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American inventor who built a working lockstitch sewing machine around 1834 but never patented it, later inventing the safety pin in 1849 among many other devices.

A film or fabric-like stabiliser that dissolves in water, used to support delicate or openwork stitching such as lace or cutwork until the stitching is complete.

An inset pocket with a narrow strip of fabric, the welt, standing up or lying flat over the opening on the outside of the garment.

Diagonal creases that fan out from the crotch area of close-fitting trousers, most visible in denim, indicating tightness or an insufficient crotch curve at that point.

The measurement taken across the back from wrist to wrist with both arms outstretched, occasionally used to check sleeve and shoulder width in a pattern.