A Basic Sewing Glossary
Need help interpreting your sewing patterns? Sewing comes with its very own language and vocabulary! Here's a simple and beginner-friendly definition for some of the most common sewing terms you will come across:
Armscye: The opening in a garment where the sleeve is attached.
Backstitch: A strong stitch that goes backward to secure seams and prevent unraveling.
Bar tack: A series of closely spaced stitches used to reinforce areas like pocket edges.
Baste: Long, temporary stitches used to hold fabric pieces in place before final sewing.
Bias: The diagonal direction across woven fabric, at a 45-degree angle to the grainline. Fabric cut on the bias has more stretch and drapes differently than fabric cut along the straight grain.
Bias Tape: Strips of fabric cut on the bias, used for binding edges or creating decorative trims.
Bobbin: A small spool that holds the lower thread in a sewing machine.
Buttonhole: A reinforced slit or hole in fabric to accommodate a button.
Casing: A fabric tunnel sewn into a garment that holds a piece of elastic, drawstring, or cord. It is often used in waistbands or sleeve hems to gather fabric snugly.
Clipping corners: Cutting small triangles off fabric corners to reduce bulk when turning inside out.
Sewing on a Budget: How to Save Money When you are New to Sewing
If you’re here you already know that sewing is a fun and rewarding hobby. Whatever you like to sew, there's something truly special about creating with your own hands. One thing sewing is not, however, is cheap. Despite the misconception that sewing is more frugal than buying clothes, buying fabric, tools, patterns, and notions can add up to quite the cost. In fact, I would bet that it is the initial cost that holds many people back from learning to sew. But don’t worry! With some smart strategies, you can enjoy sewing while staying within your budget.