Drapery Terms
Allowance – Deduction taken from the finished product size, allowing for the product
operation
Apron - Piece of wood trim beneath the window sill
Austrian Shade – fabric shade known for formal appearance with vertical shirring between
scallops, usually made of sheer fabric
Austrian Valance –soft stationary valances fabricated similar to an Austrian shade with a
scalloped bottom edge
Back Tack – technique used to lock the stitching by going forward and reverse with the stitch
Balloon Shade – soft shade with permanent poufs of fabric that form as the shade is raised,
when lowered poufs stay in place also
Bar-Tack - Sewing machine operation of repeated stitches concentrated to secure the lowest
portion of drapery pleats
Baton - Rod or wand used to hand draw traverse draperies
Bay Window – Group of windows, set at angles to each other and joined on two sides
Bias Cut – A cut where the selvage of the fabric is diagonal to the window, offering give to the
fabric allowing for a better drape
Bottom Hem - Turned part of drapery forming a finished edge
Bowed Cornice – A cornice with convex or concave curves on the face
Bow Window – A window that is curves or semi-circular
Box Pleat –Pleats formed by two folded edges facing each other, pleats are evenly spaced and
stitched
 closed box pleat – pleats are pressed flat so edges touch each other all the way
across the front and back of the treatment
 open box pleat – pleats of fabric are taken on the front of the treatment and pressed
flat against the front with a space between the edges of the pleat
 inverted box pleat – pleats of fabric are taken in the back of the treatment and
pressed flat against the back but the sides do not touch
Bracket – Metal piece attached to the wall or casing to support a drapery or curtain rod
Buckram – see crinoline
Café drapery – Traversing or non-traversing drapery, designed as a tier with various heading
styles, set at a variety of heights to control ventilation, view and light
Café rod – Small, round decorative rod used to mount cafe curtains that do not have a rod
pocket
Canopy – Fabric window topper created by sewing pockets into fabric panels and inserting a
rod with a small projection at the top of the panel, a rod with a larger projection then inserted
at the bottom
Cantonniere – Three sided shaped or straight cornice that “frames” the window, across the
top and down the two sides. It is made of a hardboard padded and covered with fabric.
Carriers – Small runners installed in the traverse rod holding a pin or hook
Cartridge Pleat – Fold of cloth sewn into place to create fullness in a drapery. This is a round
pleat 2-2 ½ inches in depth. Roundness is created by stuffing crinoline or paper into the
opening
Cascade – Fall of fabric that descends in a zig-zag line from a drapery heading or top
treatment
Casement
1
06/05
Drapery Terms
 fabric - cloth drapery that is open-weave, more opaque than sheers
 window – vertically hinged window, whose panes open by sliding sideways or cranking
Casing – Wooden frame around the window
Casing – Pocket made in fabric for curtain rod or weight board
Center Draw – One pair of draperies which draws open and closes exactly at a window’s
center point
Center Support – Metal grip which is used to support a traverse rod from above and prevents
rod from sagging in the middle, but does not interfere with the operation
Chain Weights – Small beads strung in a line along the bottom hemline of sheers to ensure
evenness and a straight hang
Clearance – Distance from the back of the rod/pole to the wall
Clerestory Windows – A series of small windows, usually high up on the wall to allow privacy
Cording – A rope that is covered with fabric, also piping or welting
Cord Cleat – A piece of hardware mounted to the top of the headrail where the window
treatment cords can be secured
Cornice – Shallow, box-like structure usually made of wood, fastened across the top of a
window to conceal the drapery hardware, usually made of wood
C.O.M. – Customer’s own material
Crinoline – Heavily sized or stiff fabric used as a foundation for pleats in draperies, can be
called buckram
Custom Made Draperies – Draperies made to order in a workroom or decorator shop
Cut Length – Length after allowances have been made for the heading and hem
Cut Width – Amount of fabric needed for width, which includes hems, repeats etc.
