Hey there! Today I am sharing a great post that you can keep pinned to the top of your browser or Pinterest board so you can always knot what tools, terms, and sewing techniques to use! This list is an ever growing list of terms that you can use and reference for your own sewing practices!
Backstitch: Pressing the reverse button down for 3 stitches to lock the stitch in place
Basting: Temporary, loose stitches usually stitched at a 4-5 stitch length used to gather fabric or hold something in place. You can do it by hand or by using the longest stitch length on your sewing machine.
Bias: True 45 degree angle on the fabric to the selvage or grain line. Woven fabric has the greatest amount of stretch in this direction even when it is a non-stretch fabric.
Bobbin: A small spool that goes into your sewing machine to supply the bottom thread in your stitches. It’s loaded into the bobbin case, front loading or in a bobbin casing under the needle, and then inserted into your sewing machine.
Edgestitch: Stitches close to the edge of a seam, hem, or pocket opening. Often only a needle width away from the edge, or 1/16th of an inch.
Feed dogs: The teeth that transport the fabric through your sewing machine. They are located under the presser foot and can be dropped when you are sewing buttons on your sewing machine or free motion sewing.
French seams: This is a great way to finish your fabric if you don’t have a serger. The French seam encases the raw edge of your fabric keeping your edges clean and well finished.
Grainline: Notates the stretch and ease of the fabric. Also, the long line with an arrow printed on the pattern is always placed on the straight or lengthwise grain. There is also bias and crossgrain of the fabric.
Muslin: Light and loosely woven cotton fabric, undyed and often used to make test garments.
Notch: a marking on the pattern to help align two pieces on a long seam or curved pattern pieces. This can be indicated with a triangle or a slight 1/8 inch snip into the fabric.
Pins: These hold fabric together to keep them together while you sew. They can vary in length and thickness, with colorful ball-shaped glass heads or without.
Pressor Foot: This presses the fabric against the feed dogs of your sewing machine while you sew.
Raw Edge: The cut edge of the fabric
Right side: The right side of the fabric is the side you see on the outside of the garment.
Seam: The line where you sew together two pieces of fabric.
Seam Allowance: The area between the fabric edge and the stitching line on two pieces of material being sewn together. Ranges from 1/4″ for facings, to 5/8″ for most home sewing patterns.
Wrong side: The wrong side is the backside of a fabric and the inside of the garment. Sometimes the right and wrong look the same; in that case, pick a side and stick with it.
