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Applique

 

Technique in which pieces of fabric are fused and/or sewn to a background fabric to create designs. A tight zig zag stitch or blanket stitch are common methods to finish the edges. They can be sewn by hand or machine.

 

A-Line

 

A dress or skirt that is in the shape of the letter "A". Narrow at top and then flares out towards the hem.

 

Backing

 

A layer of fabric on the back of a quilt.

 

Backstitch

 

A reinforced stitch to help keep the end from unraveling. A few stitches sewn in reverse at the beginning and end of a stitch. A backstitch is also a style of an embroidery stitch

 

Basting

 

A method of securing layers of fabrics or to start ruffles. Safety Pins are typically used to secure a quilt top, batting and backing before quilting. Basting adhesives are great for holding an applique in place until sewn on. An even wide stitch, which is also known as a gathering stitch, is used to create a ruffle.

 

Batting

 

A layer of cotton generally used between a quilt top and backing.

 

Betweens

 

Short needles with a narrow shaft used for hand sewing.

 

Bias

 

Diagonal grain of fabric. Bias Binding / Tape is a narrow strip of fabric cut at a 45-degree angle on the fabric's bias grain.

 

Binding

 

A folded fabric strip used to cover the raw edges of a quilt or other projects.

 

Block

 

The main element of a quilt, usually square and repeated throughout the quilt top.

 

Blocking

 

A technique used with knit or crochet garments to maintain the shape of the garment.

 

Bodice

 

The top part of a garment that is above the waist.

 

Borders

 

Strips of fabrics used to frame the center of a quilt.

 

Charm Pack

 

A collection of approximately 40-42 5" squares from a single range of fabric.

 

Charm Square

 

A 5" square of fabric.

 

Color Wheel

 

Tool defining the characteristics of primary, secondary and tertiary colors.

 

Continuous-line Quilting

 

Stitching a quilt design from beginning to end without stopping.

 

Corner Square

 

A block added to the end of a border strip on a quilt.

 

Crewel Needle

 

A type of handsewing needle also referred to as an embroidery needle. They are medium in length with a long, oval eye for threading embroidery floss and yarn with a sharp point.

 

Diagonal Set

 

Quilt top where blocks are set on point in diagonal rows.

 

Double-fold Binding

 

Fabric strip folded in half before being sewn to the quilt edge. Also known as French-fold Binding.

 

Echo Quilting

 

Following the outline of a motif with multiple stitching lines expanded at regular intervals.

 

Embroidery Needle

 

A type of handsewing needle also referred to as a crewel needle. They are medium in length with a long, oval eye for threading embroidery floss and yarn with a sharp point.

 

Fat Eighth

 

A 9" x 22" piece of fabric.

 

Fat Quarter

 

An 18" x 22" piece of fabric.

 

Felting

 

A method of matting together wool fibers.

 

French-fold Binding

 

Fabric strip folded in half before being sewn to the quilt edge. Also known as Double-fold Binding.

 

Fusible Webbing

 

A double sided adhesive activated by the heat of an iron to fuse two pieces of fabric together. Often used to aid in applique', quilting, and sewing.

 

Fussy Cut

 

To cut a specific motif that's printed on the fabric, rather than randomly cutting yardage as normal. Used to center a specific print withing individual patches or alternate blocks of a quilt. May also cut directly on lines printed on the fabric when motifs do not follow the fabric grain. 

 

Grosgrain

 

A type of ribbon with ribs that run crosswise down the ribbon.

 

Half-rectangle

 

A rectangle cut in half diagonally to create two half-rectangles.

 

Half-square triangle

 

A square cut in half diagonally to create two half-square triangles.

 

Hand Applique'

 

Sewing fabric motifs onto a fabric background by hand.

 

Hand Piecing

 

Stitching seams of blocks and quilt tops by hand.

 

Hand Quilting

 

Hand sewing a series of running stitches through layers of fabric and batting.

 

Hanging Sleeve

 

A piece of fabric attached to the back of a quilt, so the quilt can be displayed easily on a rod.