Dormer Window – Upright window which breaks the surface of a sloping roof
Double hung draperies- Two sets of draperies, usually a sheer fabric under and opaque,
both operating separately
Drapery – Proper name for a long window covering
Draw Draperies – Panels of fabric, featuring pleated headings
Drop – Length commonly used in referring to valances
Drop match – Width is cut straight across by the print, but the print does not line up at the
selvage, therefore additional yardage is needed
Elbow Brackets – Added to a wood, metal pole this section is a continuation of the same
shape allowing a turn in the corner
End Brackets – Two supporting metal grips which hold a drapery rod to the wall or ceiling,
controlling the amount of projection
End Housing – Box parts at the extreme ends of a traverse drapery rod. Enclosing the
mechanism through which the cords run
Euro Pleat – Free flowing drapery pleat with no crinoline and two or three folds tacked within
½” from the top
Fabrication – Manufacturing raw goods into a finished product
Face Fabric – Decorative fabric on a treatment that “faces” into the room, lining is behind
Fenestration – Location and proportion of windows in relationship to solid wall areas
Festoon – Decorative drapery treatment of folded fabric that hangs in a graceful curve, and
frames the top of a window
Finial – Decorative end piece on café rods or decorative traverse rods
2
06/05
Drapery Terms
Finished Length – Length after the draperies have been made, using the extra allowances in
the hem and heading
Finished Width – Width after the treatment is complete
French Pleats – Three-fold pleat and most often used in draperies
Fullness – Amount of fabric added to a finished measurement creating the desired effect, 2 ½
to 3 times the total width is standard
Goblet Pleat – Round pleat tacked or pinched at the bottom, then stuffed with tissue,
maintaining a round or “goblet” shape
Header – Ruffle edge that extends above the rod pocket
Heading – Hemmed, usually stiffened, portion across the top of a curtain or drapery
Hem – Finished sides and bottom edges of a drapery
Hobbled – Roman shade with permanent soft folds on the body
Holdback – Decorative piece of hardware that holds draperies to each side of the window
Hourglass Curtain – Anchored top and bottom then pulled tight in the middle with a tieback
revealing a triangular area of light on each side
Inside Measurement – Width and height of the interior of the window opening, allowing for
exposure of the facing of the window
Inside Mount – Window treatment hung inside the structure of a window frame, wall to wall
treatment also considered IM
Insert Pulley – Auxiliary traverse rod part, over which cords operate
Interlining – Soft flannel-like fabric placed between the face fabric and the lining, adding body
and insulation
Jabot – Decorative vertical end of an over treatment that usually finishes a horizontal festoon
Jamb – Interior sides of a door or window frame
Kick pleat – Inverted pleat used at the corner of a cascade or return, the center of the pleat
“kicks out” as it turns the corner
L Bracket – Metal bracket in the shape of an L used to install valances and cornices, also
called and angle iron
Lambrequin – Cornice that completely frames the window, used interchangeablely with a
valance or cantonniere
Laminated Weights – Weight covered on both sides to avoid rust marks on drapery
Lanai – Type of window covering made up of a series of hinged, rigid plastic panels, hung from
a traverse track
Lead Weights – Sewn in at the vertical seams and each corner of a drapery panel
Lining – Fabric backing for drapery
Lintel – Wood, steel, or reinforced concrete beams placed over both window and door
openings to hold up the wall and roof
Master Carrier (Slide) – Two arms that overlap in the center of a rod when draperies are
closed allowing draperies to close completely
Milium – Trade name for thermal lining
Mitered Corner – Formation of the bottom edge of a drapery with a 45 degree angle on the
hem side
Mullion – Vertical wood or masonry sections between a series of window frames
Muntin – Horizontal wood strips that separate panes of glass in windows
Open Cuff – On the back side of the drapery at the top. Making one of the strongest types of
headings on a drapery. Both fabrics are carried to the top and make a turn with crinoline
3
06/05
Drapery Terms
Outside Measurement – Taken of the outside perimeter of the window frame or wall
Overlap – Part of a drapery panels which rides the master carrier of a traverse rod and
overlaps in the center when drawn draperies are closed. Usually 3 1/2” on each side
Pair Width – Rod width plus one overlap plus two returns
Panel – One half of a pair of draperies or curtains
Panel Width – Pair width divided by 2
Pattern Repeat – Distance between any given point in a design to where that exact point is
repeated again
Pin-On-Hook – Metal pin to fasten draperies to a rod. Attaching the pin into a drapery pleat
and hooking to a traverse carrier
Pinch Pleat – Drapery heading where the basic pleat is divided into two or three smaller, equal
pleats, sewn together at the bottom edge on the right side of the fabric
Pleat – Fold of cloth sewn into place to create fullness
Pleat To – Finished width of fabric after it has been pleated. Example: a width of 48” fabric has
been pleated to 18”
Pleater Tape – Pocketed heading material designed to be used with pleating hooks
Projection – Extension on a curtain or drapery rod that returns to the wall from the front end
of the rod
Railroad – Fabric is turned with the selvage running left to right not top to bottom, eliminating
seams, used commonly for 118” sheers
Ready Mades – Standard size draperies, factory made and available at local stores through
mail order sources
Repeat – Space from one design motif to the next on a patterned fabric, can be horizontal or
vertical
Return – Distance from the face of the rod to the wall or casing where the bracket is attached
Rod Pocket – Hollow sleeve in the top of a drapery where a rod is inserted
Roman Shade – Tailored fabric that hangs flat at the window, soft pleats form at the bottom
as shade is raised
Rosette – Fabric accent constructed to resemble an open rose, used to accessorize a
