Curtain Definitions Dictionary

Curtain Definitions Dictionary

Austrian Blind: An Austrian blind is gathered across the top edge with heading tape, which allows the fabric to fall into soft, scalloped folds when the blind is raised. It looks rather like a curtains when it is let down, its soft appearance lends itself to frills or fringing, which can be added down the sides as well as along the bottom.

Appliquéd: A decorative design made of one material sewn over another.

Blackout Lining: Plain lining that has been coated on one or both sides to stop light coming through.

Buckram: A cotton stiffener for hand-made curtain headings.

Bump: A soft, thick material used for interlining, usually cotton.

 

Cafe Curtains: Cafe curtains forms an attractive screen across the bottom half of a window, hung from a rod by means of sliding rings.

 

Calico: A coarse textured plain weave cotton, similar to muslin.

 

Chintz: A brightly printed and glazed cotton fabric.

 

Cleat: Used to tie the blind cord to once the blind has been raised.

Curtain Hem: Bottom edge of the curtain.

Drapes: The North American term for curtains.

Drop: The curtain drop is the length from the track or pole eyelets to the bottom of the curtain.

Eyelet Curtains: Curtains with metal rings punched through the top of the curtains at regular intervals. They can only be hung using curtain poles and not curtain track.

Finial: Finials care the decorative ends of curtain poles. Also stops the curtain sliding off the end of the pole.

Flame Retardant Lining: Lining that has been treated with flame inhibiting coating.

Fullness: This is the width of material used to make the curtains divided by the track or pole length. Generally a fullness of 2 is used for most curtains.

Goblet Pleat: A curtain heading in which the fabric is stitched into narrow tubes that are then stuffed with wadding.

Hanging Curtains: Fixing the curtains to either a curtain track or curtain pole.

Heading: The top decorative part of the curtain which is attached to the curtain pole or track. Curtain headings define how your curtains drape.

Heading Tape: A woven tape, of varying widths that is placed at the top of the curtain, in which curtain hooks are inserted to hang the curtains from the gliders of the curtain track.

Hemming: The edge of the curtain that has been doubled under and stitched down.

Hold-Backs: Decorative metal fixing used to hold the curtain back from the window. Serve the same purpose as a tieback.

Interlining: Interlining is the material wadding placed between the ordinary lining and the main fabric of the curtain. This can be made of cotton or synthetic fibre. It makes the curtains look more substantial and also increases sound and thermal insulation. Saving you money in the long run.

Lining: The material that is attached to the back of the main fabric of a curtain. Curtain lining options include; plain lining, blackout lining, interlined, thermal lining and fire retardant lining.

Made to Measure Curtains: Other terms for made to measure curtains include; hand made curtains, custom curtains, bespoke curtains and made to order curtains. 
The advantages of made to measure curtains over ready made include a wider choice of fabrics, linings and headings. Additionally your curtains will fit exactly and the quality will be infinitely better.

Pattern Repeat: The pattern repeat is the measurement between a point in the fabric design and the next point where the pattern or design begins again.

Pelmet: A fabric covered board or piece of fabric used to conceal the curtain rail and for decoration.

Pinch Pleat: A narrow set of pleats that is usually part of a series at the top of curtains. Normally either double (2 pleats) or triple (3 pleats) pinch pleat.

Piping: Piping is a way to emphasize a seam or edge and can add strength to corners that might receive a lot of wear.

Roman Blind: A window blind which gathers into horizontal folds from the bottom when drawn up.

Sheer Curtains: A sheer or net curtain is one that is made from translucent fabric, such as a loosely woven polyester voile or a cotton lace. Sheer curtains allow a majority of light to be transmitted through the fabric, with the fabric weave providing a basic level of uv protection while retaining maximum visibility through the curtain. Sheer curtains are sometimes referred to as privacy curtains in reference to their screening abilities; during the day most sheer fabrics will allow people inside the home to see the outside view whilst preventing people outside the home from seeing directly into the home. Due to the loose weave in sheer fabrics, these types of curtains offer very little in the way of heat insulation.

Swags and Tails: A decorative pleated arrangement of fabric hung at the top of curtains to hide the track. Swags are draped horizontally while tails hang on either side of the window.

Tab Top: A curtain with straight loops (tabs) sewed to the top for hanging from a pole.

Thermal Lining: Describes a lining that has been coated in order to prevent the passage of air through the fabric, and thus increase the thermal value of the curtain. Blackout lining also has similar thermal properties.

Tieback: Tie-backs are the most common way of holding back curtains. They are made from buckram, a stiffened hessian.

Valance: A strip of fabric that runs across the top of a window. Performs the same task as a valance.

Voile: Curtains made from a light semitransparent fabric. Designed to let light through. See sheer curtains.