Fabrics & materials

A raised, directional surface texture, as on velvet, corduroy or fleece, that reflects light and feels different depending on which way it is stroked; pattern pieces must be cut in one direction.

Fabric colouring method using dyes extracted from plants, insects, or minerals rather than synthetic dyestuffs, often requiring a mordant to fix colour to the fibre.

The numbering conventions, chiefly the European metric size and American size, used to indicate a sewing machine needle's shaft diameter and suitability for fabric weight.

A synthetic rubber sandwiched between fabric layers to form a thick, spongy, water-resistant material with body and structure, used in wetsuits and structured garments.

Interfacing made from bonded or pressed fibres with no grainline, cuttable in any direction, generally lower cost but with less natural drape than woven types.

A strong, elastic synthetic polyamide fibre with high abrasion resistance, used in activewear, linings and hosiery; melts rather than burns under heat.