Bed Linen Glossary

A

Accordion Pleat: Accordion pleats are single, large pleats which are often used as a method of fan folding in pleated curtains before installing, or they can be used in contract curtains by snapping onto channel slides.

Acetate: Acetate is a man-made fiber composed of acetylated cellulose.

Acrylic: Acrylic is a man-made fiber derived from petrochemical by-products.

Austrian Shade: An Austrian shade is a shade with ruching down the whole side length, creating billows when the shade is raised.

B

Balloon Shade: Balloon shades are shades with vertical rows of horizontally gathered fabric which can be drawn up to form strips of pleated or gathered trim.

Bar Tack: Bar tack is a sewing machine operation of repeated stitches concentrated to secure the lowest portion of curtain pleats.

Bolt: A bolt is an entire length of fabric rolled full-width on a tube.

Border: A border is a gimp, but wider. It is sometimes woven in plain patterns such as stripes or chevrons.

Bouclé: Bouclé is a novelty yarn which is looped and crimped to produce a pebbly surface.

Box Pleat: A box pleat is a fold of cloth sewn into place to create fullness in a curtain. Box pleats are evenly spaced and stitched.

Brocatelle: Brocatelle was originally meant to be an imitation of Italian tooled leather created on a plain or satin background, with a satin or twill pattern. Brocatelle is characterized by a smooth, raised figure of warp-effect, often in a satin weave, atop a filling effect backdrop. Actual brocatelle is a double weave constructed of silk and linen warp with a linen and silk filling. Modern-day materials have changed from the 13th and 14th century fabrics, but still incorporate the embossed figure in a tight, compact woven warp-effect. Although brocatelle is sometimes considered a flat fabric, it displays patterns that stand out in a sort of high relief, blistered effect.

Brush Fringe: A brush fringe is a cut fringe that has a flat skirt made of thin yarns. The heading of a brush fringe can vary from plain to a most elaborate gimp.

Bullion Fringe: A bullion fringe is a fringe made of plain or crepe cords rather than yarns. The heading can be plain or decorative.

C

C.O.M.: C.O.M. stands for Customer's Own Material.

Calendaring: Calendaring refers to a process for finishing fabrics that can produce high luster, embossing, glazing, or moiré.

Cartridge Pleat Curtain: A cartridge pleat panel has approximately 1 ½” diameter pleats with cardboard tubes inserted in the pleats to stabilize and maintain the shape of the pleats.
Cascade: A cascade is a fall of fabric which descends in a zigzag line from a curtain heading or top treatment.

Cashmere: Cashmere is a fine fiber obtained from the undercoat of the Himalayan Cashmere goat.

Center Draw: Center draw refers to one pair of curtains which draw open and closed exactly at a window’s center point.

Center Support: A center support is a metal grip which is used to support a traverse rod from above. It prevents the rod from sagging in the middle but does not interfere with the rod operation.

Chenille: Chenille is a special yarn with pile protruding on all sides that is produced by first weaving a fabric—usually with cotton or linen warp and silk, wool, rayon, or cotton weft. The warps are taped in groups of four and the wefts are beaten in very closely. After weaving, the fabric is cut lengthwise between each of these groups of warp yarns, each cutting producing continuous chenille which is then twisted. In French, “chenille” means “caterpillar.

Chiffon: Chiffon is a plain woven, soft, sheer fabric often made of silk or rayon yarns.

Chintz: Chintz is a cotton fabric, with or without a printed pattern, that has a glaze created by applying resin and calendaring.

Collage: Collage is a term used to describe the style of a product in which more than two different fabrics are being used.

Cord: A cord is plied yarn (plies) that has been twisted together. When used for a seam, a tape is sewn onto the edge of the cord. Cords are frequently used in place of fabric welting.

Corduroy: Corduroy is cut pile fabric, usually made of cotton, in which the ribbed pile is produced with a supplementary weft yarn.

Cornice: A cornice is a shallow, box-like structure, usually made of wood, fastened across the top of a window to conceal the curtain hardware.

Cornice Board: A cornice board is the horizontal board used as support for a cornice or as foundation for swags and tails.

