I don't think it's a trend.. why... I used ticking back in the late eighty's. I remember I had a bed shirt made out of ticking to go with my floral RL comfortor.

My aunt even made my husband an apron with blue and white mattress ticking material on the pockets and the ties, and that was in the mid eighty's. So, they obviously sold the material back then.

And as far as grainsacks go, feedsacks have always been popular down here in the south to make pillows, for a country look.

I actually have a an old quilt that was made out of tobacco sacks, and it is in perfect condition. I use it all the time.

So, when you say trend...I...say...huh?

Incidently I love your blog Willow, it is about the only one I read anymore. Most of them are almost laughable, I have to say.

....Jane

Jane,
Thanks so much for the kind comments. I like to touch base with other people though to see if I am losing my perspective. Its just in every magazine I see ticking. Maybe its a classic, and I just never jumped on the band wagon. I am redoing my beach house and I wanted to add a few pillows to freshen it up so I figured I'd go with ticking.
xx-Willow

Your welcome Willow.

I think it's funny how they use toile now too, especially the black and white. I used it in the early ninty's not that I am ahead of the masses, I'm not. I guess it's a classic too.

I should of followed my dreams back in the seventy's and become an interior decorator.

"I could of been a Contender I could of been Somebody". (lol) I love that line from On the Waterfront with Marlon Brando and I use it all the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0waNRaz6wU

You should do it if you are still inspired. You have a great eye and mostly you have a passion which is all you need. Start small, doing it for friends, etc.. Then it just grows - I'll bet you will be a success!

I love that line too - I am a sucker for the old movies..

I think french ticking has been around in too many forms for too long to be considered a trend. It fits in right now with the whole Belgium style that is so popular at the moment, so we see a lot of it. I think it will still be around and fit in with the next "in" look as well.

I did this chair 3 or 4 years ago- just 'cause I love french ticking.

I grew up with it as wallcovering in the 1970-80s, had it on my first sofa in the 90s and had curtains made of it for a client in the early 2000s. It cycles in and out of being a hot item but its always a choice.

You know I might just do that Willow, thanks for the encouragement.

...Jane

Ticking, linen, Belgian, white washed furniture is having its moment right now. Just as the recent popularity of Hollywood Regency (kelly wearstler redo Billy Haines, Jonathan Adler, etc.) I think we got a bit tired of all the glam & bling-bling and run to the sombre soothing world of Belgian decor.

I went to visit some LA furniture store and see a lot of linen, burlap in a Belgian store, linen stripe & ticking in a French store, and white linen in a British & European store. So yes, here in LA ticking can be considered trendy, but only if it's in linen :-D

I think Ralph Lauren made ticking popular many years ago. He used ticking in almost every one of his collection, though back then it was cotton & not linen.

Oh yes, my cotton RL duvet cover (aqua floral w/pink roses on one side) just ripped, it's only 20 freaking years old, finally had to flip it to the other side, where it's a.. ticking stripe..!

Last year, I asked a friend that sews to make me a window-seat cushion in a beachy cotton with a ticking stripe. Good to know it's now in style, LOL.

Cotton linen or cotton or linen, the design was still ticking, nonetheless.

Ticking is a classic. There are just certain times or short eras in decorating when it becomes more available just like toile and animal prints and the market is flooded with it.

Back in the '80s I even had a dress made from ticking - a very fitted, sleeveless shift. Women commented that is was cool and men always asked things like "Was that made out of a mattress?".

Right now in decorating, those who prefer to follow fads will go for ticking and change it out eventually. Those who love it will be overjoyed it is so readily available right now and plan lifetime investment purchases.

Thanks for giving a name to a couple of fabric remnants I just bought - they're not precisely like that, in fact one is a plaid, but they have that feel to them. I also bought some ikat pillow covers for decorative pillows in the same room. I may be a bit nuts but to me the Ikat feels like it harmonizes.

KarinL

Ticking has been around for all of my life. I consider it a classic, though it tends come and go in popularity just like gingham checks. It's always there in the background waiting to be noticed again.

I have been searching for a slipcover for my camelback couch exactly like the first picture in willows blog link. Does anyone know where I could get one like it? This is the first time I've actually seen a picture of one and I'm really excited. I love the look! ANY ideas would be appreciated. Thanks. ( I know, I need to start my own thread). Thank you!

Amy

Dan Carithers, an Atlanta designer, has used ticking for decades. His work is really classic. He also was one of the first to use slipcovers on dining room chairs...in ticking of course! OT, I have just returned from N.O. and visited Tara Shaw, Julie Neill and others. Awesome!Thanks for the suggestions...

As already said, I also consider it a classic, like gingham, that is more hot at times but never out of style. I do prefer it used in bedding as opposed to upholstered furniture as that look seems less hot at the moment.
I think I will always love Ralph Lauren florals with stripes and plaids.
Here's a current one I like:

Here is a link that might be useful: RL Belle Harbour

Basically it's nothing more than pillow ticking, and has been around for years~if you're old enough, you probably remember it as the pillow cover, not pillowcase, when you were a kid. Since French became so 'gauche', it's been brought back as a hot item w/a different name. It was also used in red/white, but the dark blue/white was universal. ;o)