WINDOW TREATMENTS

A. HEMS 

These are finished bottom  edges of the drapery. Curtain hems are folded twice at the bottom, so it needs to have twice as much fabric for the hem.  The longer the curtain is, the wider the hem needs to be; this will help make it look more proportionate.Sheer fabrics often are so lightweight that the hem floats and billow. Sew a bead tape to the hems to stabilize them and give the fabric weight.

Reference: 

How to Hem Curtains. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2017, from http://www.wikihow.com/Hem-Curtains

B. HEADERS 

B.1 TAB TOPS

Tab top is a contemporary heading suitable for all fabrics. Tap top curtains are suitable for all curtain poles with a diameter of up to 45mm (1¾"). Tabs are always made in the same fabric as the curtains. Tab tops headers are loops of separate fabric sewn onto unpleated and flat drapery with round rod slides through the loops. 

 

B.2 TIE TOP CURTAINS

A casual way of hanging drapes onto the curtain rod. In both cases the rods used with tab and tie top are usually ornate and decorative.

B. 3 EYELETS 

A decorative alternative for curtain poles, eyelet headings are suitable for all curtain fabrics. Eyelet curtains are very easy to hang. Eyelets are available in 6 colours shown below. The rings have an internal diameter of 40mm and are suitable for poles with a diameter of up to 30mm. 

Reference:

Product Guide: Curtain Heading Styles. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2017, from https://www.curtainscurtainscurtains.co.uk/curtain-heading-styles-hhid232.html

Bee, Z. (n.d.). Common Drapery Terminology---Basic Window Treatments Explained. Retrieved February 25, 2017, from https://dengarden.com/home-improvement/Common-Drapery-Terminology-Basic-Window-Treatments-Explained

B.4 SHIRRING

Shirring is a technique for sewing texture that takes a regular piece of fabric and shrinks it up, giving it elasticity. In sewing, shirring is two or more rows of gathers that are used to decorate parts of garments, usually the sleeves, bodice or yoke. The term is also sometimes used to refer to the pleats seen in stage curtains.

B. 5 SMOCKING 

Smocking is an embroidery technique used to gather fabric so that it can stretch. Before elastic, smocking was commonly used in cuffs, bodices, and necklines in garments where buttons were undesirable. Smocking developed in England and has been practiced since the Middle Ages and is unusual among embroidery methods in that it was often worn by laborers. Other major embroidery styles are purely decorative and represented status symbols. Smocking was practical for garments to be both form fitting and flexible. Smocking was used most extensively in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

References:

Ashley Little on November 12, 2014. (2014, November 04). Give Fabric Elasticity with These Shirring Tips for Beginners. Retrieved February 25, 2017, from https://www.craftsy.com/blog/2014/11/shirring-tips/

Paxton, R. (2017, February 22). Pursuing peace in the home... Retrieved February 25, 2017, from https://www.maisondepax.com/

Adams, W. E. (1993, July 27). Mounting bracket for window treatments - Adams Mfg. Co. Retrieved February 25, 2017, from http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5230494.html

B. 6 PLEATS 

BOX PLEATS- a pleat consisting of two parallel creases facing opposite directions and forming a raised section in between.

CARTRIDGE PLEATS- are made from 2 or more rows of uniform hand basting stitches run along the top edge of the skirt. The rows have to be exactly matched for perfect pleats. The stitch threads are pulled up to form the pleats that are then whipstitches to the waistband. Cartridge pleating stitches are placed in evenly-spaced rows. The stitch marks vary and will change with different fabrics and for assorted projects. Make a sample using different markings on your specific fabric to find the best placement. The spaces between the stitches can also vary for how full you want the pleats and the bulkiness of your fabric. Wool will have wider spaced stitches than cottons and silks.

References:

Rosbrugh, J. (2013, June 6.) How to sew cartridge pleats. From http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_apa_format_examples.shtml

FRENCH PLEATS- are regular spaced triple pleats generally formed by a tape that pulls through the cords to create the pleats. The pleats are pinched close together at the bottom so that they fan out towards the top. They require a specific pleated curtain hook to hold the pleats in place and attach the curtain to the track. They are often sewn at the base of the pleat on the face of the fabric to hold the pleat in place. Fabric requirements are 2 ¼ – 2 ½ times the width of the window opening.

Reference:

Brown, L. French pleats. From http://www.curtains.interiordezine.com/curtains/french-pleat/

PENCIL PLEATS- curtains are the most common type of pleats and heading tape used. In this short article you are going to learn more about this type of curtain and The tape forms crisp even upright parallel pleats (like a row of pencils). The pencil pleat curtain requires 2 ¼ – 2 ½ times curtain fullness. The curtain has two rows of suspension pockets and can be used with track or pole fixtures. This style is neat and tidy and creates a full curtain, with the fabric quantities required.

Reference:

Brown, L. Pencil Pleats. From http://www.curtains.interiordezine.com/curtains/pencil-pleat/

ACCORDIAN PLEATS- Stiffened wave heading using between 80-100% fullness. Glides are sewn into the curtain so limited to certain hardware configurations. One of a series of narrow, evenly spaced parallel pleats with alternating raised and recessed folds set into cloth or other material, usually by a commercial pleating machine. 

GOBLET PLEATS- formed by a heading tape sewn to the head of the curtain fabric, when the cords are pulled the pleat creates a goblet or tubular form to the front of the curtain. It is a formal style and best used if the curtain is going to be fixed in position and drawn back with tiebacks or holdbacks as it looks bizarre when drawn to the side of the window.

FLEMISH CURTAIN HEADING- is created by using the goblet pleat and linking the plates with a cord or rope,

 another formal or traditional style.

References: 

Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2017. Retrieved from http://www.dictionary.com/browse/accordion-pleat

Brown, L. (2012, February). Curtain Heading Types Part 9. Retrieved from http://education.interiordezine.com/curtains-ecourse/curtain-heading-types-part-9/

1. WOOD SOCKETS

Wooden pole socket accommodates a wood pole up to 1-3/8-inch diameter for closet or general hanging storage use. Reinforced design for strength in natural finish. 

2. FINIALS

An attachment at each end of a curtain rod, originally to stop curtain to stop curtain rings from falling off, but it is now treated as decorative material.

  

Made of steel in flat black and gold finish                            

Made of modern collection acrylic in 

modern line brushed nickel.   

Made of resin in rustic iron finish.

References:

The Art of the Finial. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2017, from https://www.thefinialcompany.com/drapery-finials

3. EXTENSION BRACKETS 

These are attached to ordinary brackets to extend the length of the rod return, basically needed for multiple tier curtains to hang freely. The mounting brackets are attached to the window by a plurality of suction cups. 

4. EXTENSION PLATES

Each bracket is comprised of a base plate and an elongated mounting element oriented substantially perpendicular to the base plate. The mounting element is adapted to receive one of a shade and a curtain rod substantially above the window and outside of the periphery of the window. When in a closed position the window, treatment blocks any significant light or air draft from being transmitted from the exterior of the building to the interior of the building.

Reference:

Adams, W. E. (1993, July 27). Mounting bracket for window treatments - Adams Mfg. Co. Retrieved February 25, 2017, from http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5230494.html

5. WEIGHTS 

A. LEAD WEIGHT sewn in at the vertical seams and each corner of drapery panel.

B. CHAINS WEIGHTS small beads, strung in a line along bottom hemline of sheets, to insure an even hemline and straight hanging.

Reference:

Brown, L. (2012, February). Curtain Heading Types Part 9. Retrieved from http://education.interiordezine.com/curtains-ecourse/curtain-heading-types-part-9/