Color pattern
Pencil stripe
A narrow, clearly drawn stripe that resembles a fine pencil line.
Also searched as: pencil line stripe
Open the interactive guide ↗How it is made
The line is a color repeat laid over the fabric’s underlying construction. In shirting, fine colored stripes commonly sit on a lighter ground.
How to recognize it
Look for crisp narrow lines with more ground visible between them.
Common uses
- Dress shirts
- Blouses
- Ties
What to distinguish
Pencil stripe is a trade description, not a standardized measurement. Its boundary with pinstripe varies by maker.
Sources & further reading
Research checked 2026-09-27. Descriptions are original summaries; references support terminology and construction, not every product sold under a name.