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A sleeveless, fitted upper-body garment worn over a shirt and beneath a jacket, traditionally with a front closure and back adjustment strap.

An attachment with its own set of feed dogs that grips fabric from above in sync with the machine's lower feed dogs, preventing layers from shifting on bulky or slippery fabric.

Sewing with a walking foot that feeds top and bottom fabric layers evenly, preventing knit or slippery fabrics from shifting or stretching unevenly while stitching.

Small flat case pattern with compartments for cards, cash, and coins, constructed from fabric and interfacing panels and closed with a snap, zip, or fold.

A structured wardrobe-planning approach, popularized by a well-known online course, for building a cohesive handmade wardrobe around a person's real needs and style.

The lengthwise threads held taut on a loom during weaving, running parallel to the selvedge in a piece of woven fabric.

Dark rings left on silk or other delicate fabric after steaming come from mineral-laden water droplets drying unevenly. Use distilled water in the iron, press through a dry cloth, and test steam on scrap first.

A hem edge that ripples instead of lying flat, common on flared skirts, comes from turning up a curved edge without easing out the extra fullness. Ease-stitch the raw edge and steam out the fullness before turning.

A fit-testing garment that was expected to be purely disposable but turns out well enough that the sewist actually wears it afterward.

The minimum extra room built into a pattern beyond a person's exact body measurements, needed so a finished garment can be put on and moved in comfortably.

The crosswise threads woven over and under the warp threads to construct a woven fabric, also known as the fill or the woof.

A seam pressed to one side with the underneath allowance trimmed narrower, then topstitched through both layers for a flat, durable finish.

Garment modifications, such as higher back rises, seam relocation, and adjusted hem lengths, that improve fit and comfort for a seated wheelchair user.

Selling garments or fabric in bulk quantities to retailers at a reduced price, rather than selling individual pieces directly to consumers.

A back width broader than the standard pattern block assumes, causing the back pattern piece to feel tight across the shoulder blades and restrict arm movement.

Trousers cut with a generous, uniform width from hip to hem, producing a straight silhouette that does not taper toward the ankle.

The processing of sheep's fleece into yarn and cloth was a foundation of medieval and early modern European economies, particularly in England and Flanders, before mechanization in the Industrial Revolution.

Interfacing constructed with lengthwise and crosswise threads like conventional fabric, cut on grain to match the garment fabric and provide stable, non-stretch support.

Positioning two layers of fabric so their unfinished, wrong sides touch each other, leaving the right sides visible, as used for some enclosed seams.