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Draperies

Drapery Style Treatment Draperies are defined as a panel, or panels, of fabric that cover the entire window, and they may sometimes be set up as decorative stationary treatments. They have some kind of constructed top that allows for attachment to a rod, and there are countless ways of varying the style and look of this treatment and its function. The constructed top might consist of pleats, tabs, attached rings, grommets, snaps, or other unusual headings. Shown in these style pages are some of the most common drapery styles generally accepted among drapery professionals today.

There are business rules when talking about draperies. When the term "drapery" is used, it is expected that the panel will have some kind of constructed top. These constructed tops are often referred to as the drapery "heading", and the type of heading generally determines the style of the drapery. When no specific heading style is specified, a pleated top is assumed. However due to the recent increase in the popularity of drapery in design, specifying a heading style is becoming a necessity. With the rapid rate of evolution in this area, current practice dictates requesting a sewn sample of a particular style from the workroom prior to production to be sure designer and client agree on the design and construction.

Rod pocket panels can also be used as a drapery, however in our educational and standards program they are grouped in a separate category since they have their own set of criteria.To learn more about designing and specifying draperies, refer to chapter 1 in the book Elements of Soft Treatments

Draperies are divided up into sub-categories which consist of:

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Pleated Tops	This category of drapery heading is manufactured with some type of sewn pleat, creating groups of fullness separated by flat spaces. Pleated headings are usually made with buckram, crenoline, or some other type of stiffener.
Soft Tops	Soft top draperies are most often made with some type of sewn or constructed pleat at the top, but they may occasionally be made with no pleats at all. Draperies in this category will not have crinoline or buckram as a stiffener in the heading, but rather some kind of fabric only heading construction.
Tab Tops	Draperies classified as tab tops usually are made without stiffening in the header and will have some type of a constructed tab at the heading to allow attachment to a pole, rod or medallion. When specifying a tab style a type of tab must be specified. See add-ons for more tab types.
Unusual Headings	Draperies which will be classified in this section include headings constructed with snap tapes or grommets, such as Accordiafold®, Ripplefold®, or shower curtains. Draperies constructed with a variety of specialty decorative shirring and smocking tapes might also be found here.
Special Set-Ups	Pull-ups and Roll-ups will have extra fullness in length only and the fullness will be permanently drawn up and held by some kind of strap or tie.
Custom Products	The custom drapery category will include any drapery style which is new, unnamed, or can not be otherwise created through the use of existing drapery and/or add on components. Re-make or Re-work of products, or custom mock-up samples also belong in this area.

General Information

FULLWORKING means they will open and close by means of a traversing rod or hand baton

STATIONARY (Side Hangs): means they do not operate; they are set-up for decoration only

Always clearly specify if the draperies are to be lined, unlined or interlined.
Lining selection is part of the drapery design.
Check with the workroom regarding their policy on pattern matching if using a fabric with a printed or woven repeating pattern.

Pricing can be: (Check with your current drapery workroom)

Draperies are priced per width of fabric, sometimes called "width of measure" or WOM.

Some workrooms bill in even numbered widths only: 2,4,6,8, etc. Check with the workroom regarding their policy on this.

Some workrooms have a minimum width charge.
Railroaded fabric will need to be converted into widths in order to find the cost.
Depending on the workroom, there may be a maximum width of fabric to determine the per width charge. For example, if the fabric is 132" wide and the maximum width of fabric is 54", 132 divided by 54 = 2.444, round up = 3 widths. The billable widths are 3.
Banding, trims, ruffles, and similar decorations added to draperies are billed separately from the per-width base charge and are usually per foot or each.

Tips when Measuring

To ceiling – make sure hardware will allow drapery to go to ceiling.
If sill length, measure just above sill approximately 1/2"
Apron length – recommended 2” below wood molding under sill, or 5” below sill if there is no molding.
To clear floor – ½” off floor is standard.
Break on floor – add 1/2" - 2".
Puddle – add 3" - 15" plus.

Kirk Axelson

Precision Draperies Education

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