The texture and appearance available in window fashions varies from gauze-like to silky soft to richly weighted. Some subtleties are difficult to convey in photography. To assist you in making a more informed buying decision, and to avoid surprises when you receive your drapery, we've compiled this handy glossary of definitions.
- Batiste
- A semi-sheer, light-filtering fabric made of cotton or polyester-cotton blends constructed in a plain weave of fine, combed yarns and given a mercerized finish to help strengthen the fabric.
- Chintz
- A fabric that has been glazed to achieve a high sheen, resulting in vivid colours.
- Convolute Roller Type
- Convolute is a very sturdy yet lightweight material produced by rolling paper & glue together to a specific inside & outside diameter (dependant on the width of the blind). The fabric of the roller shade is attached to the convolute roller type material tube.
- Damask
- A heavier weight Jacquard-woven fabric; the pattern's luster contrasts to its background and is often reversible.
- Foamback
- A backing of acrylic or acrylic-cotton foam serves as an insulator. The latter, often identified by a brand such as Thermalsuede® or Thermalgard®, is generally superior in weight and flocked for a softer texture.
- Gauze
- A thin, open-weave fabric which filters light and is often used for more casual window dressings like panels and scarves.
- Jacquard
- A term used to describe fabrics with a woven or knitted design. The jacquard attachment on the loom allows for the manufacturing of complicated designs that can be richly textured with raised stitches or a plainer, flatter weave.
- Moiré
- A French word meaning 'watered', this is a finish produced by engraving rollers which press a wavy pattern into fabric. The moiré effect is a result of the differing way light reflects off the crushed and uncrushed areas so that the fabric looks watermarked.
- Satin
- A type of weave with a thick, close texture and a smooth surface that is generally lustrous but may be dull depending on the fibre.
- Sheer
- Any lightweight, transparent fabric such as chiffon, crêpe or voile which provides some privacy yet allows light to enter a room. Chiffon has a finish that's generally dull and soft but sometimes stiff. Crêpe has a crinkled surface, greater opacity and is stiffer than most sheer fabric we sell.
- Semi-sheer
- Any denser-woven sheer with greater light-blocking characteristics.
- Velour
- Light-blocking fabric with a dense, even surface that is soft to the touch and has the feel of velvet.
- Voile
- A sheer, transparent fabric made of cylindrical twisted yarns. A polyester-cotton blend voile is less transparent and more gauze-like in texture.