Sewing final

Serging

The process of overcasting (with thread) the raw edges of a piece of fabric to prevent raveling.

Seam

the place where two (or more) pieces of fabric are sewn together.

Top Stitch

Make a row of stitches on the right side of the garment.

Stitch Length

How long the stitch is back to front.

Stitch Width

How wide the stitch is left to right

Seam Allowance

The area between the fabric edge and the stitch line on 2 (or more) pieces of fabric. This is essential for putting garments together.

back stitch

stitching in reverse to lock stitch your seams in place

Raw Edge

An unfinished, rough, or undecorated edge. This edge has raw fibers and will fray.

Gathering

Gathering turns the edge of a piece of fabric into a bunch of small folds that are held together by a thread close to the edge. Gathering makes the fabric shorter where it is stitched. The whole of the fabric flares out into irregular, rolling folds beyond the gathered stitching.

Right Side

the side of the woven fabric the is on the outside of the garment, the side that is meant for everyone to see.

Wrong Side

the side of the woven fabric that is facing the inside of the garment, not meant to be seen.

Grain Line

In sewing and textile science, the grainline refers to the direction of the threads in the fabric. It's crucial for proper fabric behavior and garment fit, especially when using woven fabrics. The grain of the fabric runs parallel to the selvage edge.`

Selvage Edge

The tightly woven, finished edge of a fabric that runs along the length of the fabric and prevents it from fraying. It's essentially a "self-finished" edge that doesn't require additional hemming or bias tape. In woven fabrics, the selvage is created by the weft thread looping back at the end of each row on the loom

Straight Grain (Warp)

This is the most common grainline, aligned with the warp threads and running parallel to the selvage (the finished edge of the fabric).

Cross Grain (Weft)

This is perpendicular to the warp threads and runs from selvage to selvage.

Bias

This is at a 45-degree angle to both the warp and weft. Garments cut on the Bias will be more flexible and stretch