Cotton: Cotton is a natural, cellulosic seed hair fiber obtained from the seedpod of the cotton plant.

Crewel: Crewel is a hand embroidery technique from Kashmir in which fine, loosely twisted two-ply yarn is chain-stitched on cotton cloth. Imperfections, color variations, irregularities, natural black specks, dye marks, and dirt spots are characteristics that label it as genuine. These fabrics are handwoven by natives in India, and the beauty of the cloth is in its natural, homespun appearance.

Crushed Fabrics: Crushed fabrics are those treated with heat, moisture, and pressure in finishing to distort pile formation.

Custom-Made Curtains: Custom-made curtains are draperies made to order in a workroom or decorator shop.

Cut Length: Cut length is the length of fabric after allowances have been made for headings and hems.

Cut Pile: Cut pile is a fabric in which the pile is cut rather than looped, creating a velvet effect.

Cut Width: Cut width is the width of fabric after allowances have been made for headings and hems.

Cut Yardage: Cut yardage is a fabric or trimming ordered to a specific measurement, as opposed to purchasing by the piece or bolt.

D

Damask: Damask was originally a rich silk fabric with woven floral designs made in China and introduced into Europe through Damascus, from which it derived its name. Typically, damasks are woven with a single beam (warp) with one or two weft colors. The fancy damasks reveal the smooth warp satin in the background with the low luster reverse satin in the motif. In two color damasks, the colors reverse on either side. Single damask is made with a five-harness satin weave; the true, or double or reverse damask, is woven with an eight-harness satin weave and has a firm hand.

Decorative Rods: Decorative rods are curtain rods used for the purpose of decorating and are meant to be seen.

Denim: Denim is a yarn-dyed cotton cloth woven in a warp-faced twill, usually with a dyed warp and a natural weft.

Density: Density is a standard measurement of thickness in fabric weight. Yarn size, amount of warp ends, and weft picks determine the density.

Double Valance: A double valance has two layers of fabric that are not sewn together on the bottom edge. The top layer of fabric is typically shorter than the back layer of fabric.

Doupione: Doupione is an irregular slub silk reeled from double cocoons or silk worms which have spun their cocoons side by side causing an interlock, making it necessary to reel them together. Antique taffetas and sheers are woven with doupioni weft yarn, as are many damasks.

Drapability: Drapability refers to how well a fabric can flow or fall into folds in an attractive manner.

Drapery: Drapery refers to a window covering which is usually hung from a traverse rod.

Draw Curtains: Draw curtains are panels of fabric featuring pleated headings.

Dress Curtains: Dress curtains are draperies used for the sole purpose of decorating and are not meant to be drawn.

Duck: Duck is a broad term for a wide range of plain weave fabrics. Duck is usually made of cotton, although sometimes linen is used. The terms “canvas” and “duck” are often interchangeable, but canvas is often used to refer to the heavier constructions. The term duck had its origins before the mid-19th century when all canvas for sails was imported. The light flax sail fabrics imported mostly from England and Scotland bore the trademark stencil of a raven, while the weights bore the trademark of a duck. The word duck became associated with a heavy fabric and was applied to cotton canvas when it was first manufactured in the U.S.

E

Egyptian Cotton: Egyptian cotton is a fine, lustrous, long-staple cotton that produces a soft, high-quality fabric.

Embossing: Embossing is a calendaring process which produces a raised design or pattern in relief. The design is pressed into fabric or leather by passing it through hot, engraved rollers. Velvet or plush is embossed by shearing the pile to different levels or by pressing parts flat.

End Brackets: End brackets are the two supporting metal grips which hold a curtain rod to the wall and control the amount of projection from the wall.

F

Face Fabric: Face fabric is the primary fabric on curtains; it faces the interior of the room.
Facing: Facing is a strip of fabric over the main fabric that hides raw fabric edges and unlined curtains.

Felt: Felt is a fabric made from fibers not taken to yarn form but instead intermeshed by heat, moisture, and agitation. Felt can also be a fabric made by shrinking and agitating woven or knit cloth to obtain superior density, resilience, and strength.

