Sewing Terms & Equipment

Regular Stitch Length Basting Stitch Length

2. Basting StitchLong, temporary stitches used to hold pieces of fabric together.

1. BackstitchTo machine stitch two or three stitches BACKWARDS on the same line at the beginning and end of a seam to secure the stitches.

3. BobbinA small spool, made of plastic or metal, around which the lower thread of the sewing machine is wound.

4. Bobbin CasingThe small piece of equipment that the bobbin is threaded into. This is then placed in the lower part of the sewing machine.

6. ButtonholeA sewn slash in a garment used with a button as a fastener. Represented by these symbols:

5. Button ShankTightly wound stitches underneath a button to strengthen the stitching and allow space for the buttonhole to get around it.

1. 2. 3.1. 2. 3.

7. Cutting LineThe solid line on pattern pieces that you cut around.

8. FabricThe cloth from which your project is made. It can be woven or knit.

9. GrainlineThe direction that the yarns in fabric are running. They can be going lengthwise, crosswise or diagonal (bias).

10. HemThe raw edge of any fabric, usually an article of clothing, turned back to the wrong side and stitched down.

11. InterfacingA fusible fabric used to stabilize and strengthen other fabrics.

12. IroningBACK and FORTH motion with an iron to remove wrinkles from fabric.

13. Measuring TapeFlexible piece of equipment used to measure body measurements, grainlines and long distances.

14. NotchesDiamond shaped symbols that extend beyond the cutting line on the pattern. Used to match up pattern pieces.

15. PatternIndicates what you will be making-includes size chart, garment views, notions needed, suggested fabrics and material quantities.

16. Pattern MarkingsUsed to match up pattern pieces. Usually in the form of notches, circles, squares or triangles.

18. Place-On-Fold SymbolSymbol used to indicate that the pattern piece must be placed directly on the folded edge of the fabric and NOT cut in half.

17. PinsHolds layers of fabric together for cutting and sewing.

19. Presser FootA part of the sewing machine that holds the fabric down to help it through the machine evenly. There are many different kinds, each designed to make a particular sewing task easier.

20. PressingUP and DOWN motion with an iron to remove wrinkles from fabric. This requires steam from a steam iron.

21. Rotary Cutting WheelSharp blade used for cutting straight lines ONLY. It must be used with a rotary ruler and mat.

22. ScissorsUsed for cutting out paper patterns.

24. Seam AllowanceThe distance between the edge of the fabric and the stitched line. (Usually measured with a seam gauge.)

23. SeamThe stitched line that is created by sewing.

25. Seam GaugeA six-inch metal ruler with sliding marker.

26. Seam RipperA tool that helps to unpick small stitches.

28. ShearsSharp cutting tool to be used ONLY on fabric.

27. SelvageThe tightly woven edges of the fabric. It is parallel to, or opposite, the folded edge.

Folded Edge

Selvage

29. Slipstitch/Blind StitchA hand stitch that is almost invisible on both the right and the wrong side of the project.

30. Stitching LineThe dashed line on a pattern that shows where the stitching should be.