 

Hem

 

The finished bottom edge of a garment.

 

Interfacing

 

A material used between fabrics to add stability and strength to a garment or bag. It can be ironed on or sewn and comes in different weights.

 

Jelly Roll

 

40 2-1/2" wide strips of fabric from a single collection of fabric.

 

Layer Cake

 

42 10" squares of fabric from a single collection of fabric.

 

Loft

 

The thickness of batting.

 

Machine Applique'

 

Sewing fabric motifs onto a fabric background with a sewing machine.

 

Machine Quilting

 

Sewing a series of stitches through layers of fabric and batting with a sewing machine.

 

Marking Tools

 

Pens, pencils and chalks used to mark fabric as a sewing guideline.

 

Meandering

 

A quilt stitch used to cover a quilt surface; also referred to as stippling.

 

Mitering

 

Sewing a 45-degree angle to join borders or binding at corners.

 

Notion

 

A supply needed for sewing such as needles, thread, buttons, etc.

 

Outline Quilting

 

A series of stitches 1/4" from the seam line that outlines the block motif.

 

Piecing

 

Process of sewing fabric pieces together to create a block or quilt top.

 

Pleat

 

A fold in fabric made by doubling the material over on itself and then pressing or stitching it into place.

 

Press

 

Using an iron in an up and down motion on fabric or seams.

 

Primary Colors

 

The three main colors on the color wheel - red, yellow and blue.

 

Quarter-square Triangles

 

A square cut diagonally twice to create quarter-square triangles.

 

Quilt Sandwich

 

The layers of backing, batting and quilt top.

 

Quilting Ruler

 

A clear plastic ruler, designed to be used with a rotary cutter and cutting mat. Gridlines on the rulers help make cutting the fabric easier and more precise.

 

Rotary Cutter

 

Tool with a circular blade that can cut through several layers of fabric at once.

 

Ruffle

 

A piece of fabric that has been gathered with a basting or gathering stitch to create a ruffle. A ruffle can also be made by using a ruffle foot on a sewing machine

 

Running Stitch

 

Series of hand sewing stitches used for piecing.

 

Sashing

 

Strips of fabric used to separate blocks in a quilt top.

 

Satin Stitch

 

A stitch created with a tight zig-zag stitch on a sewing machine and generally used for applique' projects.

 

Scale

 

The size of the pattern on a fabric.

 

Seam

 

A line of stitching that joins two fabrics together.

 

Seam Allowance

 

The fabric between the raw edge and the seam, usually 1/4" for quilting and 1/2" for clothing, accessories, and window treatments.

 

Seam Ripper

 

A tool used to cut and pull threads out of a seam.

 

Secondary Color

 

A color that is created by combining two primary colors.

 

Selvedge

 

The finished edge of a fabric that identifies the fabric name, designer, and color swatches for each individual fabric.

 

Setting Triangles

 

Triangles used to fill in a space when blocks are set on point in a diagonal set quilt top.

 

Sharps

 

Needles with a narrow shaft and small eye used for hand piecing and applique'.

 

Stabilizers

 

Product used as a foundation when appliqueing shapes to fabric.

 

Stippling

 

Refer to Meandering.

 

Stitching-in-the-ditch

 

A series of stitches sewn very close to the seams in a block, sashing and borders.

 

Straight-set

 

A quilt top with blocks assembled in straight horizontal rows.

 

Templates

 

A pattern made from plastic to cut shapes for applique'.

 

Tertiary color

 

A primary and secondary color mixed in equal measures.

 

Topstitching

 

A decorative or straight stitch used to finish the outside of a garment or other sewing project. Generally, a topstitch is about 1/8" running parallel to the edge or seam.

 

Whipstitch

 

A stitch used for finishing an edge or attaching two pieces of fabric.

 

Zigzag Stitch

 

A stitch feature on a sewing machine that creates a satin stitch for applique projects and is used to finish off the raw edge on garments.
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