Festoon: A festoon is a decorative curtain treatment of folded fabric which hangs in a graceful curve and frames the top of a window. A festoon is also called a Parisian shade.

Fiberglass: Fiberglass is a man-made mineral fiber extruded in continuous filaments.

Filament: Filament is a continuous strand of silk or man-made fiber.

Filling (Weft): Filling or weft is an element carried horizontally through the open shed of the vertical warp in a woven fabric.

Finial: A finial is a decorative end piece on curtain rods or traverse rods. A finial is also called a pole end.

Finished Length: Finished length refers to the length of curtains after they have been made.

Finished Width: Finished width refers to the width of curtain after they have been made. The finished width is found by measuring the length of the mounting board or rod and then adding in the depth of any return.

Flame-Resistant Fabric: Flame-resistant fabric is fabric with a fiber content or topical finish that makes it difficult to ignite and slow to burn.

Flame-Retardant Fabric: Flame-retardant fabric is man-made fabric with a fiber content that is made or treated to resist burning, and that passes most fire code requirements.

Flange: A flange is a decorative finish on a fabric, and is sewn into a seam. To avoid the dog-ear effect, a pellon may be inserted to stabilize the flange.

Flannel: Flannel is a woolen fabric with a surface that is slightly napped in finish.

Flax: Bast fiber is extracted from the flax plant's stem by retting to produce linen. Linen fiber is often mistaken for flax, particularly in blends.

Floats: Floats are missed interlacings, where a warp yarn lies on top of a weft yarn, or vice versa. Floats tend to make a fabric look glossier and give it a smoother hand. A float can also be grouped to form a pattern on the face, as in brocade.

Flounce: Flounce is a curtain technique created by adding an extra long heading sewn at the top of a rod pocket. The curtain then falls over the rod pocket and creates the appearance of a short attached valance.

French Pleats: French pleats are the most popular three-fold pleats used in drapery.

Fringe: Fringe is a decorative edging with hanging tassels or threads.

Fullness: Fullness refers to the proportion of the finished width of a valance or curtain to the length of the mounting board or rod.

G

Gathered Heading: A gathered heading is a heading for a curtain or valance in which the heading is gathered by means of gathering tape.

Gathering Tape: Gathering tape is tape that is stitched to the top of a curtain to create a gathered effect by pulling on cords that run through the tape.

Gimp: A gimp is a flat, narrow, woven textile made in many styles. One or both edges of a gimp can be plain, cut, or have scalloped loops.

Gingham: Gingham is a yarn-dyed, combed, or carded cotton fabric woven into a series of simple patterns (such as checks, stripes, or plaids) in two or more colors.

Goblet Pleats: Goblet pleats are pleats that have a padded top edge that is pushed out in a goblet-type shape. These pleats are similar to pinch pleats.

Gusset: Gusset refers to the depth of a top mattress and is helpful when measuring for linens.

H

Hand: Hand is a qualitative term used to describe the tactile properties of a fabric. Literally, the word refers to the feel of a fabric in the hand.

Harlequin: Harlequin is a large check pattern that is turned 45 degrees to form a diamond in two or more contrasting colors. This term is suggested by the loudly checked costume of a harlequin.

Heading: A heading is the hemmed, usually stiffened, portion across the top of a curtain.

Heat Transfer Printing: Heat transfer printing is a method that transfers designs from rolls of paper to polyester or other thermoplastic fibers. Designs are preprinted with disperse dyes on paper, and under high temperature are transferred onto fabric when both are passed through a heat transfer printing machine. Disperse dyes are the only ones that can sublimate and, therefore, are the only ones that can be used. This printing process is an adaptation of the decalcomania method.

Hem: A hem is both the finished sides and the bottom edges of a sewn item.

Hemstitch: A hemstitch is a stitch used to create a decorative, open weave pattern. A hemstitch is created by sewing along a line from which threads have been drawn out, gathering the cross threads into a series of small groups.

Herringbone: Herringbone is a twill weave that reverses direction across the fabric to form a chevron.

Holdback: A holdback is a decorative piece of hardware that holds curtains to each side of the window.

