Machines & tools

A tightly spaced zigzag stitch dense enough to form a smooth, solid line of thread, used for applique edges, monograms, and buttonholes.

Wrinkling or gathering along a stitch line caused by tension imbalance, a dull needle, or stitches that are too small for the fabric's weight.

A firmly stuffed cylindrical cushion placed under a seam to press it open from the right side without leaving a ridge imprint on the fabric.

A widely produced vintage sewing machine platform known for its oscillating hook and full range of licensed and cloned versions manufactured worldwide.

A lightweight, portable straight-stitch-only Singer model, most famously the 221, prized by collectors and quilters for its smooth stitch quality and durability.

A narrow, two-tiered miniature ironing board sized to fit inside a sleeve or other tight tubular garment section for pressing without creasing the opposite side.

A backing material, in tear-away, cut-away, or wash-away form, placed under fabric to support it against the pull and density of embroidery stitching.