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A strong, fully enclosed seam in which one seam allowance is trimmed, wrapped around the other, and topstitched flat; common on jeans and shirts.

A sewing machine with a continuous flat sewing surface and no removable arm, providing a larger work area suited to flat garment pieces and yardage.

A serger stitch sewn with loose tension so the seam pulls flat and open, leaving a ladder of thread on one side, often used decoratively on knits.

Corduroy or velvet that looks crushed after ironing comes from pressing directly on the pile with a flat iron sole. Press face-down on a towel or use a needle board so the pile can stand.

A brushed, napped knit fabric, typically polyester, engineered for warmth and softness with a plush pile on one or both sides.

Hand embroidery stitch resembling an open V anchored by a short tacking stitch, used singly or in rows to suggest foliage, texture, or decorative seam ornamentation.

A zipper closure concealed behind an extended, shaped fly facing and underlap, typical of trousers and jeans.

Thick foam interfacing fused or sewn between fabric layers to give bags and structured accessories body, shape retention, and padding.

A narrow elastic with a centre channel that folds crisply in half, used to bind and finish edges such as necklines and leg openings in one step.

A pattern alteration that reshapes the lower portion of a sleeve to accommodate a forearm that is bent, muscular, or otherwise shaped differently from the standard block.

A posture or body shape in which the shoulders sit rotated forward of the torso's natural balance line, causing the shoulder seam of a garment to pull toward the front.

A pattern alteration that rotates the shoulder seam of a bodice pattern forward to match shoulders that sit ahead of the torso's standard balance line.

A term for a basic block or sloper used as the structural starting point for developing new pattern designs through slashing, spreading, or adding style lines.

A seam sewn on a serger using two needles and two loopers, producing a seam and finished edge simultaneously with stretch recovery suited to knits.

An overlock stitch using two needle threads and two looper threads to form a durable seam that both sews and finishes an edge in one pass.

Fabric that stretches and recovers its shape in both the lengthwise and crosswise directions, common in swimwear, activewear, and dancewear.

A hybrid pattern created by combining pieces or design elements from two or more different existing patterns into one new design.

The gradual unraveling of a cut fabric edge as individual threads work themselves loose from the weave over time or handling.

Cut edges unraveling before a seam is even sewn is common on loosely woven fabrics like linen. Finish edges early with pinking shears, a zigzag stitch, or fray-check liquid.

Decorative stitching created by manually guiding fabric under a lowered or disengaged feed dog, allowing the stitcher to draw with thread in any direction.

A spring-loaded presser foot that hovers just above the fabric, letting the quilter move the fabric freely in any direction with the feed dogs lowered.

A machine whose bed narrows into a slim, removable arm, allowing tubular items such as sleeves, cuffs, and trouser legs to be sewn without flattening the fabric.

A doubled-back shirt cuff, folded over and fastened with cufflinks rather than a button, giving a dressier finish.

A curved plastic drafting template used to draw smooth, precise curved lines when drafting or adjusting armholes, necklines, and other patternmaking curves.

A long, diagonal dart running from the side seam near the hip up toward the bust point, shaping the garment with a single seam line.

Small raised hand embroidery stitch made by wrapping thread around the needle before reinserting it close to the exit point, used for dots, flower centres, and texture.

A self-enclosed seam made by stitching a narrow seam wrong sides together, trimming it, then encasing the raw edge inside a second seam sewn right sides together; used on sheer or unlined fabrics.

A short thread chain, several strands long, connecting a lining to a garment at the hem, allowing movement without the layers separating.

A soft knit fabric with looped, uncut loops on the reverse side and a smooth face, lighter than fleece and common in casual sweatshirts.

Decorative trim made of hanging threads, cords, or strands attached along one edge, applied to hems, shawls, or cushions for added texture and movement.

A decorative fastening of intricately knotted cord or braid, with a button-like knot and a loop, traditionally used on Chinese-style and Asian-inspired garments.

To rip out a section of stitching, or abandon a project entirely, from the rhyme 'rip it, rip it' echoing a frog's croak.

The portion of a bodice draft that shapes the front torso pattern, incorporating the bust dart, waist dart, neckline, and armhole curve calculated from front body measurements.

A stomach shape fuller than the standard pattern block assumes, commonly causing horizontal drag lines below the waist and a front hemline that rises above the back.

A pattern alteration that adds width and length to the front of a skirt or trouser pattern below the waist to accommodate a stomach fuller than the block assumes.

A measurement taken horizontally around the body at the fullest, most projecting point of the bust, one of the core measurements used to choose pattern size.

A pattern alteration that adds width and length to the bust area of a bodice, typically by slashing and spreading the pattern, to fit a bust larger than the block assumes.

A suit-jacket construction in which a floating canvas interlining is sewn, not glued, throughout the front, allowing the jacket to mold to the wearer's body over time.

A seat shape fuller than the standard pattern block assumes, commonly causing horizontal wrinkles below the waistband and drag lines pulling across the back of trousers or a skirt.

A pattern alteration that adds width and length to the back of a trouser or skirt pattern below the waist to accommodate a seat fuller than the block assumes.