Basic Vocab
Applique -decorative patch
Backstitch -used at beginning and end of sewing
Baste -long stitches; preferably done by hand; either temporary or used for gathering and ruching
Batting -somewhat flat stuffing in quilts
Bias -diagonal of the grain
Blanket stitch -done by hand; often used for felt edges
Bolt (of fabric) -fabric wrapped around a tube of cardboard; know selvage and width
Darts -triangle piece of fabric cut out or folded under to add shaping
Face -right side of fabric; opposite of reverse
Gathering -fabric drawn together to create a ruffled effect; done with basting
Grain -direction of the visible lines in the fabric
Interfacing -stiff interlining, may or may not be fusible; used to make fabric hold its shape
Notions -additional supplies needed for sewing e.g. thread, zippers, closures
Overlock Stitch -stitch that goes around the edges of fabric to prevent fraying; used alone in cheap clothing
Patterns -premade guides traced to make clothing; store bought patterns e.g. Mccall, Simplicity, Burda (overpriced, cost $10+)
Pleating -decorative effect made by folding fabric on itself e.g. knife pleat, box pleat; not to be confused with gathering
Reverse -wrong side of fabric; opposite of face
Rotary Cutter -pizza cutter for fabric; need to be used with a self-healing mat
Ruching -sideways gathering
Seam -anyplace where two pieces of fabric or more are joined together
Seam Allowance -area between seam and raw edge of fabric e.g. 1/2 inch, 3/4 inch
Selvage -edge produced during manufacture that prevents fabric from unraveling; on the top and bottom of a bolt of fabric
Top Stitch -somewhat decorative stitch visible on the face of the fabric; used primarily on jackets, blazers, and dress shirts for decoration and shaping (keep seams flat)
Yardage -quantity of fabric measured in yards; usually listed on back of pattern envelope to recommend how much fabric to buy
Zig-zag Stitch -used for reinforcement in addition to a straight stitch; often used for stretchy fabrics
Backstitch -used at beginning and end of sewing
Baste -long stitches; preferably done by hand; either temporary or used for gathering and ruching
Batting -somewhat flat stuffing in quilts
Bias -diagonal of the grain
Blanket stitch -done by hand; often used for felt edges
Bolt (of fabric) -fabric wrapped around a tube of cardboard; know selvage and width
Darts -triangle piece of fabric cut out or folded under to add shaping
Face -right side of fabric; opposite of reverse
Gathering -fabric drawn together to create a ruffled effect; done with basting
Grain -direction of the visible lines in the fabric
Interfacing -stiff interlining, may or may not be fusible; used to make fabric hold its shape
Notions -additional supplies needed for sewing e.g. thread, zippers, closures
Overlock Stitch -stitch that goes around the edges of fabric to prevent fraying; used alone in cheap clothing
Patterns -premade guides traced to make clothing; store bought patterns e.g. Mccall, Simplicity, Burda (overpriced, cost $10+)
Pleating -decorative effect made by folding fabric on itself e.g. knife pleat, box pleat; not to be confused with gathering
Reverse -wrong side of fabric; opposite of face
Rotary Cutter -pizza cutter for fabric; need to be used with a self-healing mat
Ruching -sideways gathering
Seam -anyplace where two pieces of fabric or more are joined together
Seam Allowance -area between seam and raw edge of fabric e.g. 1/2 inch, 3/4 inch
Selvage -edge produced during manufacture that prevents fabric from unraveling; on the top and bottom of a bolt of fabric
Top Stitch -somewhat decorative stitch visible on the face of the fabric; used primarily on jackets, blazers, and dress shirts for decoration and shaping (keep seams flat)
Yardage -quantity of fabric measured in yards; usually listed on back of pattern envelope to recommend how much fabric to buy
Zig-zag Stitch -used for reinforcement in addition to a straight stitch; often used for stretchy fabrics
Types of Dresses
This Enérie list on the types of dress shapes was one of the best we could find. Minor edits were made for clarification.
While not included on this list, a sheath dress is also a type of dress.
Sheath -a type of dress designed to fit close to the body, relatively unadorned
Ex. Wiggle
Sheath -a type of dress designed to fit close to the body, relatively unadorned
Ex. Wiggle
Styles of Dresses
This is a simplified collage for styles of dresses. Excluded are styles named by their skirt, their length, their neckline, or any other feature that has more to do with construction than style.
Also excluded are rarely seen styles and dresses not worn outside, such as apron dresses and slip dresses.
Types of Necklines
Types of Skirts
The skirts which are most related to construction are:
A-line
tube
circle
pencil
accordion
mini
knife-pleated
wrap
draped
symmetrical
godet
mermaid
The skirts which are most related to style are:
gypsy
bubble
layered
tulip
ruffled
paneled
Here's a great app for making circle skirts! This website calculates the yardage for users and gives a visual that shows how the skirt is cut.
Two tips:
1) watch out for the length
2) a skater skirt is a half circle skirt.
A-line
tube
circle
pencil
accordion
mini
knife-pleated
wrap
draped
symmetrical
godet
mermaid
The skirts which are most related to style are:
gypsy
bubble
layered
tulip
ruffled
paneled
Here's a great app for making circle skirts! This website calculates the yardage for users and gives a visual that shows how the skirt is cut.
Two tips:
1) watch out for the length
2) a skater skirt is a half circle skirt.