WINDOW TREATMENTS

SHEERS

very thin fabric ; nearest to the glass when two sets of curtains are used ; provides maximum amount of light but least amount of privacy

Semi- Sheer

Diffuses light for a little privacy ; Thicker than glass curtain

Semi-Opaque

provides partial blockage of light ; Can only see shadows at night ; most widely available

Opaque

for privacy and maximum light blocking

Draperies

thick kind of fabric and is made of pleats ; usually lined

Overdrapes

Stationary draperies used on either side of a window with other window treatments between them.

Draw Draperies

Pleated panels that can be pulled across the window.

curtains

generally shirred or smocked or have headings attached to rods. They can also be pleated and hung on a rod with the use of hooks. Usually a term for informal window treatments.

tiers

Short in length ; 1/2 height of the window ; kitchen and baths

Stretch or Sash Curtains

sometimes known as brise-brise, french term for "wind screen". Curtain is gathered and hung with top and bottom rods- cannot be drawn or traversed. Usually installed in casement windows or french doors, but sometimes does not run the entire height of the window. Pleats can be used instead of shirring for both top and bottom

Hourglass Curtain

A type of curtain similar to stretch curtains but is permanently tied with a tie back in the middle; works well on glazed doors or on kitchen doors with glass panes on top or in French Doors and is generally made of sheer fabric

Tie Back Curtains

These are curtains that are designed to be gathered at the side of the window and held by a decorative tie back, sleeve or cord.

Rod Pocket Curtains

Also called "Casement Curtains". The top, usually shirred, forms a pocket through which the fabric is then threaded onto a pole or rod.

Bishops Sleeve

Rod pocket curtains with extra length so that the sides can be gathered with tiebacks to create multiple poufs and they often puddle on the ground

Under Curtains

These are curtains that hang behind the main curtains.

Roman Shades

Fabric-covered shades of horizontal panels, with wooden slats inserted horizontally at intervals down its entire length ; Soft folds

Austrian Shades

window covering that pulls up with a cord but are made of several rows of fabric seamed in such a way that they fold into scallops when opened

Balloon Shades

A type of Fabric Shades made of soft fabric with cords placed vertically along the shade to hold the fabric in place; has straight sides and a straight lower hem; deep inverted pleats cause the shade to billow out into puffs along the bottom edge when the cord is pulled to raise it

Hems

the finished bottom edges of the drapery. Usually 4" of double fabric, or 5-6" of hem to weigh them down and help them to hang better

Tab Tops

A type of header which is highlight the decorative hardware used to hang them; loops of separate fabric sewn onto unpleated, flat drapery with a round rod that slides through them; best not used frequently because they don't move easily over the poles and will wear quickly; used in valances, café style, drapes in every room of the house

Tie Top Curtains

small strips of fabric attached to the head of the fabric and are used to tie over a curtain rod, holding the curtain in place. An informal look is created and used mostly with sheers and lightweight fabrics

Eyelets

A type of header smiliar to tab tops but have metal grommets fixed onto the head of the curtain at regular intervals; threaded through a rod, ole, or tension wire; used in shower curtains

shirring

row of gatherings on a pole or rod ; three times fabric

smocking

Uses double or triple rows of puckers created by a line of stitching through the fabric according to a set pattern. It starts out looking like pencil pleats before certain points are stitched together to form x or diamond patterns

pleats

structured folds of cloth sewn or taped that give fullness in a fabric

box pleats

Flat symmetrical pleats formed by folding the fabric to the back at each side of the pleat. These are deep, inverted, tailored pleats featuring two straight fabric folds facing in opposite directions creating a classical boxy look. Each fold is an equal distance from the center line of the pleat. The spaces in between are the same width as the finished pleat.

inverted pleat

consists of two folds that face each other.

Cartridge Pleats

are round, 2"-2 1/2" pleats, filled in with cotton or paper to hold the shape. They are generally spaced 2" to 3" apart

French pleats

Also known as "Pinch Pleats". They are composed of three folds, most often used in standard draperies. Made by dividing one fat pleat into three smaller ones, but not creasing them.

Butterfly Pleats

similar to french pleats, but has only 2 folds

knife pleat

formed by a tape ; creates row of narrow, densely packed folds

Accordion Pleats

A type of pleats made easily with patented devices that allow the creation of neat, even folds that snap on and off a traverse track without hooks that simulate the look of accordion folds thereby having a uniform exterior and interior appearance; can be stacked in minimum amount of space

Goblet Pleats

A type of pleats calculated and formed in the same way as French pleat headings but instead of making a single tuck or fold into a triple one, only the base is secured to form a short cup which is then stuffed with a rolled-up piece of interlining or synthetic fiber filling, Dacron, to pad out the full shape

Flemish Headings

Takes the form of goblet pleats linked along their base by hand-sewn cord.

Horizontal Blinds

Consist of horizontal panels that open and close at right angles, depending on the privacy needed.

roller blinds

A roll of material attached to a spring-wound tube or roller mechanism that hangs on your window

Pleated Shades

More like a blind than it is a shade. This is made of accordion-pleated fabric which is raised and lowered with cords like a blind. It is permanently pleated so that when drawn up, it folds neatly into clean pleats.

cellular shades

aka honeycomb shades. consists of 2 or more sheets of accordion-pleated reinforced fabric that are bonded together. it's honeycomb construction creates multiple air pockets within its shade having an insulation effect

Shutters

Wooden hinged or solid panels that may be folded across a window to diffuse light and add privacy.

