Glossary of Terms

Austrian Shade:  A fabric window covering with soft draping scallops which run the length of the shade. They move up and down by a series of cords threaded through rings.

Bay Window: A window area that extends outward from the main wall, forming an protrusion on the exterior of the home.

Bias: This term refers to the grain in fabric. The bias grain runs diagonally at a 45 degree angle to the straight grain and tends to stretch when pulled.

Cornice:  A decorative wooden, fabric, or foam header placed above a window to conceal drapery hardware.  Another term used is Valance Box.

Curtain:  Usually unlined, a curtain is a panel of hemmed fabric hung from a rod at the top of a window. Panels can be floor length or end at the windowsill.

Draperies – cloth gracefully draped and arranged in loose folds.

Fringe: A decorative trim sewn onto the edges and hems of curtain panels and rugs. Also often used to decorate pillows and lampshades.

Fullness: Refers to the width of the fabric in relation to the curtain rod. Most window treatments are two to three times fullness.

Header: The top edge of a rod-pocket curtain that forms a ruffle when the curtain is on the rod.

Jabot: Piece of fabric, long or short, which drape down on either side of a swag or valance, often pleated and tapered.

Lining: Fabric used as a backing for drapery panels. Lining can provide body and fullness, light control, and privacy. Often lining fabrics are decorative and chosen to be a pleasing contrast to the drapery fabric.

Mounting Board: A wooden board installed either inside or outside the window frame to which some types of window treatments are attached.

Mullion: Wood trim that sets off smaller panes of glass in a window.

Nap A fabric with a texture or design that runs on one direction such as corduroy and velvet. A fabric with a nap will often look different when viewed from various directions. When using a fabric with a nap, all pieces must be cut and sewn together so the nap runs in only one direction.

Overlap: The area where drapery panels lap over each other at the center of a two-way traverse rod. pieces must be cut and sewn together so the nap runs in only one direction.

Panel: One width of fabric used for draperies

Puddled Drapes: Drapes with long side panels allowed to drape and puddle onto the floor to create a soft, full look.

Projection: The distance from the front of the drapery rod to the wall on which it is mounted.

Railroading: Refers to using fabric horizontally rather than vertically. Fabric without a nap or a directional design can be railroaded easily. Used to avoid seams in long lengths of fabric (as in dust ruffles).

Repeat: How often the pattern is duplicated at intervals down the fabric or wall covering. One repeat is one full pattern.

Return: The portion of the drapery extending from the corner of the rod to the wall, enclosing the brackets of the drapery hardware.

Right Side: The printed side of the fabric that is used as the finished side of an item. The right side generally has the most color and the most finished look to it.

Rings: Rings of wood or plastic are hooked or sewn to the top edge of a curtain and these rings are then threaded through the curtain rod.

Rod Pocket Curtains: A stitched pocket at the top of the curtain is gathered or shirred onto a curtain rod.

Roman Shades: Drawn up from the bottom by means of cords and rings, these shades create horizontal folds when raised. A roman shade panel is flat when lowered and covers the window glass completely.

Shirring Tape: A tape with woven-in cords used to create pleated and shirred curtains.

Selvage: The selvage edges of fabric are the finished sides of the lengthwise grain.

Sheer: A drapery panel made of sheer or translucent fabric, sometimes used underneath an outer drapery.

Stackback (or stacking space) : The area of the wall where drapery comes to rest when it is opened and the window is exposed. Draperies are sometimes installed so that the stackback clears the window frame, allowing an unobstructed view.

Stationary Drape:  This means the drape is fixed and does not move.

Tiebacks : Fabric bands, cords, or other material that shape the curtain or drape and holds them back from the window.

Traverse Rod: Adjustable drapery rods that open and close the window treatment by pulling a cord.

Trim: Decorative cording, braids, or fringes applied to the edges or hems of draperies, to match or contrast the panel fabric.

Valance : A window treatment that covers the top of the window and the drapery hardware. A valance is made of matching or contrasting fabric, often with a casing at the top, and gathered onto a curtain rod.

Velcro: Hook and loop tape used for attaching fabric to a mounting board. Sometimes used for lightweight fabrics and valances.

Workable Drape:  A drape that opens and closes.  It can look like a stationary drape when open but has enough fullness to completely cover the window.