This is probably an old question hereabouts, but I am tired of never knowing the answer so I am asking it of experts. I have an unabridged dictionary, but it gives no defintion for Aida cloth, just 1)"an opera" and 2)"female name". Both are pronounced Ah-ee-da. Does that apply to the cloth, too, or is it Ay-da? Where did the name come from originally? Virginia in California
Line 6 stitchers in a row and you will get six answers. Manufacturer's state at one time that it is Ay-ee-da (or I-ee-da) and will, at different times, state that it is Ay-da.
Different myths/legends arise as to when the cloth got its name, and how.
At the turn of the 20th century and before, it was known as java cloth.
There is no concensus as to how to pronounce it. Like many things in life, it's a good conversation starter. :-) Just don't expect any real answer. Most people in the U.S. pronounce it Ay-da. I'm familiar with the opera, but when I first saw the name on a package, it never entered my head to make the comparison, and I've always said Ay-da.
Dianne
Virg> This is probably an old question hereabouts, but I am tired of never
This reminds me of the pronunciations of Etienne Aigner bags - seems like in some parts, you'd be frowned at unless you said "Agner"..... kind of goes along with "thee-ay-ter" : ))
Bain de Soleil is another one .... French is not the required language it was when I was a kid in school, I guess.
I can tell you the myth that I read on rctn many years ago. I think it makes a nice story. Once upon a time there was a lady who adored doing counted cross stitch. As her eyes got older, she was unable to see well enough to stitch on non-aida evenweaves, and was going to give up. Her husband knew about Java cloth, and suggested she use that instead, She found she could stitch again. Her husband was a great lover of opera, so he named the cloth Aida, after his favorite opera. I have embellished the story somewhat since I last wrote about this on rctn.
-- Jim Cripwell. From Canada. Land of the Key Bird. This creature of doom flies over the frozen tundra in winter, shrieking its dreaded call; "Key, Key, Key, Key rist but it's cold!!"
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