Design Elements
Bolster
A firm pillow, long enough to extend the width of a bed and used as head support, with or without a pillow. It is synonymous with Neckroll.
Boxing
A term describing the straight strip of fabric, which covers the sides of a three dimensional round or square pillow. The boxing is joined to the rest of the cover with seams which occasionally include a decorative trimming such as welting.
Cornice
A decorative heading for window draperies, often covered with fabric to matcorners and usually juts out into the room. A cornice is often made of wood.
Curtains
Fabric window covering, usually unlined, which hang within the framework of the window, ending at the windowsill. They are decorative and functional at the same time. They can be made of almost any fabric.
Cushions
A cushion is a soft pad used to sit, lie, or kneel on, or to lean against: A cloth casing which has been stuffed with feathers, down, kapok, rubber, synthetic foam, fiber fill or a similar substance and is used to support some part of the body and to make furniture more comfortable.
Draperies
Draperies are fabrics that hang or drape. They are often designed to open and close across a window. They are almost always lined and are usually made with fabrics which are often quite luxurious such as satin or velvet. They normally hang to the floor but in very formal rooms they may even lie on the floor. They can be made of almost any fabric. “Drapes” is an abbreviation for draperies, commonly used instead of the longer word.
Dust Ruffle
Dust ruffles were originally detachable, wide ruffles at the bottom of women’s floor- length skirts which could be removed for washing before the rest of the garment required washing. Dust ruffles are now found almost exclusively as part of bedspreads or as a separate ruffle placed over the box spring. They can be removed for cleaning, and are separate from the bedspread.
Flange
A flat border. In fabrics, the term usually applies to a flat border on a pillow.
Fringe
In the true sense, fringe is a border, but when it refers to fabric for clothing and home furnishings it means a shaggy edging.
Pillow
A cloth bag which has been stuffed with feathers, down, kapok, rubber, synthetic foam, fiber fill or a similar substance and is used to support some part of the body and to make furniture more comfortable.
Quilting
Stitching through two or more layers of fabric to form a design or pattern. The most common quilting design today is a diamond pattern but quilting stitches (usually a short running stitch) may also be done in other geometric or floral patterns. Quilting stitches are often used to outline patchwork or applique designs on a quilt.
A decorative, draped fabric section placed over a window. Swags are usually used in conjunction with draperies or curtains.
A decorative top for curtains or draperies. It is usually hung from a rod and made of fabric or fabric over a stiffening material such as buckram. A valance differs from a ruffle in that it is absolutely flat.
Covered cording inserted in a seam to strengthen it. It is also an ornamental finish along a seam or the edge of a garment.
A seam in which one edge is cut close to the stitching line and covered by the other edge, which is stitched over it.