Coromandel Screen

Chinese wooden folding screen coated in dark lacquer ; Catered for the europeans

shoji screen

is an oriental, geometric, wooden screen with rice paper panels

Washi Paper

paper used in shoji screen

lattice screen

open framework with crisscross pattern; overlapping strips of building material made of either wood or metal. created by crosiing the strips to form a network

pierced screen

ornately carved; have pinholes allowing light to penetrate. It is purely a decorative material, the holes in it creates a pattern on the floor when light shines through. Used mostly in indian architecture. aka jalis

Jalis

ornately carved; have pinholes allowing light to penetrate. It is purely a decorative material, the holes in it creates a pattern on the floor when light shines through. Used mostly in indian architecture. aka jalis

Drapery Liners

Used to protect draperies, adding to their durability and longevity; provide added insulation in colder climates; and block sunlight. Can be used to give weight to lighter, thinner fabrics, helping them hang better.

Milium Sateen

Either in white or gray/silver in color. Eliminates inter-lining but is twice the cost of sateen.

Sateen

a strong, lustrous cotton fabric made in a satin weave ; most draperies lined with this

Glosheen or Colored Sateen

Used for lining but is generally interlined with white flannel.

interlining

Inserted between the lining and drapery fabrics

Valance

Soft horizontal treatments mounted across tops of a window ; made entirely of fabric

Arched Valance

A valance treatment that is arched along the lower edge.

Kick Pleated Valance

A valance treated constructed like box pleats, but the pleats are spaced further apart.

Banner Valance

A series of fabric triangles attached to a mounting board or threaded on a rod.

Scarf

designed to drape across the top of the window

pelmet

stiff paneled headings to curtains

lambrequin

Constructed in the same manner as a cornice, but also extends down the left and right sides of the window.

Swag

known as festoon

jabot

"Bird's crop"; Pleated or draped lengths of fabric hanging down the side of a window.

Cascade / Tails

loose hanging ends of jabots

hold back

ornamental knobs or hooks where you attach tie backs

Trim

decorative cordng, braids, or fringes applied to the edges of hems of draperies

Braid

A woven ribbon used as edging or trimming

galloon

a narrow close-woven band or braid used for trimming draperies and upholstery and commonly made of lace, metallic thread or embroidery ; Heavy gimpe

Gimpe

Narrow, flat braid or rounded cord used for trimming

piping

a length of cord covered with bias binding and used as a decorative edging

Welting

Strips of material sewn between upholstery seams or drapery seams to give a finished appearance. May be braided or filled with a cord.

Flat Curtain Rods

adjustable rods, usually hung by brackets to the wall or the window frame. Drawn manually and curtains may be shirred onto the rod or hung by hooks.

Traverse rod

Adjustable drapery rods that allows the opening and closing of the treatment by means of a cord and pulley.

Conventional Two - Way

curtains and draperies are drawn on both sides

Conventional One - Way

Moves only 1 panel in direction. Made to open on the right or left side.

Finials

attachment placed at each end of a curtain rod, originally to stop curtain rings from falling off, but now placed as decorative addition

Clip-on Rings

These grip the curtain with spring-tension prongs. Easily attaches and detaches from curtains.

Eyelet Rings

Rings with an additional smaller ring at the bottom

Pleater Hooks

Hooks with prongs that fit into slats of a pleater tape to create a simple pinched.

Apron

Wood facing below the sill on windows

A La Duchesse

a type of bed with a canopy suspended from the ceiling rather than supported by posts. Also known as an angle bed

Baldacchino

a canopy on columns, frequently built over an altar

Banding

Strips of coordinating or contrasting fabric, folded and finished,then affixed to the style as a decorative accent.

Bias

a line or cut across a fabric that is not at right angles to a side of the fabric

Bias Binding

Strips of fabric cut on the bias

bleed through

This happens when two fabrics are used in lavers and the darker color of the bottom one "?" to the top one in the light and spoils the color and pattern of the top one.

Blind Stitch

A stitch that is frequently used for attaching applique pieces or binding. Stitches are sewn so they are hidden under the top

Canopy

draped covering suspended over a piece of furniture, as over a bed or a seat of honor.

Ceiling-mounted track

This track is mounted to the ceiling rather than the wall, it is useful when you have a window that goes right up to the ceiling or a wide sill that protrudes that you want to avoid.

Combination Rods

Two or three drapery rods sharing one set of brackets.

Contrast lining

A colored fabric used as a lining when parts of it will show from the front

Center Draw

A pair of draperies which open and close from the center of the windows.

clearance

The necessary distance between the wall and the back of the rod or treatment, and/or the front of one layer of the window treatment and the back of the rod or treatment. Different products and treatments require difference clearances.

crinoline

a stiff coarse fabric used to stiffen fabric similar to buckram

Curtain wire

coiled wire with a plastic coating. slightly expandable and is fixed by eyelets screwed into the wire at each end, which are then fixed into the hook. used for lightweight fabrics, sheers and nets that only have a short span to cover and do not need to be drawned

Drapery Panel

One complete section of drapery typically used for patio door applications or as decorative stationary side panels that hang on each side of the window and do not meet in the center

Drop Length

The distance from the top of the object to where you want the fabric to end.

dust cap

The wood board at the top of top treatments, cornices or valances.

Envelope curtains

Casual curtains that do not pull back. The bottom inside corners are hooked back to let light in.

Fan Folded

The vertical fold of accordion action of the fabric that creates folds and helps hold the drapery to the form intended for pinch pleats.

Finished Width

The actual width after the treatment is finished and all allowances have been utilized.

Finished Drop Line

The place where the curtain stops.

face fabric

Main fabric that faces the interior of the room. "Good" side of the fabric

fullness

The ratio of the total fabric used to the finished width of a drapery.