Glossary of Quilting Terms
Appliqué ... The sewing technique for attaching pieces (appliqués) of fabric onto a background fabric. Appliqués may be stitched to the background by hand, using a blind stitch, or by machine, using a satin stitch or a blind hemstitch.
Basting ... The sewing technique for joining by hand layers of fabric or the layers of a quilt with large stitches. The stitching is temporary and is removed after permanent stitching.
Batting ... The layers or sheets of filler placed between two pieces of fabric to form a quilt. Its thickness varies, and it provides warmth.
Bias ... The grain of woven fabric that is at a 45 degree angle to the selvages.
Binding ... the strip of fabric used to cover the outside edges and batting of a quilt.
Block ... The basic unit of a quilt top.
Border ... A strip of fabric that is joined to the inner quilt to enhance it.
Echo quilting ... A type of outline quilting in which the first line of quilting is quilted in-the-ditch of the appliqué motif. The next line is quilted 1/4" away from the previous line.
Finger-pressing ... A method for forming temporary guidelines by taking fabric between your fingers and rubbing it to make a temporary crease.
Finished size... The measurement of a completed block or quilt.
Fusible web... A material that has been treated with an adhesive that fuses fabric pieces together when pressed with a warm iron.
Grain ... The lengthwise and crosswise threads of a woven fabric. A grainline arrow, printed on a pattern, helps you properly place your pattern on the fabric.
Hanging sleeve ... A tube of fabric blind stitched to the top edge of the quilt back through which a hanging rod or dowel can be inserted.
In-the-ditch quilting ... The stitching that is made alongside a seam or an appliqué edge.
Matchpoint ... The ending or pivoting place of a seam line.
Mitered seam ... A 45 degree angle seam.
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