2010 © Debbie Shore.  Website design by jwmwebsitedesign.co.uk

2012
WORKSHOPS
NOW
AVAILABLE!

Click Here For More Information

Sewing Glossary
A

Applique - Piece of fabric applied to a background material, a like a patch.

Austrian Blind - A soft fabric blind that is gathered or pleated which draws up in soft folds.
B

Baste - Same as tacking stitch.

Batten - A narrow piece of timber that your blind or curtain pole is attached to.
C

Café Rod - A narrow curtain pole usually tension held in the recess of the window.

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

Chardonnay - oops ... how did that slip in?!

Chintz - A printed cotton fabric usually with a glazes finish.

Cleat - A metal or plastic hook with two arms used for holding cords in place on blinds.
D

Dowelling - Round or square wooden rods used to strengthen roman blinds.

Dupion - A plain, shiny fabric similar to silk, a fairly difficult fabric to work with as it frays easily.
F

Fascia board - A narrow strip of board or MDF which is covered with fabric and used to cover a curtain track.

Festoon blind - A very decorative, fussy blind that is ruched all along it's length as well as the heading.

Finial - A shaped attachment that slots or screws into the ends of a curtain pole.
G

Goblet pleat - A curtain heading in which the fabric is stitched in narrow tubes, like goblets, that are then stuffed with wadding to keep their shape.
H

Heading - The top edge of a curtain, finished either with a tare or buckram.

Header tape - Tape sewn across the top of the curtain which can be drawn to create decorative pleating.

Hem - The bottom edge of the curtain or blind.
I

Interfacing - Stiffener used in between layers of fabric to create stabilization and form.  Can be fusible and used with an iron or sewn in.

Interlining - A soft material sewn in between the face fabric of the curtain and it's lining.  It gives your curtains a luxurious feeling and provides extra insulation.
J

Jargon - Clever words that nobody really understands, you won't find any in my DVDs.
L

Leading edge - The edge of the curtain which faces the window.

Lining - A closely woven, usually cotton fabric used for the inside of curtains and blinds.
N

Notch - a V Shaped cut in a seam allowance, helps reduce puckering.
O

Over locking - This is a stitch, usually machined, that secures the edge of your fabric to prevent fraying.
P

Pattern repeat - The length of the pattern on a piece of fabric before it repeats itself.  Important to align patterns as the curtains meet or they will look odd.

Pelmet - A stiff fabric covered box shaped cover for the top of your curtains.

Pencil pleat - Literally pinching the top of the curtain at regular intervals, creating groups of three petal like gatherings.
R

Raw edge - The edge of the fabric that is not hemmed or finished.

Reveal - The side window recess, i.e. the wall that's adjacent to the window frame.

Roller blind - A blind of stiffened fabric that is mounted on a spring roller mechanism,.

Roman blind - A flat style blind that folds underneath itself as it's pulled up.
S

Satisfaction - What you feel when you've created something yourself.

Selvedge - The bound edge running the length of your fabric that doesn't fray.

Sidelay - The turning hem on both the leading and outside edge of your curtain.

Slip/Ladder stitch - A hand stitch used to hold two folded edges of fabric together, can be invisible.

Slot heading - A curtain heading with a simple hemmed top into which your pole is threaded.

Straight stitch - A basic running stitch, probably the most used.

Swag - A soft swathe of fabric draped along the op of a curtain pole or pelmet.
T

Tacking - A temporary stitch used to hold layers of fabric whilst machine stitching.

Tab top - A curtain heading where the fabric is hung from a pole using a series of fabric loops rather than header tape.

Tails - A zig zag  of lined fabric to decorate the ends of your curtain poles.  Usually coupled with swags.

Template - A pattern used as a guide when cutting out.

Tie top - Similar to tab top but using ties instead of loops.

Tipple - Something to treat yourself to when your windows are finished (not before - we want straight seems!)

Turning - Seam allowance.
V

Valance - A pleated or gathered piece of fabric fixed to a pelmet to decorate above your curtains.

Voile - A finely woven cloth which is sheer.
W

Warp - The lengthways thread in a woven fabric.

Weft - The crossways thread in woven fabric.