Architrave

A wooden border surrounding a window (usually found in older properties) or a doorway

Appliqué

Pieces of fabric or felt applied to a background fabric.

Austrian blind

A soft fabric blind that is gathered or pleated along the top and which draws up in soft pleats

Banner Valance

A series of fabric triangles attached to a mounting board or threaded on a rod. Also called a handkerchief valance.

Balloon Shade

Curtain window treatments of shirred or gathered fabric drawn up into billowy folds. Can also be called a balloon valance.

Baseboard

A narrow border that runs along the base of a wall where it meets the floor. Often made from wood. Also called skirting board

Batten

A narrow piece of timber that slots into the hem or casing pockets of a roman blind

Bay Window

A three-sided (or more) window that protrudes from the exterior wall of a house.

Bias

45 degree diagonal to the direction of the weave in fabric.

Binding or Lipping

A strip of contrasting fabric applied to the edges of curtains, valances or tiebacks etc. This decorative edging can be cut to varying widths depending on the nature of the article being edged

Blackout lining

A thick fabric used to line curtains where light exclusion is required. Available in 2 varieties – 2 pass in which the lining is coated white or ecru on one side only or – 3 pass in which both sides are coated. Because of its rubberised feel, it makes it more difficult to dress the curtains satisfactorily

Bow Window

Bay windows that are semi-circular.

Box Pleats

Pleats formed by folding the fabric to the backside of the pleat in a "box" shape.

Braid

A flat decorative trim that can be used to embellish curtain window treatments. Gimps and woven ribbons can fall in this category.

Brocade

A rich fabric with an embossed design, usually gold or silver.

Buckram

A coarse cotton, hemp or linen cloth stiffened with glue or a glue-like substance used in the header of pleated curtains. Buckram can give lasting shape to a valance.

Bump

Cotton lining added to curtain panels to add body to a curtain.

Cafe Curtains

Short curtains hung on a rod.

Cafe Rod

A slim curtain rod.

Calico

A plain-weave fabric made from raw unbleached cotton.

Cartridge Pleats

Cylindrical pleats that are a great alternative for pleated valances and long curtain window treatments.

Cascade

A rippling or showering fall of fabric seen in curtains. Also called a jabot.

Casement Window

A hinged window operated by a crank mechanism that can open in or out.

Casing

A fabric pocket to encase a curtain rod or elastic for gathering. Usually made by folding fabric over twice and stitching. Basically, a hem with open ends

Chenille

Very soft fabric made with fluffy cotton yarns.

Chintz

A floral printed cotton fabric.

Cleat

A metal or plastic hook placed at the side of the window to hold the cords of a shade or curtain.

Continental Rod

Flat curtain rods that protrude from the wall to add depth and interest to rod pocket treatments.
The most common widths are 2-1/2" and 4-1/2".

Cornice

An ornamental band for covering a curtain rod. It is made of a rigid panel covered with fabric.

Cornice Board

A horizontal board used to support the cornice.

Cornice Pole

A pole with rings. Often used for heavy curtains.

Cotton

A natural fiber fabric made from fibers in the boll of the cotton plant.

Curtain Drop

The length of a curtain window treatment from the hanging system to the bottom edge.

Cut Drop

The finished bottom of curtain window treatments, plus allowances for hems and headings.

Cut Length

The length plus allowances for hems and seams or headers.

Cut Width

The width plus allowances for side hems.

Damask

A woven fabric made from wool, silk or cotton. The special weave gives the fabric a raised appearance.

Double Hem

A hem where the fabric is turned over twice, usually by the same amount, so the raw edge is completely encased.

Double-Hung Window

The most common type of window, consisting of an upper and lower sash.

Dowel Rod

A slender rod placed inside the fabric pocket to raise or lower a shade.

Dormer

Term applied to a window set within a roof

Drapery

Curtain window treatments covering, usually lined, made of mid- to heavyweight fabrics, and extending to the floor.

Drop Length

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

Fabric Panel

The result of all fabric widths sewn together to make curtain window treatments.

Facing

A piece of fabric that strengthens the main piece of fabric.

Face fix

A term usually relating to the installation of a curtain track fitting or the positioning of a blind fixing. The fixing is screwed into the face of the wall above the window recess or into the front of the window frame itself if the window dressing is to be inset into the window recess.

Fascia

A vertical board that covers the curtain heading.

Festoon

A fabric treatment that is fixed at the top of a window.

Finial

An ornamental projection on the end of a curtain rod or pole.

Finished Length

The length of the curtain after all the hems and headers are sewn.

Finished Drop Line

The place where the curtain stops.

Flat Fell Seam

A seam that gives extra strength to a seam.

French Door

Doors with multiple windowpanes

French Seam

A way of stitching fabric together with the seam hidden from view. Used on sheer fabrics.

Gather

Bringing fabric into a tighter position to add fullness.

Gathering Tape

A heading tape that creates a ruffling effect.

Gingham

Plain-weave cotton cloth with a checked pattern.

Goblet Pleats

A pleat that is pushed out and filled with curtain lining instead of folded inward.

