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If you’re new to sewing, you’ve probably come across a lot of terms that sound unfamiliar, like selvage, grainline, or notch. Understanding these sewing terms is essential if you want your projects to look neat, accurate, and professional.
To help you get started, here’s a simple guide to the most common sewing terms every beginner should know.
A pattern is the foundation of every sewing project. It’s usually made of paper or tracing fabric that serves as a guide to cut your fabric into the right shapes and sizes.
Tip: Always mark the grainline on your pattern so your fabric pieces don’t stretch or twist after sewing.
A seam is the line where two pieces of fabric are stitched together. You’ll find it in most parts of a garment, like the sides, shoulders, or waist.
Related terms:
Seam allowance: the space between the edge of the fabric and the stitching line.
Topstitch: visible stitching on the top of the fabric for strength or decoration.
A hem is the folded edge at the bottom of a garment, like on skirts, sleeves, or pants.
It prevents the fabric from fraying and gives a polished finish.
Examples: Double hem, blind hem, and rolled hem, each suits different fabrics and styles.
The selvage is the tightly woven edge of the fabric that prevents it from unraveling. You can recognize it by its smooth, finished edge that runs along the length of the fabric.
Tip: Use the selvage as a reference to identify the grainline direction when cutting patterns.
A notch is a small cut or mark made on the edge of a fabric piece. It helps you match up different sections of your pattern correctly when sewing.
Function: Useful for aligning curved areas like armholes, sleeves, and necklines.
A dart is a folded and stitched wedge of fabric that gives shape to a garment. It’s often used around the bust, waist, or back to make the clothing fit the body better.
Result: A more tailored and form-fitting garment.
The grainline indicates the direction of the fabric’s threads, parallel to the selvage.
It’s very important in pattern cutting, if ignored, your garment can stretch or hang unevenly.
Basting refers to temporary stitches that hold fabric pieces together before the final sewing. It helps ensure accuracy and makes adjustments easier.
Types: Can be done by hand (hand basting) or by machine (machine basting).
The bias is the diagonal direction of the fabric, at a 45-degree angle to the grainline. Fabric cut on the bias is more flexible and often used for bias tape, necklines, and curved edges.
Interfacing is a layer of material added to the inside of a garment to provide structure and support, commonly found in collars, cuffs, and button plackets.
Types:
Sew-in interfacing: stitched directly onto the fabric.
Fusible interfacing: attached with heat using an iron.
Learning these basic sewing terms will help you read patterns, follow tutorials, and complete projects more confidently. Understanding sewing vocabulary doesn’t just make sewing easier, it also helps you create garments that look more polished and professional.
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