I can't get away from Damask

I don't know about you, but I like knowing the origins of all the things I'm obsessed with. And so I took it upon myself to find out all about Damask, because I just can't seem to get away from it right now.

According to Wikipedia: Damask (Arabic: دمسق) is a figured fabric of silk, wool, linen, cotton, or synthetic fibers, with a pattern formed by weaving. Made with one warp and one weft in which, generally, warp-satin and weft sateen weaves interchange. Twill or other binding weaves may sometimes be introduced. The term originally referred to ornamental silk fabrics, which were elaborately woven in colours, sometimes with the addition of gold and other metallic threads. Damask was first produced in China, India, Persia, and Syria, then the Byzantine Empire followed. In the West, it was first known as diaspron or diaper, the term used in Constantinople. In the 12th century however, the city of Damascus, famous for its textiles, so far outstripped all other places for beauty of design that it gave the cloth its modern name.

Fascinating, isn't it?

So, with all that said, here are a few of my favorite damask products:

Paper products from PlatesandNapkins.comCoin purses from Etsy

Belts from Home Grown Market

And fabric from Wharehouse Fabrics Inc




And a few of the fabulous blogger-ettes who've posted about this pattern lately:

• Exit, Pursued by a Bear



• With this ring...



• Jasmine Star's photo blog