Honeycomb: Honeycomb is a piqué weave in a hexagonal shape that is often referred to as a waffle weave.

Houndstooth: Houndstooth is a pointed check effect produced by a two-up, two-down broken twill with four ends and four picks in a repeat.

I

Inside Mount Treatment: An inside mount treatment is installed inside a window frame.

Installation: Installation refers to the process of placing and setting a window treatment.

Interlining: Interlining is the layer of fabric between the outer decorative fabric and the lining.

Inverted Pleat: An inverted pleat is a reversed box pleat that causes a fabric's fullness to turn inward. This type of pleat is also known as a kick pleat.

Iridescent: Iridescent refers to a color effect created by weaving warp ends of one color and a weft of another color. Taffeta weave creates the best iridescent effects.

J

Jabot: A jabot is the decorative vertical end of an over-window treatment that usually finishes a horizontal festoon.

Jacquard: Jacquard is a system of weaving which, because of a pattern-making mechanism of great versatility, permits the production of woven designs of considerable size. The Jacquard loom, a derivation of the old drawboy hand loom, was credited to Joseph Marie Jacquard in France in the early 19th century. On the Jacquard loom, because threads are handled individually, anywhere from 100 to 15,000 threads may have independent weave action, allowing for complicated curvilinear designs. Jacquard-woven fabrics—particularly sheets—have a warm, silky finish.

Jute: Jute is a bast fiber obtained from the round pod jute or the long pod jute of the family Tiliaceae. It is grown extensively in Pakistan and India, and is mainly found in the Bengal district of Pakistan.

K

Kick Pleat: A kick pleat (or inverted pleat) is a reversed box pleat that causes a fabric's fullness to turn inward. This type of pleat is commonly used on the corners of a bed skirt to hide the bed frame legs.

Knife Edge: A knife edge is a seam without a decorative finish.

Knife Pleats: Knife pleats are narrow, finely pressed and closely spaced curtain pleats that all face the same direction.

L

Lace: Lace is an openwork fabric produced by a network of threads that are twisted together and sometimes knotted to form patterns. Lace is made by hand with needles or hooks, or by machinery.

Linen: Linen is a strong, lustrous yarn made from flax fiber.

Lining: Lining is the fabric backing of an item such as a pillow or curtain panel.

Long-Staple: Long-staple refers to fabrics that have relatively long fibers.

Loom State: Loom state refers to goods as they come off the loom before converting or finishing. These goods are also called gray or griege.

Loop Fringe: A loop fringe is similar to a brush fringe except that the yarns at the base of the skirt are looped, not cut. The bottom edge of a loop fringe can be straight or scalloped.

Loop and Brush Fringe: A loop and brush fringe is a combination of loop and cut brush fringe styles in the same trimming.

M

Macramé: Macramé is a type of needlework that employs a variety of knots to create an open weave, fancy netting.

Matelasse: Matelasse is a woven fabric similar to a brocatelle. It has two warps that, in weaving, achieve a puckered or quilted effect. In French, “matelasser” means “to quilt” or “to pad.”

Mercerizing: Mercerizing is a process by which yarn or cloth is treated with sodium hydroxide to give it luster, strength, and receptiveness to dyes.

Meter: A meter is a universally accepted and commonly used measurement based in hundreds and equivalent to 39.37 inches.

Mitered: Mitered refers to a border or a flange that is matched in the corners with a diagonal seam.

Mitered Corner: In draperies, a mitered corner is the formation of the bottom edge with a 45-degree angle on the hem side.

Mohair: Mohair is long, white, lustrous hair obtained from the Angora goat. Mohair plush is a fabric with a cut pile of mohair yarns that are lustrous and extremely strong, and will hold a permanent embossing.

Moiré: Moiré is a finishing process that produces a wavy or rippled pattern on a fabric, and is unique from fabric to fabric. In French, “moiré” means “watered.”

Multi-Draw: Multi-draw refers to curtains on one rod that may be simultaneously opened and closed.

Muslin: Muslin is a plain weave strong cotton cloth.

