A method of automatically detecting characteristic points of a herringbone pattern fabric (T-A; T-B) for automatically cutting pieces, the herringbone pattern being formed by V-shaped patterns with apexes (P) which are aligned along a plurality of parallel axes, the method comprising: - a step of acquiring an image of a portion of the fabric; - a detection initialization step comprising: ∘ the acquisition, from parameters predefined by the operator, of geometric parameters of the herringbones comprising the vertical or horizontal direction of the herringbones, an initial point (I) of coordinates (xI, yI) corresponding to the first theoretical crossing point on the first line of operation, and a theoretical spacing (dX, dY) between two herringbone axes (Ki, Kj), and ∘ the definition of operating lines (Li, Lj) perpendicular to the herringbone axes (Ki, Kj) and spaced from each other by an operator-defined pitch or from predefined parameters; and ∘ the creation of an analysis window (F), initially centered on the initial point (I), the dimensions of which are determined by the operator or from predefined parameters; - a step of determining in the image the coordinates of the crossing points (N, N') of herringbone axes along the lines of operation by iteratively displacing the analysis window (F) inside the image along each of the lines of operation and optimizing a symmetry criterion of two mirror sub-images (MR, ML) acquired along the lines of operation, the set of crossing points (N, N') of the herringbone axes forming a deformed grid which is used to reposition and/or deform the parts to cut. - a step of acquiring an image of a portion of the fabric; - a detection initialization step comprising: ∘ the acquisition, from parameters predefined by the operator, of geometric parameters of the herringbones comprising the vertical or horizontal direction of the herringbones, an initial point (I) of coordinates (xI, yI) corresponding to the first theoretical crossing point on the first line of operation, and a theoretical spacing (dX, dY) between two herringbone axes (Ki, Kj), and ∘ the definition of operating lines (Li, Lj) perpendicular to the herringbone axes (Ki, Kj) and spaced from each other by an operator-defined pitch or from predefined parameters; and ∘ the creation of an analysis window (F), initially centered on the initial point (I), the dimensions of which are determined by the operator or from predefined parameters; ∘ the acquisition, from parameters predefined by the operator, of geometric parameters of the herringbones comprising the vertical or horizontal direction of the herringbones, an initial point (I) of coordinates (xI, yI) corresponding to the first theoretical crossing point on the first line of operation, and a theoretical spacing (dX, dY) between two herringbone axes (Ki, Kj), and ∘ the definition of operating lines (Li, Lj) perpendicular to the herringbone axes (Ki, Kj) and spaced from each other by an operator-defined pitch or from predefined parameters; and ∘ the creation of an analysis window (F), initially centered on the initial point (I), the dimensions of which are determined by the operator or from predefined parameters; - a step of determining in the image the coordinates of the crossing points (N, N') of herringbone axes along the lines of operation by iteratively displacing the analysis window (F) inside the image along each of the lines of operation and optimizing a symmetry criterion of two mirror sub-images (MR, ML) acquired along the lines of operation, the set of crossing points (N, N') of the herringbone axes forming a deformed grid which is used to reposition and/or deform the parts to cut. <EOS>