Sewing Equipment & Materials

A fabric texture, such as corduroy, that runs in a particular direction and requires all pattern pieces be cut facing the same direction.

• Selvage
• Basting
• Nap
• Notch

The amount of fabric left between the cutting line and the seam line when sewing. It should be 5/8 inch unless otherwise noted.

• Selvage
• Seam Width
• Seam Length
• Seam Allowance

Tightly woven factory edge of fabric that runs parallel to the lengthwise grain.

• Selvage
• Line
• Backstich
• Grain

Temporary, long running stitches created by hand or machine to hold fabric in place before final stitching.

• Casing
• Folding
• Basting
• Ironing

Folded and stitched tunnel of fabric that holds elastic, cording, or a curtain rod.

• Basting
• Folding
• Casing

A reverse stitch done at the beginning and end of a permanent seam to keep it from unraveling.

• Frontstich
• Backstich
• Centerstich

Pattern mark shaped like a diamond or triangle that is printed on the cutting line of a pattern to indicate where the seams should meet.

• Notch
• Label
• Needle
• Notions

The line that is exactly parallel to the selvage on the fabric. The symbol for it is the long arrow symbol printed on a pattern.

• Stichline
• Grainline
• Crossline

Most sewing is done with ________ sides of the fabric together, unless otherwise noted.

• Wrong
• Left
• Right
• Center

A small tool used to remove stitches is called:

• Rotary Wheel
• Schears
• Seam Ripper