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Small garment tied or snapped around an infant's neck to protect clothing while feeding, typically made with absorbent or wipeable fabric and a curved neckline.

The portion of a bodice draft that shapes the back torso pattern, incorporating the shoulder blade dart or ease, waist shaping, and armhole curve calculated from back body measurements.

The vertical distance from the prominent bone at the base of the neck to the natural waistline, used to check and adjust bodice length on a pattern.

Padded, adjustable shoulder straps constructed with webbing and sliders, engineered to distribute a backpack's weight and attach securely to its body at multiple points.

A strong hand stitch made by inserting the needle behind the previous stitch's end, producing a solid, continuous line similar to machine stitching.

Reversing the machine over the first and last few stitches of a seam to lock the thread ends so the seam will not unravel.

Rigid or semi-rigid panel, of plastic canvas, cardboard, or heavy interfacing, inserted into the bottom of a bag to help it hold its shape and stand upright.

Metal or plastic fittings such as D-rings, swivel clips, rivets, and sliders used to attach straps, close flaps, and reinforce stress points on bags.

Fabric or webbing band attached to a bag to allow it to be carried by hand or over the shoulder, constructed as a folded tube, topstitched strip, or webbing length.

A technique for constructing and turning a fully lined garment, such as a jacket, right side out through a small opening so all raw edges end up enclosed.

The state of a garment hanging evenly on the body with its seams and grainlines running true, without twisting toward the front, back, or one side.

Marks placed on pattern pieces to indicate where two edges of different lengths, such as a sleeve cap and armhole, should align during construction so ease is distributed correctly.

A sewing machine needle with a rounded tip designed to slide between the loops of knit fabric rather than piercing and breaking the yarns.

A regenerated cellulose fibre processed from bamboo pulp, marketed for softness and breathability though chemically similar to viscose rayon.

A short, dense zigzag or hand-worked reinforcement stitched at points of stress, such as pocket corners or fly ends, to prevent seams from tearing open.

An industrial machine that sews a small, dense block of zigzag stitches to reinforce stress points such as pocket corners and belt loops.

A single-layer shirt cuff fastened with one or two buttons, named for its cylindrical shape when closed around the wrist.

French tailor who patented an early chainstitch sewing machine in 1830 to make army uniforms; rioting tailors, fearing job losses, destroyed his workshop in 1831.

A close-fitting garment worn next to the skin beneath other clothing, designed to wick moisture and regulate body temperature during activity.

A general term for any foundational, unfitted-detail pattern piece—such as a bodice, skirt, sleeve, or trouser block—from which other pattern designs are developed.

Long, loose, temporary stitches, sewn by hand or machine, used to hold layers of fabric in place for fitting before permanent stitching.

A long, loose straight stitch used to temporarily hold fabric layers together for fitting or easing before permanent stitching is sewn.

A wax-resist dyeing technique in which molten wax is applied to fabric to block dye from certain areas, producing intricate patterns; long practiced in Indonesia, especially Java, and recognized by UNESCO in 2009.

Fine, lightweight, closely woven fabric, softer and slightly more opaque than voile, traditionally cotton or linen, used for blouses, baby clothes, and heirloom sewing.

Layer of loose fibre wadding, made from cotton, wool, polyester, or blends, used as the insulating middle layer of a quilt sandwich or a padded garment.

Surface embellishment technique in which beads are stitched individually or in strings onto fabric with a beading needle and thread to create texture, pattern, or sparkle.

A sleeve fitted at the shoulder that flares progressively wider toward the wrist, producing a bell-shaped silhouette at the hem.

A trademarked lightweight cupro rayon lining fabric prized for a silk-like hand, breathability and antistatic properties compared with polyester linings.

A needle that clicks against the plate or skips stitches is often bent from nicking a pin or age. Replace it immediately, since a bent needle can also throw off hook timing.

Tailored shorts with a hem ending just above the knee, cut with a fitted waist and straight or slightly tapered leg.

An inset pocket finished with two narrow folded strips forming lips on either side of a slit opening, commonly used on tailored jackets and trousers.

Originally a term for custom tailoring made entirely to one individual customer's specifications, now used more loosely for any made-to-order garment.

A method of making a garment, typically a suit, individually from a unique pattern drafted to one client's measurements, involving multiple fittings and largely hand-sewn construction.

An early, not-yet-finalized version of a sewing pattern sent out to testers for feedback before the pattern's official public release.

Any diagonal direction across a woven fabric that is not parallel or perpendicular to the grain, where the fabric has more give and stretch.

The diagonal direction across a woven fabric, at 45 degrees to the grainlines, along which fabric has maximum stretch and drape; used for bindings and fluid-cut garments.

A narrow strip of fabric cut on the bias and folded to encase a raw edge, allowing it to curve smoothly around necklines, armholes and hems.

A cutting technique in which pattern pieces are placed at a 45-degree angle to the fabric's grainline, producing extra drape, stretch, and a fluid hang.

Edges or seams that stretch and lose their shape happen when fabric cut near the bias grain is handled without support. Stay-stitch bias edges promptly after cutting and avoid pulling the fabric while sewing.

A narrow strip of bias-cut fabric sewn to an edge and turned to the inside, used to finish curved edges with minimal bulk.