Sewing Terms

A type of needlework in which small pieces of cloth are sewn or stuck in a pattern onto a larger piece.

• binding

• appliqué

• hem

Sewing back and fort over the same stitches to lock the end or the beginning of a line of sewing

• embellish

• backstitching

• finish

• binding

The filling in a quilt. It can be fiberfill, cotton, wool, or other material that is flattened and usually bought by the metre or yard. It is the middle of the quilt sandwich.

• grain

• basting

• batting

Runs diagonally to the straight grain of the fabric. Fabric cut on the bias has more stretch.

• bias

• embellish

• finish

The sewing of the a temporary stitch. The stitches are large so as to beeasily removed.

• binding

• batting

• basting

Encasing the raw edges of a blanket or quilt with another piece of fabric.

• backstitching

• finish

• binding

A hand or machine stitch that is used to neaten the edge of a blanket, buttonhole or other seam line.

• fat quarter

• blanket stitch

• grain

An envelope of sorts, usually along a waistline or a cuff, which encases elastic or drawstring

• casing

• selvedge

• pressing

The area between the stitching and raw cut edge of the fabric

• tack

• running stitch

• seam allownce

To repair a hole by using stitches going back and fort that fill the hole

• inseam

• darn

• hem