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A seam finish in which one allowance is trimmed narrow and the wider allowance is folded over it and stitched down, enclosing both raw edges without extra binding.

Denim woven on a narrow shuttle loom that produces a tightly finished, self-edged fabric border, prized for durability and reduced fraying.

A base fabric, usually mesh or knit, with sequins stitched or glued on in rows, requiring seam allowances to be cleared of sequins before stitching.

Loose loops hanging off a serged edge, or an edge that curls and puckers, points to the tension dials being out of balance for the thread and fabric. Adjust one dial at a time on a scrap.

An energy-efficient electric motor for industrial machines that starts instantly at the set speed and stops precisely, unlike a continuously spinning clutch motor.

A sleeve draft producing a sleeve attached to the bodice along a separate armhole seam encircling the shoulder, the most common sleeve construction in tailored and woven garments.

A collar cut in one piece with the front facing, curving continuously around the back neck without a notch, typical of tuxedo jackets and cardigans.

Fine, sheer fabric sliding out of alignment or getting pulled into the feed dogs comes from its light weight offering little resistance. Sew between two layers of tissue paper or use a straight-stitch throat plate.

A small tuck stitched and then pulled with an overcast or zigzag stitch to create a scalloped, shell-like bump along an edge, used decoratively on lingerie and blouses.

A long, torpedo-shaped bobbin used in vibrating and transverse shuttle machines, distinct from the round bobbins used in modern rotary hooks.

A network of trade routes connecting China to the Mediterranean from around the 2nd century BCE, through which silk, dyes, and weaving techniques spread across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

A fine, strong, slightly elastic natural filament thread with a subtle sheen, traditionally used for hand basting, tailoring and hand-finishing fine fabrics.

The process of constructing a sleeve pattern to fit a corresponding armhole, calculating the sleeve cap height and width so that its ease matches the armhole's circumference.

A strip of wadding or bias-cut fabric inserted into the sleeve cap seam to support the ease and maintain a smooth, rounded shoulder shape.

The forward or backward tilt of a sleeve pattern relative to the bodice side seam, affecting whether the sleeve hangs naturally in line with the wearer's arm.

The American term for a basic, made-to-fit pattern with no seam allowances or style lines, used as a foundation when drafting new pattern designs; called a block in British usage.

A decorative technique that gathers fabric into small, controlled folds secured with embroidery stitches, both shaping and ornamenting the surface.

A document listing a garment's precise measurements at every key point, used by a manufacturer to keep sizing consistent across a production run.

A tailored, structured jacket cut to match trousers as part of a matched suit, featuring lapels, a canvassed front, and set-in sleeves.