Grain

The direction of threads in a fabric. Can be crosswise or length-wise.

Grommet

Brass or chrome hole reinforcements at the top of a curtain.

Header

The extra fabric above the curtain rod pocket.

Heading

The very top of curtain window treatments.

Hem

Turning under and stitching a raw edge.

Holdback

An ornament used to hold curtain window treatments off the window when open.

Interlining

A soft fabric placed between the fabric and the lining that provides insulation.

Italian stringing

Curtains with Italian stringing are joined together permanently in the centre and are as such ‘dress curtains’. The stringing is set on the diagonal near the top of each curtain thus pulling the curtains back at this point

Jamb

The molding around the window.

Lacing

A very long stitch used to attach a face fabric to a buckram pelmet or tie back.

Lambrequin

A stiff shaped surround to a window, similar to a stiff pelmet, but with much longer sides that can go as far down as the window sill.

Lath

The top of a shade is fitted to this piece of wood, which is usually 2" x 1". The lath can be attached to the wall, ceiling, or window frame.

Leading Edge

Where the curtain panels overlap in the center of a two-way traverse rod.

Lockstitch

Akin to a loose blanket stitch, lockstitch is used to hold linings or interlinings to the reverse of a curtain face fabric

Moiré

A watered silk or a cheaper synthetic substitute

Mullion

The vertical strip of wood that separates the panes of glass in a window.

Outside edge

The edge of the curtain that faces the outside edge of the window

Pattern Repeat

The distance between identical motifs in a pattern. The total measurement of one complete design. Knowing the distance between the pattern repeats on the fabric is vital in order to join patterned fabric and also is key in determining how much extra fabric to buy.

Pencil Pleats

Pleats created using a special tape sewn to the heading of a valance or curtain. When the tape is drawn up, it creates a narrow row of folds resembling a row of pencils laid side by side.

Pinch Pleats

A style of pleat, usually triple folded, used at the header of curtain window treatments.

Pleat

A crease or fold.

Poplin

Cotton fabric with corded surface.

Recess Window

A window set back into a wall. Curtain window treatments are often hung inside the recess.

Return

The flat side of a lambrequin, pelmet or valance that buts up to the wall.
This term also applies to the outside edge of a curtain that covers the space created between the track and the wall at the sides. It cuts out the light that would otherwise filter into the room down the sides of the curtain, creating a very tailored or ‘boxed’ effect to the window dressing

Rod

A metal fixture that holds curtain window treatments instead of a pole.

Roller blind

A blind made of a stiffened fabric that is mounted on a spring mechanism. The blind can be raised or lowered to a specific height

Rosette

Decorative trim shaped like a rose.

Sconce

A wall-mounted fixture that is great for draping fabric through.

Seam Allowance

An extra amount of fabric used when joining fabric.

Selvage

A finished edge that runs the length of the fabric piece.

Silk

A very strong, yet soft fabric made from threads produced by silkworms.

Smocked Pleats

A heading that resembles a hand-worked smocked pattern.

Spring-Tension Rod

An adjustable rod that fits inside the window frame. The internal spring makes it possible to adjust this rod.

Support

A pole or track that holds a curtain window treatment or shade.

Swag

Curtain window treatments that can be hung on a rod or attached to a mounting board.
A length of fabric loosely draped over a rod can be dressed to form a casual style swag treatment.

Tail

The fabric that hangs from the end of a swag.

Tapestry

Machine-woven fabric that looks hand-woven.

Thermal Lining

Fabric that is layered with aluminum on one side for insulation.

Tieback

Fabric, rope, ribbon, trim, or other materials used to hold curtain window treatments back.

Ticking

A stiffened, striped, woven fabric, traditionally in black and white and used for making mattresses. Modern derivatives are not as stiff and come in a wide range of colours. Currently enjoying a revival in its popularity, it is an ideal fabric for a more informal setting

Toile de Jouy

A printed cotton originally from France, usually bearing pastoral scenes. This fabric is undergoing renewed popularity, with its pastel designs on a white or cream background

Top Fix

A term usually relating to the installation of a curtain track fitting or the positioning of a blind fixing. The fixing is screwed directly into the ceiling above the window rather than into the wall above the window if there is any. If the window dressing is to be inset into the window recess, then the fixings are screwed into the top of the recess above the window frame rather than into the window frame itself.
This type of fixing, particularly for blinds, is becoming more popular with the installation of UPVC windows. These windows often have quite large vents at the top and there has to be sufficient room for these to be opened without being obstructed by the blind. Window manufacturers will often advise very strongly not to drill into the frame itself and will even go so far as to say it will affect the guarantee on the window if this advise is not heeded

Valance

A top window treatment that can stand alone or be mounted over curtains.

Voile

Light plain-weave cotton fabric often used for a sheer curtain window treatment.

Warp

The lengthways thread in a woven fabric

Wadding

A batting or filling

Weights

Small metal discs placed in the hem of curtain window treatments to make it hang better.

Width

The distance between the selvages of all fabrics.