft, medium-weight cotton fabric that has a napped, fuzzy, finish on one or both sides. This napped finish either comes from brushing or from its characteristic loose weave.

Plaid as a major pattern is a bit of a late bloomer. Although the pattern dates back to the 1700s, it didn't really peak in fashion and interior design until the 1970s. Originally called tartan, it consisted of woven cloths dyed with whatever materials - such as vegetables - the local weaver could access.

According to the classic book Textile Designs by Susan Meller and Joost Elffers, “the plaid is a box layout of stripes, usually horizontal and vertical, and almost always crossing at right angles.

The word's origin is uncertain, but a Welsh origin has been suggested as fabric similar to flannel can be traced back to Wales, where it was well known as early as the 16th century. The fabric was called ''Welsh cotton'', and despite its name, it was a coarse woolen material with a fluffed surface similar to flannel.

a soft, slightly napped fabric of wool or wool and another fiber, used for trousers, jackets, shirts, etc. a soft, warm, light fabric of cotton or cotton and another fiber, thickly napped on one side and used for sleepwear, undergarments, sheets, etc.

What is flannel used for? The flannel fabric is used to produce clothing, such as shirts, sweaters, vests, cardigans and much more, but also for household items, especially bed linen, such as sheets and blankets. As it is a very warm fabric, it is generally reserved for the autumn and winter seasons.