foot

en-noun

foot (plural feet or (UK colloquial, unit of measure) foot)

feet (plural)
foot (plural)
foote (alternative obsolete)
feets (alternative dialectal)
foots (alternative nonstandard)

→ Assamese: ফুট (phut)

q

from <i class="Latn mention" lang="en">feet</i>

→ Japanese: フット (futto), フート (fūto); フィート (fīto) (from feet)

→ Russian: фут (fut)

Sranan Tongo: futu

Aukan: futu

Saramaccan: fútu

→ Swahili: futi

→ Thai: ฟุต (fút)

Tok Pisin: fut, put

→ Urdu: فٹ (fuṭ)

→ Phalura: fuṭ

From Middle English fot, fote, foot, from Old English fōt, from Proto-West Germanic *fōt, from Proto-Germanic *fōts, from Proto-Indo-European *pṓds. Doublet of pes, pie (“Spanish unit of length”), and pous.

doublet

not touch something with a ten-foot pole

you cannot put the same shoe on every foot

(sewing) The part of a sewing machine which presses downward on the fabric, and may also serve to move it forward.


race

en-noun

race (countable and uncountable, plural races)

From Middle English race, partially from Old English rǣs (“a race, swift or violent running, rush, onset”), from Proto-West Germanic *rās; and partially from Old Norse rás (“a running, race”); both from Proto-Germanic *rēsō (“a course”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁reh₁s- (“to flow, rush”). Cognate with Middle Low German râs ("a strong current"; whence German Low German Raas (“mad rush, rage, fury”)), Dutch ras (“a strong whirling current”), Danish ræs, Norwegian and Swedish ras, Norwegian rås.

gl

"a strong current"; whence German Low German <i class="Latn mention" lang="nds-de">Raas</i> (“mad rush, rage, fury”)

I have lately seen a shuttle machine of Messrs. Grover Baker's construction, in which the shuttle worked in a semi-circular race and produced two stitches at each revolution of the wheel.

1860, Charles Cole, The Sewing Machine, and its Capabilities, page 53:

Meanwhile another lug on the shuttle-band engages another carrier at the other end of the loom, and the belt, continuing to move in the same direction, conveys the carrier across the race in a similar manner as above described.

1872 November 29, “Improved Loom for Weaving Fabrics of Any Width”, in The English Mechanic and Word of Science, volume 16, number 401, page 259:

A guide or channel that a component of a machine moves along:

(sewing, weaving) A groove on a sewing machine or a loom along which the shuttle moves.


fell

en-verb

fell (third-person singular simple present fells, present participle felling, simple past and past participle felled)

fells (present singular third-person)
felling (participle present)
felled (participle past)
felled (past)

From Middle English fellen, from Old English fellan, fiellan (“to cause to fall, strike down, fell, cut down, throw down, defeat, destroy, kill, tumble, cause to stumble”), from Proto-West Germanic *fallijan, from Proto-Germanic *fallijaną (“to fell, to cause to fall”), causative of Proto-Germanic *fallaną (“to fall”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂peh₃lH-.
Cognate with Dutch vellen (“to fell, cut down”), German fällen (“to fell”), Danish fælde (“to fell”), Norwegian felle (“to fell”).

inh

To fell seam allowances, catch the lining underneath before emerging 1/4" (6mm) ahead, and 1/8" (3mm) to 1/4" (6mm) into the seam allowance.

2006, Colette Wolff, The Art of Manipulating Fabric, page 296:

(sewing) To stitch down a protruding flap of fabric, as a seam allowance, or pleat.

päärmätä

sewing: to stitch down a protruding flap of fabric, as a seam allowance, or pleat


dart

From Middle English dart, from Old French dart, dard (“dart”), from Medieval Latin dardus, from Frankish *darōþu (“dart, spear”), from Proto-Germanic *darōþuz (“dart, spear”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰerh₃- (“to leap, spring”).
Compare Old High German tart (“javelin, dart”), Old English daroþ, dearod (“javelin, spear, dart”), Swedish dart (“dart, dagger”), Icelandic darraður, darr, dör (“dart, spear”).

der

Somehow she managed, with a cinched waist here and a few darts there, to look like a Hollywood star.

(sewing) A fold that is stitched on a garment.


seam

seams (plural)
seme (alternative obsolete)

From Middle English seem, seme, from Old English sēam (“seam”), from Proto-West Germanic *saum, from Proto-Germanic *saumaz (“that which is sewn”).

inh

Mind you, clothes were clothes in those days. […] Frills, ruffles, flounces, lace, complicated seams and gores: not only did they sweep the ground and have to be held up in one hand elegantly as you walked along, but they had little capes or coats or feather boas.