N

Natural Fibers: Natural fibers refers to fibers derived from natural substances such as cellulose, proteins, and minerals.

Nylon: Nylon is a generic term for synthetic polyamide fibers.

O

Olefin: Olefin is a manmade fiber composed of at least 85% (by weight) of ethylene, propylene, or other olefin units.

One-Way Draw: One-way draw refers to single-panel curtains designed to open and close only one way.

Opacity: Opacity is the degree to which a solid material or fabric blocks light.

Organza: Organza is a thin, transparent silk, rayon, or nylon fabric made in a plain weave and given a stiff, wiry finish.

Orientation: Orientation refers to the direction a window faces.

Outside Mount: An outside mount is a window treatment installed over and to the side of a window frame on the wall.

Overlap: An overlap is the part of a curtain panel that rides the master carrier of a traverse rod and overlaps in the center when curtains are drawn closed. An overlap is typically 3 ½” on each side.

Overlay Curtain: An overlay curtain has a sheer face fabric on top of a second, heavier face fabric, allowing the second fabric to show through the sheer fabric.

P

Padded Edge: A padded edge is a fabric border that is rolled and stuffed to form a long, round shape.

Panel: A panel is one half of a pair of curtains.

Passementerie: Passementerie refers to the vast range of trimmings and decorative edges.

Pattern Repeat: A pattern repeat is the distance between any given point in a design to where that exact point is repeated again.

Pellon: Pellon is a non-woven fabric that is used as an interfacing to shape, support, or stabilize areas of a product.

Pelmet: A pelmet is an upholstered wood cornice or stiffened and shaped valance.

Pencil Pleat: Pencil pleats are formed by sewing a special drapery tape to the back of of a panel and drawing the fabric together with strings to create a column of tightly packed folds.

Percale: Percale is a fine, plain-woven cloth of closely set combed and carded long-staple cotton. Percale produces very high-grade and fine-quality linen.

Piece-Dyeing: Piece-dyeing is a process of dyeing fabric in the piece or bolt.

Pigment: Pigment is an insoluble powdered coloring agent carried in a liquid binder and printed or padded onto the surface of a cloth.

Pile: Pile is raised loops, cut interlacings of double cloths or tufts (cut loops), and other erect yarns or fibers deliberately produced on cloth which form all or part of the surface of a fabric.

Pill: A pill is a fuzzy ball caused by the rolling up of abraded surface fibers. When tangled together, pills look like tiny balls and detract from the appearance of a fabric.

Pin-On-Hook: A pin-on-hook is a metal pin used to fasten curtains to a rod. It pins into curtain pleats and hooks to a traverse carrier or café rod.

Pinch Pleats: Pinch pleats are curtain headings in which the basic pleat is divided into two or three smaller, equal pleats that are sewn together at the bottom edge on the right side of the fabric.

Piping: Piping refers to decorative cords used at edges of an item. Piping is usually fabric-covered and is attached to an item by inserting it through a seam.

Piqué: Piqué is a fabric with an embossed appearance created by weaving ribbed, waffle, or honeycomb patterns.

Pleat: A pleat is a fold of cloth sewn into place to create fullness.

Pleat To: Pleat To refers to the finished width of fabric after it has been pleated.

Ply: Ply refers to the number of yarns twisted together to make a composite yarn.

Polyester: Polyester is a generic term for a manufactured fiber in which the fiber-forming substance is a long-chain synthetic polymer composed of a complex ester.

Portiere: Portiere refers to a doorway treatment, typically a hung curtain.

Projection: Projection refers to the part of a curtain rod that returns to the wall from the front of the rod.

R

R-Value: R-Value refers to a window treatment, ceiling, or wall’s capacity to keep heat in or out.

Raffia: Raffia is a leaf stalk fiber obtained from the raffia palm in Raffia, Madagascar.

Railroaded: Railroaded refers to a fabric with a pattern that runs horizontally rather than up the roll.

Rayon: Rayon is a generic term for a manmade fiber derived from regenerated cellulose.

Repeat: Repeat is a term used to describe how often a pattern repeats on a fabric.

