Terms & glossary

A historical term for a woman who worked as a tailor, constructing structured, fitted garments such as suits, coats, and riding habits.

A detailed technical document sent to a garment manufacturer specifying exact measurements, materials, construction steps, and trims needed for production.

The task of trimming and taping together the individual letter or A4 sized pages of a home-printed PDF pattern into one complete, full-size sheet.

A 'tried and true' pattern that a sewist has made successfully before, knows fits well, and can sew again with confidence.

French for a test garment sewn up in inexpensive fabric to check a design's fit before cutting into the final fabric; used more often outside the US than the equivalent term muslin.

The measurement taken from the base of the neck down through the crotch, used especially to fit bodysuits, leotards, and swimwear correctly.

The exact forty-five degree diagonal line between the lengthwise and crosswise grain, the direction where a woven fabric stretches the most.

A small stitched fold of fabric, similar to a pleat but generally narrower, used mainly for decorative effect or subtle shaping.