A series of long, loose stitches used to temporarily hold together two pieces of fabric during construction.
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Batting
Filling used for quilts or bedcovers. It’s made of cotton, wool or synthetic fibers and comes in sheets or bats.
Bias
A diagonal line in comparison to the up-and-down and side-to-side weave of a fabric.
Bias tape
A narrow strip of fabric that has been cut out diagonally from the material. The strip’s fibers are at a 45 degree angle to the weave of the fabric, making it stretchier.
Binding
A strip of fabric sewn along the edge of an item like a blanket or tablecloth. It finishes and decorates the edge.
Blanket stitch
A wide stitch used to bind the raw edge of the material. Often used on blankets, it can be decorative as well as utilitarian.
Bobbin
A specially designed spool which feeds thread from underneath the needle plate, completing each stitch. Usually, bobbin thread shows only on the back side of your fabric.
Bolt
The large rolls of cloth you see at the fabric store. Widths are vary from 44″ for dress fabric up to 60″ for upholstery fabric.
Buttonhole
The hole a button goes into. Can be a hole, slit or even a loop.
Cafe curtains
Curtains that cover the lower part of a window to give privacy. Often used in the kitchen.
Casing
A strip of fabric folded over and sewn to provide a covering for a cord, drawstring or elastic.
Clip a curve
Making a series of small cuts after you’ve sewn a curved seam so that when turned right side out the fabric will lay flat without puckering. You don’t need to clip if you use a serger to finish your seam.
Cording (or welting)
A piece of cotton cord wrapped in fabric that is sewn into a seam to create an accent. Often used in slipcovers.
Covered button
A button which can be covered in a coordinating fabric. A back piece secures the fabric over the top.
Crosswise grain
A fabric woven perpendicular to the selvage, giving it a slight amount of stretch.
Cutting mat
A mat designed to be used with a rotary cutter. They are often made of self-healing material and have grids printed on them.
Darn
What you yell when you’ve sewn your sleeve to your project. Also, a repair made to a fabric hole by repeated stitches going back and forth.
Drape
The way fabric hangs on an item. Most often used to describe garments.
Drapes
A formal window covering which hangs from a rod.
Edgestitch
A stitch made very close to a folded edge, generally 1/8″ or less.
Embellish
Adding decoration to an item. Includes embroidery, appliqué, decorative stitching, beading, sequins, needlework, etc.
Fabric blends
A fabric made with any combination of fibers: cotton/polyester, wool/polyester, silk/cotton, wool/cotton, etc.
Feed dog
The “teeth” under the needle which pull the fabric forward in synchronization with the stitch.
Finger pressing
Pressing open a seam with your finger where it may not be appropriate to use an iron.
Finish (a edge)
Turning under an edge and sewing or serging it so it doesn’t ravel.
Flat felled seam
A seam that is flattened by having one seam allowance trimmed close to the seam and the other seam allowance sewn over the top of it. Often used to reduce bulk in a seam.
Fold line
Some patterns will have pieces that are placed onto a folded piece of fabric in order to get a piece double the size of the pattern. The fold against which you place the edge of your pattern piece is the fold line.
Foot or presser foot
The foot-shaped piece the sewing machine presses down against the fabric to allow it to be moved by the feed dogs. Sewing machines use many kinds of presser feet, which are specialized for different types of sewing.
Fusible
Having the ability to be permanently attached by ironing. Fusible items use a heat-activated glue.
Gather
Pulling fabric into miniature pleats either to compress it in size or for a decorative effect. To create a gather two parallel basting stitches are sewn on the right side of the fabric ¼” apart. Long tails of thread are left for gathering. The bobbin threads are gently tugged, evenly gathering the fabric.
Grain
The direction on the fabric that’s parallel to the selvage.
Interlining
A layer of material that goes between curtain fabric and the lining. In home decor It’s used in panel curtains.
Lining
Material that goes on the back of shades or curtains. Linings can allow more or less light through as desired. For instance blackout lining is desirable for bedroom window coverings.
Machine embroidery
Generally, any decorative stitch made by a sewing machine. Includes running stitches and embroidery designs sewn in a hoop.
Muslin
A basic cotton fabric often off-white in color and inexpensive.
Needle
The sharp item which the machine uses to push the thread through the fabric to form a stitch. There are many different types of needles for different types of sewing. Rule of thumb: Start each project with a new needle.
Notion
Any item used for sewing other than the fabric or machine.
Overcasting
A stitch done on the edge of fabric to keep it from raveling.
Overlock
A stitch made by a serger that finishes the fabric edge. Sergers are sometimes called overlockers outside the U.S.
Pile
The nap or raised surface or of a fabric. Fabrics with a nap include velvet, terrycloth and corduroy.
Pins
Many different kinds of pins are used in sewing. Home decor sewing requires basic versions like straight pins and safety pins.
Pintuck
Narrow, raised rows of fabric, created for a decorative look. Can be created by stitching with a pintuck foot.