HONEYCOMB, a cloth so called because of the particular pattern made by the arrangement of the crossing of the warp and weft threads ; these form cells somewhat similar to those of the real honeycomb. They differ from the latter in that they are rec tangular instead of hexagonal. The bottom of the cell is formed by those threads and pick. which weave "plain," while tin, ascend ing sides of the figure are formed by the gradually increasing length of float of the warp and weft yarns.
The figure shows two of the commonest designs which are used for these cloths, design A being what is often termed the "perfect honeycomb." In the figure it will be seen that the highest num ber of successive white squares, representing a weft thread float ing or passing over warp threads, is seven, whereas the corre sponding highest number of successive black squares, a warp thread passing over weft threads or picks, is five. Two of each of these maximum floats form the top or highest edges of the cell, and the number of successive like squares decreases as the bottom of the cell is reached when the floats are one of black and one of white (see middle of design, etc.). The weave produces a revers ible cloth, and it is extensively used for the embellishment of quilts and other fancy goods. It is also largely used in the manu facture of cotton, linen and union towels. B is, for certain pur poses, a more suitable weave, than A, but both are very largely used in the towel industry. (T. W.)