Sewing Terms #1
Fabric cut into 5 inch blocks.
5 inch squares
Fabric that is cut into 10 inch blocks.
10 inch squares
Fabric cut into little half triangles.
Half-square triangles
Tool used to cut through fabric. Has a round blade.
Rotary Cutter
Tool used to rip apart a seam.
Seam ripper
Scissors that are only used to cut fabric specifically.
Shears
Used to hold fabric together. They can be different shapes and sizes.
Pins
The line where you sew together two pieces of fabric.
Seam
Used to create certain shapes and patterns.
Template
The design of your quilt.
Pattern
Use an iron to press seams open or to one side.
Pressing
Strips of fabric that surround the entire quilt.
Border
Strips that divide up the pattern long ways and short waves.
Sashing
The finished outer edges of the quilt.
Binding
The bottom edge of a garment often folded up towards the inside of the garment.
Hem
A layer of fabric on the inside of a garment to hide construction seams and details, add warmth and make it more comfortable to wear and easier to put on.
Lining
The raw, raveling, and unfinished, cut edge of the fabric.
Raw edge
Narrow strips or border that runs down the length of the fabric edges.
Salvage
An additional layer of fabric that is used to stabilize, add structure, "crispness" and strength. It lays between the lining/facing and the outer fabric of a garment.
Interfacing
Directional grain of the fabric.
Bias
Stitch consisting of a line of small even stitches that run in and out through the cloth without overlapping.
Running stitch
A stitch sewn one stitch length backwards on the front and two stitch lengths forward on the reverse side.
Back stitch
Permanently fused with the wrong side of the fabric to add strength and structure to your garment. It's often used in button bands, buttonhole areas, welt pockets, collars, cuffs but it can also be used in entire panels.
Fusible Interfacing
The face of the fabric is the side you see on the outside of the garment. The backside of a fabric and the inside of the garment.
Top - Where the top thread travels through the tension discs, they are at the top of your sewing machine.
Bottom - In the bobbin case.
Thread Tension