| A | B |
|---|
| bobbin | a small spool that holds the bottom thread in a sewing machine |
| feed dogs | two small rows of metal teeth on a sewing machine that advance the fabric evenly for each stitch |
| lockstitch | uses a thread above the fabric to join the bobbin thread coming from below the fabric |
| looper | part of a serger that performs the same way a bobbin does in a conventional sewing machine |
| bias | the line diagonal to the lenghwise and crosswise grains of a fabric |
| directional cutting | cutting with the grain of the fabric |
| ease | the extra room a pattern allows for clothing to fit comfortably |
| grain | the direction in which the threads run in a fabric |
| layout | a diagram included in sewing instructions that shows how to place the pattern pieces on fabric |
| seam allowance | the fabric between the line for cutting and line for stitching |
| selvage | the finished edge of a fabric |
| backstitch | to sew in reverse by using the reverse lever on a sewing machine |
| dart | a triangular fold of fabric to body curves |
| directional stitching | stitching with the grain of the fabric |
| gather | small soft folds of fabric created by sliding the fabric along two parallel rows of matching basting |
| interfacing | a lightweight woven or non woven fabric that is placed between layers of garment fabric to prevent stretching and to add extra body and shape |
| staystitching | sewing a row of regular machine stitches through one layer of fabric in order to prevent stretching |
| tuck | a fold of fabric stitch from top to bottom that is used to shape a garment |
| understitching | a row of stitches used to stitch a facing a seam allowance together |
| unit construction | preparation of separate garment pieces first, before assembling them in a specific order |
| appliqué | a cutout fabric decoration sewn or fused onto a different background |
| ribbing | a stretchy knit band able to go back to its original shape after its been stretched |
| sew through button | a button that has two or four holes through it and no shank |
| shank button | button that has a built in shank or loop on the back but no holes through it |
| serger | a high speed overlock sewing machine that trims sews and overcasts in one step |
