Fabrics & materials

Laundering fabric before cutting a garment to remove sizing, allow shrinkage, and test colourfastness, so the finished garment behaves the same way as the fabric was tested.

Treating fabric, interfacing or trims with heat or moisture before cutting so later shrinkage does not distort a finished garment.

Using an iron with an up-and-down motion, rather than sliding, to set seams, creases and shape during construction, done at each stage rather than only at the end.

A stretchy tubular or flat rib-knit trim fabric used to finish cuffs, waistbands and necklines on knitwear, chosen for high recovery.

A stretchy knit structure of alternating vertical knit and purl columns, giving strong widthwise recovery; used for cuffs, neckbands and waistbands.

A narrow woven or knitted band of fabric, in materials from grosgrain to satin, used decoratively or functionally for trims, ties and closures.

A flat, zigzag-woven braid trim stitched to the surface of fabric as a decorative edging, traditionally in cotton.

The face of a fabric intended to show on the finished garment versus its reverse, distinguished by print, sheen or knit structure and marked before cutting to avoid mismatched pieces.

Cotton fabric woven in a satin weave, giving a smooth, lustrous face similar to satin but with cotton's matte hand and durability, used for linings and bedding.

The tightly woven, self-finished edge running along both lengthwise sides of woven fabric that does not fray, often used as a grainline reference when cutting.

Spun or filament fibre engineered specifically for stitching, selected by fibre content, weight and finish to suit the fabric and seam it will hold.

A fine, lustrous protein filament produced by silkworms, prized for drape, sheen and strength-to-weight ratio; woven into fabrics from chiffon to dupioni.

A two-part mechanical fastener with interlocking ball-and-socket discs that click together, used for quick, low-profile closures on garments and accessories.

Twill tape pre-fitted with evenly spaced snap fasteners, stitched to a garment opening in one pass, commonly used on baby clothing for quick closures.

A highly elastic synthetic fibre (polyurethane) that stretches many times its length and recovers, blended in small percentages into wovens and knits for stretch.

A mid-weight cotton or cotton-blend knit with a brushed fleece back and smooth jersey face, the standard fabric for hoodies and sweatshirts.

A looped-pile fabric, woven or knitted, with uncut loops on one or both sides that give high absorbency; used for towelling garments and robes.

Resist-dyeing technique in which fabric is bound, twisted, or folded and secured with string or rubber bands before dye is applied, leaving undyed patterned areas beneath the bindings.

A fine, lightweight net fabric with a hexagonal mesh, used for veils, tutus and skirt volume; does not fray, so edges can be left raw.

A weave structure with diagonal ribs formed by offsetting the weft float by one warp thread each row, giving fabrics like denim and gabardine extra drape and durability.

A general-purpose sewing machine needle with a slightly rounded point, suited to most woven fabrics and light to medium knits.

Lightweight, sheer, plain-weave fabric, typically cotton or a cotton blend, with a soft drape used for blouses, curtains, and heirloom sewing.

An animal protein fibre from sheep's fleece with natural crimp and elasticity, providing warmth and moisture-wicking; ranges from fine merino to coarse tweed wool.

A mechanical fastener of two rows of teeth or coils drawn together by a sliding pull, used to close openings in garments and bags.