Techniques

Layered applique technique in which the top fabric is cut away to reveal fabric layers beneath, with the cut edges turned under and stitched to form the design.

A bold decorative topstitch, often in contrasting or heavy thread, worked as a running stitch by hand or machine along an edge or seam, associated with leather goods and casual tailoring.

Embellishment technique for attaching flat or cupped sequins to fabric by hand or machine, either singly with a backstitch or in overlapping rows for continuous shine.

A sleeve cut separately and stitched into a fitted armhole, requiring eased fullness at the cap to fit smoothly over the shoulder.

Multiple parallel rows of gathering, often stitched with elastic thread in the bobbin, that create stretchy, textured fullness over an area of fabric.

Attaching a shaped foam or fiber shoulder pad inside a garment's shoulder seam to build out and support the shoulder line.

A pocket accessed through a diagonal or curved slit cut into the garment, with the pocket bag hidden behind the opening.

The small amount of extra fullness built into a sleeve cap above the arm's actual circumference, eased in to create smooth shape over the shoulder.

A finished slit at the sleeve hem, often on tailored jacket cuffs, that may be functional with real buttonholes or purely decorative.

A nearly invisible hand stitch that catches a few threads of the garment fabric and slides through the folded edge of a hem or lining.

A decorative seam in which two folded edges are spaced apart over a separate strip of fabric and topstitched on both sides, creating a centered inset panel.

A narrow tape of twill, selvage, or fusible material stitched or fused along a seam or edge, such as a shoulder seam or neckline, to prevent stretching.

A firmly stuffed, curved pressing cushion used to press darts, curved seams, and shaped areas like bust and hip curves without flattening the curve.

A finish in which a strip of stretch tricot bias tape is wrapped and stitched over the raw seam edge, common in ready-to-wear tailoring.

A hem stitched with a double needle to create two parallel rows of straight stitching on top and a zigzag-like stretch stitch underneath, standard for knit hems.

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.

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