Weave structure

Broken twill

A family of twills interrupts the continuous diagonal through a change in sequence or direction.

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Schematic motif family, not an exact swatch or registered design. Color, scale and repeats vary; closely related names can overlap in trade use.

How it is made

Warp or weft ordering is altered so that the twill line no longer runs uninterrupted. Herringbone is a recognizable example; other broken repeats need not form the same wide zigzag.

How to recognize it

Look for interrupted, reversed or staggered diagonal segments.

Common uses

  • Denim
  • Jackets
  • Upholstery

What to distinguish

Broken twill is a broader construction description than herringbone, so the name does not specify one universal draft.

Sources & further reading

Research checked 2026-09-27. Descriptions are original summaries; references support terminology and construction, not every product sold under a name.

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