A
- Appliqué: A decorative technique where one piece of fabric is sewn onto another.
- Armscye: The armhole in a garment, often referring to the finished opening.
- A-Line: A dress or skirt silhouette that flares out from the waist, resembling the shape of the letter "A."
- Awl: A tool used to make small holes in fabric for stitching or inserting fasteners.
B
- Backstitch: A strong stitch used at the beginning and end of a seam to prevent unraveling.
- Baste: Temporary, long stitches used to hold fabric in place before final stitching.
- Bias: The diagonal direction of the fabric, which has the most stretch.
- Binding: A strip of fabric used to cover the raw edges of a garment for a neat finish.
C
- Casing: A folded-over edge of fabric that encases elastic or a drawstring.
- Clip: Small cuts made into the seam allowance to allow the fabric to lay flat, typically on curves.
- Cutting Mat: A surface used to protect your table and your rotary cutter blade when cutting fabric.
- Curved Seam: A seam that is not straight, often found in fitted garments for shaping.
D
- Dart: A V-shaped tuck used to shape garments.
- Double Needle: Two needles used in tandem to create parallel lines of stitching.
- Dress Form: A mannequin used to drape and fit garments.
- Drop Waist: A style where the waistline is positioned lower on the hips rather than the natural waist.
E
- Ease: Extra fabric allowed in a garment for comfort and movement.
- Edge Stitch: A line of stitching very close to the edge of a seam or hem.
- Embellishment: Decorative elements added to garments, such as beads, sequins, or embroidery.
- Eyelet: A small hole or perforation, often finished with stitching or a metal ring, used for lacing or decoration.
F
- Facing: A piece of fabric used to finish the edge of a garment, such as around armholes or necklines.
- Fat Quarter: A quarter-yard of fabric cut into a rectangular shape, typically 18" x 22".
- Flat Felled Seam: A type of seam that encases the raw edges, often used in jeans for durability.
- Fray: The unraveling of fabric threads at the edge.
G
- Gathering: A technique used to create ruffles by sewing two lines of basting stitches and pulling the threads to gather the fabric.
- Grain: The direction of the threads in woven fabric. The lengthwise grain runs parallel to the selvage.
- Gusset: A piece of fabric inserted into a seam to add width and reduce stress, often found in underarms and crotches.
- Grommet: A metal ring used to reinforce holes in fabric, often used for lacing or decoration.
H
- Hem: The finished edge of a garment, often turned up and sewn.
- Hook and Eye: A type of closure consisting of a metal hook and a looped eye.
- Handwheel: The wheel on the side of a sewing machine that manually moves the needle up and down.
- Hem Tape: A narrow strip of fabric used to finish and secure hems.
I
- Interfacing: Fabric used to stabilize other fabrics, usually ironed or sewn into place.
- Inseam: The seam that runs along the inside of a leg in pants or shorts.
- Invisible Zipper: A zipper that, when sewn in, is hidden within the seam of a garment.
- Iron-on Transfer: A design or pattern that is applied to fabric using heat from an iron.
J
- Jersey: A type of knit fabric known for its stretch and softness, often used in t-shirts and dresses.
- Jabot: A decorative ruffle or lace trim, often found on the front of a blouse or dress.
- Jump Stitch: A stitch that allows the needle to jump over areas of fabric without stitching, often used in embroidery.
- Jute: A natural fiber often used in heavy fabrics, such as burlap.
K
- Knit Fabric: A fabric made from interlocking loops of yarn, known for its stretch.
- Knife Pleat: A type of pleat that is pressed in one direction and lies flat.
- Knit Picker: A small tool used to fix snags in knit fabrics.
L
- Lining: An inner layer of fabric sewn into a garment to provide a finished look and additional comfort.
- Loom: A device used to weave fabric.
- Ladder Stitch: A hand stitch used to close seams invisibly, often used in quilting and soft toy making.
- Loop Turn: A technique used to turn narrow fabric tubes right side out.
M
- Muslin: A plain-woven cotton fabric used for making test garments or patterns.
- Mock-Up: A prototype or test version of a garment, often made in muslin.
- Mitered Corner: A method of finishing corners by folding the fabric diagonally.
- Monogram: Initials or a design embroidered on fabric for personalization.
N
- Notch: Small cuts or marks made on the edge of fabric pieces to align them correctly during construction.
- Needle Plate: The metal plate on a sewing machine that the needle passes through.
- Nap: The raised, fuzzy surface on fabrics like velvet or corduroy, which can affect the direction of the fabric's appearance.
- Notions: Small sewing supplies like buttons, zippers, and thread.
O
- Overlock: A type of stitch used to finish edges and prevent fraying, often done with a serger.
- On-Grain: When fabric threads run parallel to the edges, ensuring the fabric is straight and even.
- Overlay: A piece of fabric placed over another for decorative purposes.
- Open Seam: A seam where the seam allowances are pressed open.
P
- Pleat: A fold in the fabric that adds fullness or shape.
- Presser Foot: The part of the sewing machine that holds the fabric down as it is sewn.
- Pinking Shears: Scissors with a zigzag edge used to prevent fabric from fraying.
- Piping: A narrow strip of fabric sewn into a seam for decoration.
Q
- Quilting: The process of sewing two or more layers of fabric together to make a thicker padded material.
- Quarter Inch Seam: A standard seam allowance used in quilting.
- Quilt Sandwich: The three layers of a quilt (top, batting, and backing) before quilting.
- Quilt Binding: The fabric strip that finishes the edge of a quilt.
R
- Raw Edge: The unfinished edge of a fabric piece.
- Right Side: The front or outer side of the fabric that will be visible when the garment is worn.
- Ruching: A technique of gathering fabric to create texture and volume.
- Rotary Cutter: A tool with a circular blade used to cut fabric accurately.
S
- Seam Allowance: The area between the edge of the fabric and the stitching line.
- Selvage: The finished edge of the fabric that prevents it from unraveling.
- Stay Stitch: A line of stitching sewn inside the seam allowance to prevent stretching.
- Slip Stitch: A hand stitch used to close an opening invisibly.
T
- Topstitch: A row of stitching visible on the outside of a garment, often used for decoration or to keep seams flat.
- Twill: A type of fabric weave that creates a diagonal rib pattern, commonly used in jeans and workwear.
- Tailor's Chalk: A chalk used to mark fabric for cutting or sewing.
- Tension: The tightness of the thread as it is sewn, adjustable on a sewing machine.
U
- Understitch: A row of stitching sewn close to the seam on the facing or lining to keep it from rolling to the outside of the garment.
- Underlining: A layer of fabric sewn to the inside of a garment for support and structure.
- Utility Stitch: A basic, functional stitch used for general sewing purposes.
- Universal Needle: A versatile needle that can be used for both woven and knit fabrics.
V
- Vent: A slit in a garment that allows for ease of movement, often found in skirts and jackets.
- Velcro: A brand of hook-and-loop fasteners used in place of buttons or zippers.
- Vogue Patterns: A brand known for their fashion-forward and designer sewing patterns.
- V-Notch: A small V-shaped cut made in the seam allowance to reduce bulk.
W
- Walking Foot: A sewing machine attachment that helps feed multiple layers of fabric evenly.
- Woven Fabric: Fabric made by interlacing two sets of threads at right angles.
- Whipstitch: A hand stitch used to sew edges together, often used in hemming.
- Wing Needle: A needle with wings on the sides, used for decorative heirloom stitching.
Y
- Yoke: A fitted piece of fabric, often at the shoulders or hips, that helps shape the garment.
- Yardage: The amount of fabric needed for a project