History & culture

A Japanese hand-stitching technique using simple running stitches in white thread on indigo cloth, originally developed to reinforce and mend workwear, now also used decoratively.

An organized group sewing event, often hosted by a pattern company or blogger, in which participants make the same garment together over a set period while sharing progress online.

A pre-release process in which volunteer sewists make up a new pattern to check instructions, fit, and sizing, providing feedback to independent designers before public release, common since the indie pattern boom.

American pattern company founded in 1927 that undercut competitors with lower-priced, simplified patterns aimed at budget-conscious home sewers during the Great Depression.

A movement advocating fewer, higher-quality, and more thoughtfully made garments over disposable trend-driven clothing, emphasizing durability, ethical labor, and reduced environmental impact; the term was coined around 2007.