Glossary

Glossary task

Selvage

An edge produced on woven fabric during manufacture that prevents it from freeing.

Wrong side ‘wrong sides together’

If you do this with the wrong side you shorts will have the material with patter facing inwards.

Lengthwise grain

the threads in a fabric which run the length of the fabric, parallel to the selvage of the fabric.

Cross wise grain

a term that describes the threads that run vertical to the length of fabric as it comes off the bolt.

Bias

The direction diagonal to the weave of a fabric.

Seam allowance

The part of the material or fabric added to the sizes of a sewing pattern outside of the seam.

Backstitch

a technique of sewing with overlapping stitches.

Tacking

Putting two pieces of fabric together by hand sewing for a quick fix.