Resin: Resin is a synthetic substance used in corrective fabric finishes to add body, reduce creasing, control shrinkage, produce luster in glazing, repel water, or supply permanent press.

Return: A return is the distance from the face of a curtain rod to the wall of casing where the bracket is attached.

Rod: A rod is a device from which curtains are hung, used in place of a pole. Double rods are used for two layers of fabric.

Rod Pocket: A rod pocket is a hollow sleeve in the top and sometimes bottom of a curtain through which a rod is inserted.

Rod Width: Rod width is the measurement between the end of a bracket to the end of the other bracket including the stackback and window width.

Roller Shade: A roller shade is a shade operated by a device with a spring. When the spring is let loose, the shade coils itself around the device’s cylinder.

Roman Shade: A Roman shade is a corded shade with rods set horizontally in back to give the shade a number of neat, side-set pleats or folds when raised.

Rope: A rope is a cord at least one inch in diameter.

Ruched: Ruched refers to the process by which a fabric is gathered to achieve an elegant effect. Ruching is mostly used in welts or in the face of decorative pillows.

Ruffle: A ruffle is gathered fabric often used in bed skirts and in place of a plain flange on pillows. The fullness of a ruffle is determined by the quantity of fabric used.

S

Sash Curtains: Sash curtains are any sheer material hung close to the window glass. These curtains are usually hung from spring tension rods or sash rods mounted inside the window casing.

Sash Rod: A sash rod is a small rod, either decorative or plain, that is usually mounted inside a window frame on the sash.

Satin: Satin is a fabric with a characteristic smooth surface and high luster due to the high number of floats on the fabric. Constructed of mercerized cotton, satin is even stronger than plain cotton and has a greater affinity to dyes. Weft or filler satins are usually referred to as sateen.

Seam Allowance: Seam allowance is a slim extra allowance in the fabric between the line for stitching and the raw edge of the fabric.

Selvage: Selvage is the edge on either side of a woven or flat-knitted fabric, often of different threads or weave, finished to prevent unraveling.

Shantung: Shantung is a lightweight silk cloth woven in a plain weave with doupioni yarn.

Sheer: Sheer refers to very thin, transparent, or semi-opaque fabric.

Shirring: Shirring refers to a gathered effect in the fabric created when a curtain rod smaller than the fabric is slid through a rod pocket.

Shrinkage: Shrinkage is the contraction of a fiber, yarn, or fabric after washing and drying. Most products made of natural fibers have a tendency to shrink 4-6%.

Side Hem: A side hem is the turned part of a fabric that forms a finished edge on the side of a sewn item.

Silk: Silk is a natural protein fiber produced from the cocoon of wild or cultivated silkworms.

Skirt Drop: Skirt drop is the length of a bed skirt, measured from the bed's box spring to the floor.

Slides: Slides are small runners installed in a traverse rod that hold a drapery pin or hook.

Spacing: Spacing refers to the flat space between pleats in curtain panels; the fuller the curtain, the smaller the spaces.

Stackback or Stacking: Stackback is the area required for curtains when they are completely opened. It is also referred to as stacking.

Super King: Super King is a term used for extra large king duvet. The Super King Duvet is recommended to accommodate a king bed with a pillow-top mattress.

Super Queen: Super Queen is a term used for extra large queen duvet. The Super Queen Duvet is recommended to accommodate a queen bed with a pillow-top mattress.

Swag: A swag is a section of fabric draped above a window.

T

Tails: Tails are shaped and stiffened, or free falling, trails of fabric at the ends of a swag.

Tartan: Tartan refers to multicolored plaids originally made for Scottish clan kilts.

Tassel: A tassel is a hanging ornament consisting of a head and a skirt of cut yarn, looped yarn, or bullion fringe. Tassels come in all sizes, shapes, and forms.

Tassel Trim: A tassel trim is a plain or decorative gimp with attached tassels.

Tension Pulley: A tension pulley is an attached pulley through which the traverse cords move for one continuous smooth operation when curtains are drawn. Tension pulleys may be mounted on a baseboard, casing, or wall on one or both sides.

