Tools of the trade
Small, sharp pieces of metal used to temporarily hold fabric in place as a guide
What are pins?
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?
This hand technique is used to close openings that were not sewn so that an item could be turned outside out.
What is the Slip Stitch?
A small blade on the end of a handle used to remove stitches or poke holes
What is a Seam Ripper?
This machine attachment is 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?
This textile is used to add strength or stability to a fabric. It can be applied by hand sewing or fusing with a hot iron.
What is interfacing?
This machine sewing technique is used at the beginning and end of each seam to ensure your seam won't come apart.
What is backstitching?
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?
The cut edge of fabric which can unravel as opposed to the selvage edge which is secured from unraveling by the factory.
What is raw edge?
any textile formed by weaving
What is the Woven fabric?
The process of cutting corners diagonally to reduce bulk and produce a sharp corner.
What is clipping corners?
a thin flat piece of hard chalk or soapstone used by tailors and seamstresses for making temporary marks on cloth.
What is Taylor's chalk?
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?
This term refers to the process of putting your 2 pieces of fabric together so that the right sides of the fabric are touching each other on the inside and the wrong sides of the fabric are showing on the outside.
What is, "right sides together" ?
The fabric surface that is dull and usually hidden inside the garment.
What is the wrong side of the fabric?
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?
Although it looks similar to something used for cutting pizza, this round rotating blade attached to a handle is used for cutting fabric.
What is a rotary cutter?
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 batting filling in between them.
What is Quilting?
A sturdy woven cotton fabric commonly used to make jeans.
What is denim?
This machine sewing technique is used to add decoration and sometimes stability to a seam.
What is topstitching?