Castellano-Beltrame Visual Dictionary

Visual Dictionary

Following are brief definitions with illustrations for the various types of products manufactured by Castellano-Beltrame.

Beaded Fringe: A type of fringe in which beads (typically wooden or glass) replace the tassels. Also see onion fringe and tassel fringe.


Border: Borders are narrow, woven tape, primarily applied as a window treatment but can be creatively used to adorn screens, panels, cushions, and furniture. Also see trimmings.

Braid: Braids are a narrower version of a border, primarily applied as a window treatment but can be creatively used to adorn screens, panels, cushions, and furniture. Also see gimp.

Bullion: A type of fringe with fingers or branches. For an air of gracious elegance, apply bullion or upholstery fringe to table-drapes, curtains and furnishings.

Buttons: Buttons are a circular accessory, an ideal embellishment for pelmets, cushions and couches.

Chair-ties: Chair-ties are cords with a tassel at each end, used to secure a seat cushion to a chair. They are available in a variety of styles, sizes and colours and are used primarily to adorn single standing chairs.

Cord: Cord is rope composed of multiple plies. With a flange, it is used in the seams of upholstered goods. Without a flange, used to swag over draperies. Cord is a multi-purpose trimming effective in its simplicity. Used extensively in traditional decorating, cord is also popular for contemporary interiors. It can be used on ceilings, dado rails, upholstered tables, furniture, cushions and accessories. Also see lip-cord.

Cross-over fringe: Apply cross-over fringes to table-drapes, curtains, cushions and furnishings. Also see cut fringe and tassel fringe.

Curtain tape: Applied to the back of curtains to enable them to be hung.
Cut fringe: Also called brush fringe or moss fringe, it is used to create a soft edge on window treatments, cushions and lamps. Manufactured in a wide variety of styles and colour combinations. Also see cross-over fringe and tassel fringe.

Decorative ribbons: See ribbon.
Finials: Decorative ends of a curtain rod. These are available in a multitude of styles, colours and finishes.

Gimps: A narrow woven tape, usually 2/3 cm. (1/4") wide, used to conceal nail heads and other joins on upholstery. Also frequently used on lampshades and upholstered walls. Gimps also add the finishing touches to doors, panels, decorative boxes, planters, baskets, pictures, etc. Gimp is a form of braid.

Holdbacks: Usually matching a set of finials, a holdback is often used in the place of a tieback.

Key tassels: A small tassel typically used to embellish a key in an armoire or another piece of furniture. They are available in a variety of styles and sizes and are also used to adorn wardrobes, doors, cushions, cabinets and ottomans.

Lip-cord: Cord with a "lip" attached for easy insertion into cushions or upholstery. Also see cord.

Onion fringe: A form of tassel fringe where the tassels are tied twice so that the tassels form an onion shape. Ideal for window treatments, cushions and lamps. Manufactured in a wide variety of styles and colour combinations.

Petersham: Also known as Grosgrain ribbon. A ribbon with a "ribbed" finish.

Pull-cords: A decorative alternative to a "pull" light switch or other fixture utilising a chain.

Ribbon: Ribbons are perfect for packaging, gift-wrapping, trimming and hundreds of decorative applications, limited only by your imagination.
Rope: A wide form of cord, usually larger than 2.5 cm (1") in diameter. Like cord, it is a multi-purpose trimming, effective in its simplicity. It can be used on ceilings, dado rails, upholstered tables, furniture, cushions and accessories.

Rosette: A combination of a button and a tassel. An ideal embellishment for pelmets, cushions and couches.

Ruches: "Caterpillar" in French, it is a tightly-curled fringe which provides a softer, less formal edge to what it embellishes than cord. A rich and sumptuous ambience is created with the application of ruche to a wide range of furnishings. Ruche can be used doubled to create an even fuller effect. Examples include looped ruche, caterpillar ruche, curly ruche and cut ruche.

Soutasch: Unlike gimp--a flat, narrow braid--Soutasch is more three-dimensional, like two very narrow cords put together. Similar to gimp, soutasch is used to conceal upholstery joins and to add the finishing touches to doors, panels, decorative boxes, planters, baskets, pictures, etc. Also see trimmings.

Swags: Swags can be used as picture hangers or simply draped over your finials, curtain rod and curtains.

Tiebacks: Tiebacks, whether single, double or rope tiebacks, are used to hold back curtains in a decorative manner. They are available in a variety of styles, sizes and colour combinations.

Tassel Fringe: Tassel fringe is composed of a decorative header (a braid) from which tassels are suspended. In straight tassel fringe, all tassels hang at the same height, versus scalloped tassel fringe, whose tassels hang at different lengths, creating a rhythmic, scalloped look. They are ideal for window treatments, cushions and lamps. Manufactured in a wide variety of styles and colour combinations, they can vary greatly in complexity. Tassel fringe can have a core mold, typically made of exposed glass, or wood wrapped in yarn or painted. Also see onion fringe and beaded fringe.

Trimmings: Also known by the French term, passementerie, it is the general term for decorative embellishments. The main categories of trimmings include border, braid, bullion, fringe, gimp, soutasch and tassels. However, all terms on this page refer to a type of trimming.
Tufts: Cut yarns gathered into the shape of a button (for example, imagine compressing brush fringe together). Tufts are an ideal embellishment for pelmets, cushions and couches.