Hand Tools
A round rotating blade attached to a handle used for easy cutting against a straight edge
What is a Rotary Cutter?
Similar to a spool of thread, but much smaller and used in addition to the spool of thread in a sewing machine
What is a Bobbin?
The line where two pieces of fabric are sewn together
What is the Seam?
The orientation of fibers, woven or knit together, to create a fabric
What is Fabric Grain?
A fold created by doubling the fabric over itself, and stitching it together
What is a Pleat?
A small blade on the end of a handle used to rip seams or poke holes
What is a Seam Ripper?
Used to power the sewing machine (hands-free!)
What is a Foot Pedal?
The space of fabric between the edge and seam
What is the Seam Allowance?
Diagonally across the grain of the fabric, where woven fabric has more stretch or give
What is Bias?
A design element at the top part of a garment, to fit over the body
What is a Yoke?
A wire tool that can be inserted into the eye of a needle to help with threading
What is a Needle Threader?
Used to adjust the needle height
What is the Hand Wheel?
An inner layer of fabric underneath a garment
What is a Lining?
The thread that runs the length of a woven fabric (“up” and “down”)
What is the Warp?
A hand-sewing technique used to decorate fabric with needle-made designs
What is Embroidery?
A thin surface often marked with units of measurement upon which one can cut fabric with a cutting utensil without damaging the mat
What is a Self-healing Cutting Mat?
The part of the sewing machine that keeps the spool in place while the thread is fed into the machine
What is the Spool Pin?
The edge of the fabric that has been folded and sewn under in order to keep the raw edge of the fabric from unraveling and being seen
What is a Hem?
The threads that run at right angles to the length of a woven fabric, otherwise known as cross-grain
What is the Weft?
Sewing, by hand or machine, with long stitches in order to temporarily hold together two pieces of fabric, so that they stay in place while you stitch them together
What is Baste?
Small, sharp pieces of metal used to temporarily hold fabric in place as a guide
What is a Pin?
The toothed metal piece underneath the stitch plate that moves up and down to push the fabric along
What is the Feed Dog?
The process of stitching two layers of fabric together, with a layer of filling in between in a consistent pattern
What is Quilting?
The edges of a raw fabric that run along the edge with the grain
What is the Selvedge?
The process of sewing a piece of fabric onto another piece of fabric, sewing close to the edges of the shape that you attach
What is Appliqué?