Comprehensive Sewing Glossary
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.
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.
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.
D
- Dart: A V-shaped tuck used to shape garments.
- Double Needle: Two needles used in tandem to create parallel lines of stitching.
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.
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".
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.
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.
I
- Interfacing: Fabric used to stabilize other fabrics, usually ironed or sewn into place.
J
- Jersey: A type of knit fabric known for its stretch and softness, often used in t-shirts and dresses.
K
- Knit Fabric: A fabric made from interlocking loops of yarn, known for its stretch.
L
- Lining: An inner layer of fabric sewn into a garment to provide a finished look and additional comfort.
M
- Muslin: A plain-woven cotton fabric used for making test garments or patterns.
N
- Notch: Small cuts or marks made on the edge of fabric pieces to align them correctly during construction.
O
- Overlock: A type of stitch used to finish edges and prevent fraying, often done with a serger.
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.
Q
- Quilting: The process of sewing two or more layers of fabric together to make a thicker padded material.
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.
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.
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.
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.
V
- Vent: A slit in a garment that allows for ease of movement, often found in skirts and jackets.
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.
Y
- Yoke: A fitted piece of fabric, often at the shoulders or hips, that helps shape the garment.