Sewing Glossary
- Acorn:
- A decorative brass or wooden "handle" which slips onto the cords of a blind to cover the knotted ends.
- Arched Valance:
- A valance which is shaped at the lower edge, the sides being longer than the centre.
- Austrian Blind:
- A gathered blind made longer than necessary. The extra fabric forms ruching at the bottom.
- Banding:
- Another word for binding.
- Batten:
- A length of wood to attach a blind, pelmet or valance to a window frame.
- Bed Valance:
- A skirt covering the divan part of a bed.
- Bias:
- A diagonal line across the fabric.
- Bias Binding:
- Strips of fabric cut on the bias.
- Binding:
- A way of neatening a raw edge with a separate length of fabric.
- Bishop's Sleeve Curtains:
- Curtains that are made longer than necessary, tied tightly, pulled up and flounced over the tied section.
- Blind:
- A single curtain with a fixed heading which pulls up from the bottom.
- Bound Edge:
- A way of neatening a raw edge using bias binding.
- Box Pleats:
- A row of folds in alternate directions. The extra fabric in the folds can be taken either to the front or the back for the desired effect.
- Braid:
- A decorative trim.
- Buckram:
- Cotton or jute fabric for stiffening, sometimes come impregnated with glue.
- Bullion:
- A thick twisted fringe used for decoration.
- Cafe Curtains:
- A curtain made to fit the bottom half of a window only, to give privacy but to let in light.
- Cased Heading:
- A channel at the top of the curtain to thread a curtain rod through.
- Casing:
- A stitched channel between two pieces of fabric to hold either a length of dowelling or a curtain rod.
- Chain Weights:
- A continuous chain of small heavy beads covered in a cotton casing used for lightweight fabrics.
- Cleat:
- A two pronged hook which is fixed to one side of the window frame to secure the cords when a blind is pulled up.
- Combination Rods:
- Two or three curtain tracks sharing one set of brackets. Used for a layered look of curtains and top treatments.
- Contrast Lining:
- A coloured fabric used as a lining when parts of it will show from the front.
- Cording:
- Another word for Piping.
- Cornice:
- Another word for a Pelmet.
- Cottage Blind:
- Another word for a Cafe Curtain.
- Curtains:
- Usually two rectangles of fabric hung from a track or pole to decorate a window and give privacy.
- Cut Width:
- The width of fabric needed including seams or hems.
- Double Fullness:
- When each of a pair of curtains are the measured width of the window enabling curtains to drape in folds.
- Double Hem:
- Folding the fabric over twice in equal amounts i.e. a 2" double hem would need 4" of fabric.
- Dowelling:
- A circular or oval length of wood or plastic attached to the back of a blind to keep the fabric flat.
- Drapes:
- Another name for curtains.
- Dust Skirt / Ruffles:
- Another name for a bed valance.
- Envelope Curtains:
- Casual curtains that do not pull back. The bottom inside corners are hooked back to let light in.
- Face Fabric:
- The main fabric that is used for the front. Sometimes called decorator or self fabric.
- Festoon Blind:
- Often confused with Austrian blinds the difference being that a Festoon blind is ruched from top to bottom.
- Finial:
- Decorative ends of a curtain pole.
- Finished Width:
- The actual width after the treatment is finished and all allowances have been utilised.
- Frill:
- A longer length of fabric gathered or pleated onto an edge for decoration.
- Fullness Ratio:
- This is the ratio of fabric width to the width of the window. Curtains are usually at least twice the window width.
- Header:
- The extra fabric above a cased heading which forms a frill.
- Heading Tape:
- A wide woven tape incorporating pockets for curtains hooks and gathering cords.
- Hold Backs:
- Decorative brass hooks or mushrooms fixed onto the wall to hold curtains back.
- Interlining:
- A soft fluffy fabric placed between the face fabric and lining to help insulation.
- Inverted Pleat:
- A flat pleat with the extra fabric to the wrong side.
- Jabot:
- The tail section of Swags and Tails.
- Kick Pleats:
- Similar to box pleats but the folds do not butt together at the back, making the pleats further apart.
- Knife Pleats:
- A row of folds all in the same direction.
- Lambrequin:
- A pelmet which extends down the side of the window.
- Leading Edges:
- The central vertical edges of a pair of curtains.
- Mitring:
- A way of folding the excess seam allowance to achieve a less bulky, sharp corner.
- Nap:
- A one way direction of texture on a fabric such as velvet or corduroy. When using fabric with a nap all pieces must be cut with the nap in the same direction.
- Pattern Repeat:
- The amount one pattern is duplicated down the length of the fabric. Pattern repeat is one full pattern.
- Pelform:
- A double sided sticky card especially made for pelmets and tie backs, printed with various edge patterns.
- Pelmet:
- A decorative way of concealing the top of curtains and curtain tracks. Usually a flat shaped panel which can be painted or covered with fabric.
- Pelmet Board:
- A horizontal wooden shelf from which a pelmet or valance is hung.
- Pillow Sham:
- A decorative pillow covering used during the daytime.
- Piping Cord:
- A fabric covered cord inserted to accentuate or decorate a seam.
- Puddled Curtains:
- Curtains made longer than necessary to allow them to puddle onto the floor.
- Railroading:
- Using fabric horizontally rather than vertically. Fabric without a directional design or nap can be railroaded to avoid seams in long lengths such as bed valances.
- Return:
- The sides of the window treatment that project from the wall.
- Ruffle:
- Another name for a Frill.
- Scarf:
- A length of fabric which is neatened and draped across the top of a window treatment.
- Seam:
- A way of stitching two pieces of fabric together.
- Seam Allowance:
- The amount of extra fabric added to make a seam.
- Selvedge:
- The woven outside edge of the fabric.
- Stackback:
- The amount of space taken up by the curtains or draperies when they are open.
- Tie Backs:
- Stiffened shapes of fabric hooked onto the wall to hold curtains back.
- Valance:
- A gathered, and sometimes shaped, mini curtain hung from a pelmet board to conceal the top of curtains or a curtain track.
- Warp:
- The threads that run down the length of a woven fabric.
- Weft:
- The threads that run across a woven fabric.
- Welt:
- A strip of fabric sewn between the two sides of a cushion to give it more depth.
