Sewing Dictionary
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A
Appliqué: A decorative technique where pieces of fabric are sewn onto a larger piece to create patterns or pictures.
Armscye: The armhole opening in a garment where the sleeve is attached.
B
Backstitch: A strong stitch used at the beginning and end of a seam to prevent unraveling. It's created by sewing a few stitches forward, then a few stitches backward.
Baste: Long, easy-to-remove stitches are sewn into the fabric temporarily, either by hand or by machine. Hand-basting stitches are used to hold layers of fabric and batting together for quilting. They are also used to gather a section of fabric into a smaller space. Machine-basting stitches are used to close a seam before inserting a zipper.
Bias: The diagonal direction of the fabric. Cutting on the bias gives the fabric more stretch and flexibility.
Bobbin: A small spool that holds the lower thread in a sewing machine.
C
Casing: A folded-over edge of fabric that creates a tunnel for elastic, drawstring, or cording.
Clip: To cut small notches into the seam allowance, allowing it to lie flat and reduce bulk.
Cotton: A natural fiber that's soft, breathable, and versatile, commonly used in a wide range of sewing projects.
Courses: Corresponding to the crosswise grain of a woven fabric, the courses of a knit fabric run perpendicular to the selvages and ribs. Knit fabrics are most stretchy in the direction of the courses.
Crosswise grain: on woven fabric, the crosswise grain runs perpendicular to the selvages. Fabric has a slight “give” in the crosswise grain.
Cut length: the total length at which fabric should be cut for a project.
Cut width: the total width at which fabric should be cut for a project.
D
Dart: A fold sewn into fabric to shape it around the curves of the body, often used in the bust, waist, and hips.
Drape: The way fabric hangs under its own weight. Different fabrics have different drape qualities, affecting how they flow and fit.
Double Fold Hem: A type of hem where the fabric edge is folded over twice and stitched down, enclosing the raw edge.
Drop length: the length of a tablecloth from the edge of the table to the edge of the cloth.
E
Ease: The extra space added to a garment for comfort and movement, or the process of fitting a larger piece of fabric into a smaller space without creating gathers or pleats.
Embellishment: Decorative details added to a garment, such as embroidery, beads, sequins, or lace.
Embroidery: The art of decorating fabric with needle and thread, creating designs or patterns.
F
Facing: Fabric pieces sewn to the edge of a garment (like necklines and armholes) to finish and stabilize it.
Fat Quarter: A pre-cut piece of fabric that measures 18 inches by 22 inches, commonly used in quilting.
Feed Dogs: The metal teeth on a sewing machine that move the fabric under the needle.
Fusible Interfacing: A material with adhesive on one side that bonds to fabric when ironed, providing extra structure and support.
G
Gathering: A technique where fabric is bunched together along a seam to create fullness.
Grain: The direction of the threads in woven fabric. The lengthwise grain runs parallel to the selvage, while the crosswise grain runs perpendicular.
H
Hem: The finished edge of a garment, typically turned under and stitched.
Hook and Eye: A small metal fastener consisting of a hook and a loop (eye), often used in bras, skirts, and dresses.
I
Interfacing: Fabric used to provide structure and support to areas of a garment, such as collars, cuffs, and button plackets.
Invisible Zipper: A zipper designed to be hidden in a seam, with only the pull tab visible.
J
Jersey: A type of knit fabric that is stretchy and soft, commonly used for t-shirts and dresses.
Jig: A tool or template used to ensure accuracy in repetitive sewing tasks.
K
Knit Fabric: Fabric made by interlocking loops of yarn, which gives it stretch and flexibility.
Knife Pleat: A type of pleat that is sharply pressed to form a crisp fold, often used in skirts.
L
Lining: A layer of fabric sewn inside a garment to provide a clean finish and added comfort.
Loom: A device used to weave thread or yarn into fabric.
M
Muslin: A plain, woven cotton fabric often used for making test garments or prototypes (also called toiles).
Mitered Corner: A corner that is folded and stitched at a 45-degree angle for a neat finish, commonly used in quilting and home decor.
N
Notch: A small cut or marking on fabric pieces to indicate matching points for accurate assembly.
Needle Plate: The metal plate under a sewing machine's needle, with a hole for the needle to pass through and guidelines for seam allowances.
O
Overlock Stitch: A stitch that wraps around the edge of the fabric to prevent fraying, typically done with a serger.
Overlay: A layer of fabric placed over another for decorative effect, often made of lace, chiffon, or tulle.
P
Patchwork: A technique of sewing together small pieces of fabric to create a larger design, commonly used in quilting.
Pinking Shears: Scissors with a zigzag blade that cuts fabric in a way that minimizes fraying.
Pleat: A fold in fabric that is stitched or pressed into place to add fullness or texture.
Q
Quilting: The process of sewing together layers of fabric with padding in between, often creating a decorative pattern.
Quarter Inch Foot: A sewing machine foot designed to help sew precise quarter-inch seams, commonly used in quilting.
R
Raw Edge: The unfinished edge of a piece of fabric.
Right Side: The front or outer side of fabric that is meant to be seen.
S
Seam Allowance: The area between the edge of the fabric and the stitching line, usually 1/4 to 5/8 inch.
Seam Gauge – A tiny ruler with big precision. Perfect for hems, seam allowances, and button spacing.
Seam Ripper – Because mistakes happen. This is your stitch-undoing sidekick.
Selvage: The finished edge of fabric that prevents it from fraying, running along the lengthwise grain.
Staystitch: A line of stitching just inside the seam allowance to prevent fabric from stretching out of shape.
T
Tape Measure - Used for body measurements, fabric, and just about everything.
Topstitch: A row of stitching on the top of a garment, often for decorative or functional purposes.
Tension: The tightness or looseness of the thread in a sewing machine, affecting stitch quality.
U
Understitching: Stitching the seam allowance to the facing to prevent it from rolling to the outside of the garment.
Unpicker: A small tool used to remove stitches, also known as a seam ripper.
V
Vogue Patterns: A popular brand of sewing patterns known for their high fashion and designer styles.
Velcro: A brand name for a hook-and-loop fastener.
W
Walking Foot: A sewing machine foot that helps feed multiple layers of fabric evenly, preventing shifting.
Welt Pocket: A pocket with a slit opening, often finished with a rectangular piece of fabric or binding.
X
X-stitch: Another term for cross-stitch, a form of embroidery using x-shaped stitches.
Y
Yoke: A shaped pattern piece that forms part of a garment, typically fitting around the neck and shoulders or the hips.
Yarn: A long, continuous length of interlocked fibers used in knitting, weaving, and sewing.
Z
Zigzag Stitch: A stitch that forms a zigzag pattern, often used for finishing edges or adding stretch.
Zipper Foot: A sewing machine foot designed to sew close to the edge of a zipper.
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