Thread Count: Thread count is the number of yarns per square inch in a woven fabric.

Ticking: Ticking is a general term for a strong, durable, closely woven fabric in plain, twill, or satin weave, used for covering box springs, mattresses, and pillows.

Tie: A tie is a thin strip of fabric that is used with tiebacks to secure a curtain to a wall. The tie can be decorated or shaped.

Tiebacks: Tiebacks are decorative pieces of hardware, fabric, or tassels designed to hold curtains back from the window to allow light passage, or add an additional decorative touch to the window treatment. Tiebacks are also referred to as holdbacks.

Toggle Bolt: A toggle bolt is a nut with wings which close for passage through a small hole and spring open after passing through the hole to keep the bolt from slipping back through.

Toile: Toile is a linen or cotton cloth that is usually made in one color with a fine line printed design that resembles a pen and ink technique. Made famous in Jouy, France in the 18th century when a new technique of engraved plate printing was popularized, toile was known as toile de Jouy. Toiles are printed by various methods, but the most beautiful are still created by engraved plates or rollers. In French, “toile” means “cloth.”

Traverse Rod: A traverse rod is a curtain rod operated by a cord and pulley.

Tussah: Tussah is a brownish silk yarn or fabric made from wild silk cocoons of a brown hue. The silkworms that spin these cocoons feed on leaves from various plants and trees such as oak, cherry, and wild mulberry.

Tweed: Tweed is a fabric with a homespun effect created by multi- or monochromatic-colored yarns woven on plain looms. Usually made of wool or worsted, tweed often has a rough texture.

Twill: Twill is a weave that creates a diagonal effect by having the warp float on top of a few weft yarns, or vice versa; generally, three threads up and one down. Antique twill is woven as a twill with a doupioni yarn, having slubs intermittently dispersed across the fabric.

U

Under-Draperies: Under-draperies are lightweight curtains, usually sheers, closest to the window glass. These curtains hang beneath heavier over-drapery.

V

Valance: A valance is a horizontal decorative fabric treatment used at the top of curtains to hide hardware and cords.

Velour: Velour is a fabric with a pile or napped surface resembling velvet.

Velvet: Velvet is a soft fabric that is either handwoven or machine-made. The machine-made velvet is a double-faced fabric that weaves two fabrics, face to face, joined by the weft yarns. These yarns are then cut automatically which forms the pile on both faces.

Velveteen: Velveteen is a fabric with a single weft, similar to velvet but generally much softer and typically used for apparel.

W

Wall Fasteners: Wall fasteners are toggle or molly bolts that are fastened to hollow walls for window treatments.

Warp: Warp refers to yarns placed on a warp beam and entered into a loom.

Weft: Weft is the yarn that traverses the warp yarns horizontally during the weaving operation. A weft is often referred to as filling.

Weights: Weights are made of lead or chain and are used to steady the bottom of curtain panels and improve drapability. Lead weights are sewn in at the vertical seams and at each corner of a drapery panel. Chain weights are small beads strung in a line along the bottom hemline of sheers to insure an even hemline and straight hanging.

Welt: A welt is piping covered with fabric and sewn into the seam of a product. We offer three sizes of piping: small (.25), medium (.5), and large or jumbo (1.5). The finished welt size depends on the fabric used.

Width: Width refers to the measurement of fabric as it comes from a fabric roll. Several widths of fabric are sewn together to make a curtain panel.

Wool: Wool is a fabric made from the hair of animals such as sheep, llamas, goats, and camels. It is a resilient fabric that is resistant to wrinkling, renewed by moisture, and known for its warmth. Varieties of wool include Alpaca, Angora, Botany, Cashmere, Merino, and Shetland.

Worsted: Worsted can be one of two things: either a firmly twisted yard or thread spun from combed, long-staple wool (often used for weaving) ; or a wool cloth woven from these yarns, with a hard surface and no nap.

Y

Yard: A yard is a 36-inch American measurement. The American yard is 1/100,000th of an inch longer than the English yard.

Yarn-Dyeing: Yarn-dyeing refers to fabric made from yarn that has been dyed before weaving.