1977, Agatha Christie, chapter 4, in An Autobiography, part II, London: Collins, →ISBN:

(sewing) A folded-back and stitched piece of fabric; especially, the stitching that joins two or more pieces of fabric.

دَرْز

folded back and stitched piece of fabric


hem

From Middle English hem, hemm, in turn from Old English hem, of West Germanic origin, from Proto-West Germanic *hammjan. Related to Middle High German hemmen (“to hem in”), Old Norse hemja (“to hem in, restrain”); outside of Germanic, to Armenian քամել (kʻamel, “to press, wring”), Russian ком (kom, “lump”).
The verb is from Middle English hemmen, from Old English hemman, from Proto-Germanic *hamjaną, or alternatively derived from the noun.

cog

(sewing) The border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together to finish the edge and prevent it from fraying.


hem

en-verb

hem (third-person singular simple present hems, present participle hemming, simple past and past participle hemmed)

hems (present singular third-person)
hemming (participle present)
hemmed (participle past)
hemmed (past)


tack

en-noun

tack (countable and uncountable, plural tacks)

From Middle English tak, takke (“hook; staple; nail”), from Old Northern French taque (“nail, pin, peg”), from Frankish *takkō, from Proto-Germanic *takkô (“tip; point; protrusion; prong; tine; jag; spike; twig”), of unknown origin, but possibly from Proto-Indo-European *dHgʰ-n-, from the root *déHgʰ- (“to pinch; to tear, rip, fray”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Takke (“bough; branch; twig”), West Frisian takke (“branch”), tûk (“branch, smart, sharp”), Dutch tak (“twig; branch; limb”), German Zacke (“jag; prong; spike; tooth; peak”).

cog

(sewing) A loose seam used to temporarily fasten pieces of cloth.


feed dog

(sewing) On a sewing machine, the toothed mechanism that uses a forward, down, back, and up motion against the presser foot to advance the fabric through the machine evenly.


steel

en-noun

steel (countable and uncountable, plural steels)

steels (plural)
steele (alternative obsolete)

From Middle English stele, stel, from Old English stīele, from Proto-West Germanic *stahlī (“something made of steel”), enlargement of *stahl (“steel”), from Proto-Germanic *stahlą, from *stah- or *stag- (“to be firm, rigid”), from Proto-Indo-European *stak- (“to stay, to be firm”). Compare Scots stele, Yola stehli.

der

I haue a ruffe is a quarter deep, measured by the yeard... You haue a pretty set too, how big is the steele you set with?

1608, G. Markham et al., Dumbe Knight, section I:

I suppose the bullet must have struck the steels in my corsets.

(countable) Any item made of this metal, particularly including:

(sewing) Pieces used to strengthen, support, or expand an item of clothing.

The threaded steel...Flies swiftly.

(sewing, dialectal) A sewing needle; a knitting needle; a sharp metal stylus.

A trailing skirt embroidered in what is termed fine steel.

(sewing) A fringe of beads or decoration of this metal.


couch

en-verb

couch (third-person singular simple present couches, present participle couching, simple past and past participle couched)

couches (present singular third-person)
couching (participle present)
couched (participle past)
couched (past)
cowch (alternative)
cowch (alternative)

From Middle English couchen, from Old French (se) couchier, (se) colchier (“go to bed, lay down”), from Latin collocāre (“set in place”), from com- (“together, with”) + locāre. Doublet of collocate.

These curtains we couched in white cord with quaint designs.

1890, “A combination dining and sitting room”, in The Home-maker: An Illustrated Monthly Magazine, volume 3, New York, N.Y.: Home-maker Co., →OCLC, page 326:

(sewing, transitive) To attach a thread onto fabric with small stitches in order to add texture.


drop

From Late Middle English droppe, Middle English drope (“small quantity of liquid; small or least amount of something; pendant jewel; dripping of a liquid; a shower; nasal flow, catarrh; speck, spot; blemish; disease causing spots on the skin”) [and other forms], from Old English dropa (“a drop”), from Proto-West Germanic *dropō (“drop (of liquid)”), from Proto-Germanic *drupô (“drop (of liquid)”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰrewb- (“to crumble, grind”).

nb...

dropan, droupe, (Northern England) droipe

afval

small quantity of liquid, just large enough to hold its own round shape through surface tension

piisk

very small quantity of liquid, or of anything

piisk

that which hangs or resembles a liquid globule

afgrond

distance through which something drops, or falls below a certain level

A decline in degree, quality, quantity, or rate.

