Bead weight (aka sausage weight)—tiny weights that are encased inside a woven strip and added to the bottom curtains for an even weight across the entire hem. Bead weight can also be covered and used in place of welt cord in seams.
Blackout—a lining material that has been treated to block all light. Look for a three-pass blackout material for complete light blocking.
Board mount—installing a window treatment to a top board that is then secured to the wall.
Buckram—traditionally a woven cotton cloth stiffened with starch (aka crinoline), but modern versions can be made from polyester or heavy paper. Used to add structure in curtain and valance headings for crisp pleats. Buckram is available in different widths and sew-on or iron-on. The most common width is 4 inches (10.2 cm).
Bump cloth—a very heavy blanket-like interlining commonly used in silk for a luxurious finish.
Curtain or drapery panel—a panel is one piece of a curtain or drapery hung at the window. Panels can be single or multiple widths of fabric sewn together.
Decorative hardware—wooden or metal pole rods used for installing curtains and valances.
Dim out—also called thermal lining, this material has a suede-like surface that helps to diffuse light.
Finial—a decorative detail added to the end of pole rods.
French blackout—a method for creating blackout using face fabric layered with interlining, black lining, and an outer lining.
Fullness—the amount of extra fabric width needed to create pleats or gathers in a window treatment in relation to the size of the window or rod. A common fullness ratio used in window treatments is to multiple two and a half times the rod width.
Hand—the way a fabric feels when touched and draped.
Heading—the hem at the top of a drapery or valance that is shirred or pleated. A heading often has buckram, shirring tape, grommets, or other details to create a specific style.
Headrail—any system used to operate a blind or shade.
Interlining—usually flannel but can be any fabric that is sandwiched between the face fabric and lining.
Lining—a cotton, polyester and cotton blend, or polyester fabric used to cover the reverse side of a window treatment. Look for a lining material that is specifically finished for window treatments; they will perform better than other fabrics. Two common brands in the United States are Hanes Fabrics and Rockland Industries. Most common colors of lining are white, ivory, and khaki.
Medallions—decorative posts or knobs used at the top of draped window treatments or for tiebacks.
Railroading fabric—placing fabric so that it runs down the bolt instead of side to side. This is common in upholstery or when making valances and top treatments to eliminate seams. Some fabrics are printed with this orientation specifically for upholstery.
Repeat—how often the pattern motif on a fabric is duplicated. There are horizontal and vertical pattern repeats.
Return—the area on window treatments that wraps around the hardware or board flush to the wall to cover the projection.
Selvage—the finished edges along the length of the fabric.
Tabling—a term used in the workroom to describe laying out fabrics, measuring, and finishing pieces of a window treatment on the worktable.
Valance—a decorative window treatment that dresses the top of the window. A valance can be plain, pleated, shirred, or a swag style.
Weight tape—square weights sewn into a wide tape, most commonly used in hems of stage curtains and other heavy, large projects.
Weights—metal pieces that are square, round, or triangular in shape and added to hems and seams to help window treatments hang properly. Traditionally, weights are made of lead but newer versions are made of non-lead metal compounds and are safer for the environment.