Drapery Terminology
Bay Window: A window or set of windows jutting out from the wall of a building and forming an alcove within.
Blind Stitch: A tiny stitch almost invisible from the outside.
Bottom Weights: Weights that are fixed into the corners of the hem of drapery panels to provide weight to enhance drapability.
Buckram: A stiff fabric inserted into the heading of drapes. Provides support and structure allowing for increased drapability.
Bump Interlining: A thick and lightweight interlining made of cotton flannel. Inserted between the fabric and lining for added insulation and thickness of the drape. Gives a lofty feel to the drapes.
Bracket: A metal piece attached to the wall or casing to support a drapery or curtain rod.
Carriers (glides): Found on Traverse rods, these are the plastic devices used to hook the draperies to the rod.
Clearance: Distance from wall to back of the rod.
Curtains: Window coverings either hung from rings, or made with a casing so that it slips over a rod. Curtains are informal window coverings.
Custom Drapes: Made to specification in a workroom.
Drapability: How well fabric falls or flows into folds.
Dupioni Silk: Has a moderately crisp drape, fairly reflective luster, and a nubby texture. It is crisp to the touch and doesn’t wrinkle badly or hold a crease well.
Drapery: Typically more substantial than curtains they are generally made of better quality heavier fabrics and lined. It is common for draperies to have pleated headings.
Dye Lot: Variances in color due to slight differences in temperature, dyeing time, and other factors during the production of fabric. Please be sure to order what you need as we cannot guarantee the same dye lot.
End Brackets: Are the projections at the ends of the rod that attach the rod to the wall.
Eyelet: A small ring attached to a larger drapery ring.
Fan Folding: A method of folding pleated drapery into a long band to decrease or prevent wrinkles.
Finials: The decorative end pieces on rods.
Finished Length: This is the actual length of your drapes as they hang on your window. The measurement after they have been fabricated.
Floor to Ceiling Drapes: These are a customized option that provide a more elegant drapes and formal appearance. Floor to ceiling drapes are usually mounted half an inch (½”) below the ceiling (so the drape heading doesn’t drag across or hit the ceiling) to one (1”) above the floor or carpeting.
French Door: A door with with rectangular panes of glass extending the full length. Usually hung with a pair of doors in one frame, with both doors opening outward.
French Pleats: Three-fold pleats and the one most often used in draperies.
Fullness: Refers to the width of the fabric in relation to the rod.
Hem: The finished sides and bottom edges of a drape.
Heading: The hemmed portion across the top of a drape. Heading styles include Flat, French pleats, Parisian Pleats, and Inverted Pleats
Hold-back: A decorative piece of hardware that holds drape panels to either side of the window.
Inside Mount: A drapery rod mount which attaches to the inside of a window frame.
Interlining: A soft flannel fabric sewn in between the fabric and the back lining to improve bulk, loft,insulation, and overall drapability.
Height: When a drape rod exists, the measurement from the top center of the rod down to where you want the drapes to hang. This is the height of the drape.
Hooks/Pins: Drape hooks or pins are used to connect the drape to the rod or the rings on a rod. They are attached to the top back of the drape (heading) behind the pleats.
Inverted Pleat: The edges of the pleat meet in the middle right side of the fabric. Also known as a kick pleat.
Lining: The fabric backing for drapery to provide protection, body, privacy and insulation.
Natural Fabrics: Silk and Linen are natural fabrics that have slight imperfections, weave, seeds and colour variances. These natural variations are not flaws or defects. These are considered a normal part of the weave and should not be considered flawed or abnormal.These normal variations cannot be returned, repaired, or exchanged.
Overlap: The area where drapery panels lap over each other at the center of a two-way traverse rod.
Pleat: A fold of fabric sewn into the top or heading of the drape to create fullness.
Pinch Pleats: A drapery heading style where the basic pleat is divided into three smaller, equal pleats, sewn together at the bottom edge on the right side of the fabric.
Parisian Pleat: A drapery heading style where the basic pleat is divided into three smaller equal pleats, sewn together at the top edge on the right side of the fabric.
Panel: A single unit of drapery of one or more widths. A panel is the number of widths sewn together and pleated to give you the desired overall width you require.
Pleat To: The finished width of the fabric after it has been pleated. Example: A width of 54” has been pleated to 24” – “Pleat to 24”.
Puddle: Puddling adds extra length to your drapes, beyond what is required to reach the floor. It enhances the look of your drapes adding opulence and style. The more length you add the more dramatic the look will be. When drapery panels are allowed to drape and puddle onto the floor to create a soft, full look.
Projection: The distance from the front of the drapery rod or bracket to the wall on which it is mounted.
Repeat: How often the pattern is duplicated within the fabric. 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.
Rings: Typically made of wood or metal these thread onto a matching drapery rod. They most often have a small eyelet ring to hook the drapery panels onto.
Shantung Silk: A rough textured plain weave silk.
Stacking: Also referred to as “stack back” this is the stacking of the drape on either side of the window when the draperies are opened.
Stain Resistant: The ability of a fabric to withstand permanent discoloration from spills.
Traverse Rod: A drapery rods that is adjustable to open and close the window treatment by pulling a cord.
Trouser Break: A Trouser Break is 1-2” of extra fabric beyond whats needed to reach the floor. A Trouser Break is a more contemporary option to puddling.
Width: A width is simply the width of the fabric as it comes off the bolt and before it is pleated.
