Pattern match designates the arrangement and dimensions of the repeating units comprising the design of patterned carpet, including woven patterns, prints, tufted high lows, and others. A typical pattern repeat might be 36 inches wide by 24 inches long. In set match, this rectangular pattern unit is arranged in parallel rows across the carpet width. In a half drop pattern, the start of each pattern repeat unit is transposed to the midpoint of the side of the adjacent unit. In the example, each adjacent unit starts 12 inches down the side of the neighbouring one. In quarter drop match, each unit in the example would start six inches past the neighbouring pattern unit’s starting point. Thus, pattern repeat units in drop match repeat diagonally across the width, and in set match they repeat straight across the width perpendicularly to the length. Pattern repeat dimensions and match are significant to specifiers and purchasing agents because they influence the amount of excess carpet (over measured area) needed in multiple width installations.