treatment
Sash Curtain – Sheer material hung close to the window glass. Usually hung from a spring
tension rod then attached to the wall
Sash Rod – Small rod either decorative or plain, usually mounted inside a window frame on
the sash
Scalloped Heading – Popular top treatment for café curtains featuring semi-circular spaces
between curtain rings
Self-lined – Face of the fabric also used as the lining
Selvedge – Tightly woven edge on a width of fabric to hold the fabric together
Side Hem – Turned part forming a finished edge at the side of the drapery
Sill – Horizontal “ledge like” portion of a window casing
Sleeve – Decorative casing made to cover a rod without a panel below
Slides – Small runners installed in a traverse rod which hold a drapery pin or hook
Spacing – Flat space between pleats, the fuller the drapery, the less the distance between
pleats
Stacking – Area required for draperies to hang when they are completely open
Swag – Section of draped fabric above the window
4
06/05
Drapery Terms
Tension Pulley – Attachment through which traverse cords move for one continuous smooth
operation, mounted on a baseboard, casing or wall on either side
Tiebacks – Holds draperies back from the window allowing light passage or adding an
additional decorative touch to the window treatment
Tier – Curtain layers arranged one above the other with a normal overlap of 4”. Upper tiers
project from the wall at a greater distance than the lower panel allowing each curtain to hang
free
Traverse – Drawing across, it opens or closes across a window by means of a traverse rod
from which it is hung
Under Draperies – lightweight drapery usually a sheer, closest to the window glass, hanging
below a heavier drapery
Upson Board – Type of fiberboard made from 100% recycled components, used to construct
cornice boards, lightweight easy
Valance – Horizontal decorative fabric treatment used at the top of draperies to screen
hardware and cords, adding a fashion element
Width – Denotes the size of the fabric used to make the panels. Number of widths determines
panel fullness
Window Jewelry – Small pieces of decorative hardware used as accents on fabric, no
functional purpose
Fabric Terms
Antique Satin – One of the most popular drapery fabrics, characterized by a lustrous effect,
composed of rayon/acetate blends
Basketweave – Plain under and over weave primarily in draperies
Batiste – Soft finished fabric which has a high count of fine yarns. Composed of 100%
polyester or a polyester blend
Boucle – French for curled, indicates a curled or looped surface
Brocade – Rich jacquard, woven fabric with all-over interwoven design of raised figures or
flowers. A raised surface in contrast to felt damask, and is generally made of silk, rayon and
nylon yarns with or without metallic treatment
Burlap – Coarse, canvas-like fabric made of jute, hemp or cotton, also called gunny.
Casements – Open weave casual fabric, characterized by
Chintz – Glazed cotton fabric often printed with figures and large floral designs
Corduroy – Cut filling-pile clothe with narrow to wide wales which run in the warp direction of
the material
Crash – Coarse fabric with a rough irregular surface obtained by weaving thick uneven yarn.
Usually cotton or linen, sometimes spun rayon or blends
Damask – Firm, glossy jacquard-patterned fabric, similar to brocade but flatter and reversible.
It can be made from linen, cotton, rayon or silk
Double Knit – Fabric knitted with a double stitch on a double needle frame to provide a double
thickness and is the same on both sides
Glasing – Thin finish provides luster, sheen shine or polish to some fabrics
Hand, Handle – How the fabric feels. Can determine how the fabric can be used, what are the
working properties, elasticity, drapability, fineness and softness
5
06/05
Drapery Terms
Linen – From the flax plant, with rapid moisture absorption, no fuzziness, does not soil quickly
with natural luster and stiffness
Matelasse – Appearance of a quilted weave, figured pattern with a raised, bubbly surface
Modacrylic – Modified fiber in which the fiber-forming substance of any long chain synthetic
polymer is composed of less than 85%, but at least 25% of the weight of acrylonitrile units
Mohair – Comes from the Angora goat, one of the oldest animals know to man. It is lighter
weight drapery fabric slightly brushed or hairy finish
Moiré – Finish given to cotton, silk, acetate, rayon, and nylon where bright and dim effects are
observed. Achieved by passing the fabric between engraved rollers which press the particular
motif in the fabric
Ninon – Smooth, transparent, high textured type of voile fabric. Made of 100% polyester
Ombre – Graduate or shade effect of color used in a striped motif, ranging from light to dark
tones
Organdy – Light, thin and transparent, stiff and wiry cotton cloth. Withstands repeated
laundering while retaining crispness. A true durable finish cloth
Selvage – Each side edge of a woven fabric
Slub Yarn – Yarn of any type which is irregular in diameter, may be caused by error or
purposely made with slubs
Taffeta – Fine, plain weave fabric smooth on both sides, usually with a sheen on its surface
Terry Cloth – Uncut loops on both sides
Thread Count – The number of warp ends and filling picks per inch in a woven cloth
Velour – Applies to cut pile cloths in general
Velvet – Warp pile cloth where a succession of rows of short cut pile stand so close together,
giving a uniform appearance
Voile – Thin open mesh cloth made by a variation of plain weave, with a soft variable hand
Warp – Yarns which run vertically or lengthwise in woven fabrics
Weft – Yarns run horizontal or the width of the woven fabrics
Types of Drapery Fabric
Satins/Jacquards – usually the most formal and traditional, made from tightly woven, heavy,
soft material which hangs straight from top to bottom in formal folds
Casements/Open Weaves – Light, more casual feel made of loosely woven, textured yarns
that hang in looser folds
Sheers – Soft, see-through fabrics appropriate in most decors. Billowy unless weighted, can be
made to draper as well. Used in combination with heavier drapery to create a more formal look
Prints – Made from lightly woven fabrics usually cotton or cotton-polyester blends
6
06/05