Of men's clothes: the difference between the chest circumference and waist circumference.

Of women's clothes: the difference between the bust circumference and hip circumference.


heading

(sewing) The extension of a line ruffling above the line of stitch.


press

en-verb

press (third-person singular simple present presses, present participle pressing, simple past and past participle pressed or prest)

presses (present singular third-person)
pressing (participle present)
pressed (participle past)
pressed (past)
prest (participle past)
prest (past)

From Middle English pressen (“to crowd, thring, press”), from Old French presser (“to press”) (Modern French presser) from Latin pressāre, from pressus, past participle of premere "to press". Displaced native Middle English thringen (“to press, crowd, throng”) (from Old English þringan (“to press, crowd”)), Middle English thrasten (“to press, force, urge”) (from Old English þrǣstan (“to press, force”)), Old English þryscan (“to press”), Old English þȳwan (“to press, impress”).

cog

(transitive, sewing) To flatten a selected area of fabric using an iron with an up-and-down, not sliding, motion, so as to avoid disturbing adjacent areas.


pique

en-noun

pique (countable and uncountable, plural piques)

A variant of piqué, borrowed from French piqué (“(noun) ribbed fabric; (ballet) step on to the point of the leading foot without bending the knee; (adjective) backstitched; (cooking) larded”), Middle French piqué (“quilted”), a noun use of the past participle of piquer (“to prick, sting; to decorate with stitches; to quilt; to stitch (fabric) together; to lard (meat)”); see further at etymology 1.

der

Pique and linen also accented several coats and oftentimes were both detachable and formed an overcollar covering a collar made from the coat fabric.

1967, Ann Helen Stroup, An Investigation of the Dress of American Children from 1930 Through 1941 with Emphasis on Factors Influencing Change, page 195:

(sewing) Alternative form of piqué (“a kind of corded or ribbed fabric made from cotton, rayon, or silk”).


pleat

From Middle English, from a variant of plait, from Old French pleit. Doublet of plait.

(sewing) A fold in the fabric of a garment, usually a skirt, as a part of the design of the garment, with the purpose of adding controlled fullness and freedom of movement, or taking up excess fabric. There are many types of pleats, differing in their construction and appearance.


take up

en-verb

take up (third-person singular simple present takes up, present participle taking up, simple past took up, past participle taken up)

takes up (present singular third-person)
taking up (participle present)
took up (past)
taken up (participle past)
take one up (alternative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-take up.wav

elfogad

to accept (a proposal, offer, request, etc.) from

If we take up the sleeves a bit, that shirt will look much better on you.

(transitive, sewing) To shorten (a garment), especially by hemming.


flounce

flounce (third-person singular simple present flounces, present participle flouncing, simple past and past participle flounced)

flounces (present singular third-person)
flouncing (participle present)
flounced (participle past)
flounced (past)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-flounce.wav

Probably of North Germanic origin, from Norwegian flunsa (“hurry”), perhaps ultimately imitative. Or, perhaps formed on the pattern of pounce, bounce.

onomatopoeic

imitative


flounce

imitative

(sewing) A strip of decorative material, usually pleated, attached along one edge; a ruffle.

волан

strip of decorative material along an edge


darn

en-verb

darn (third-person singular simple present darns, present participle darning, simple past and past participle darned)

darns (present singular third-person)
darning (participle present)
darned (participle past)
darned (past)

From Middle English dernen (“to keep secret, hide, conceal (a hole)”), from Old English diernan (“to hide, conceal”), from Proto-West Germanic *darnijan, from Proto-West Germanic *darnī (“hidden, secret”). Related to Old English dyrne, dierne (“secret”, adjective).

inh

I need to darn these socks again.

He spent every day ten hours in his closet, in reading his courses, dozing, clipping papers, or darning his stockings; which last he performed to admiration.

a. 1746 (date written), Jonathan Swift, “An Essay on the Fates of Clergymen”, in Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, […], new edition, volume V, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1801, →OCLC, page 116:

Does Mother imagine for one moment that she is going to darn all those stockings knotted up on the quilt like a coil of snakes ? She's not.

1920 August 27, Katherine Mansfield [pseudonym; Kathleen Mansfield Murry], “The Wind Blows”, in Bliss and Other Stories, London: Constable & Company, published 1920, →OCLC, page 141:

(transitive, sewing) To repair by stitching with thread or yarn, particularly by using a needle to construct a weave across a damaged area of fabric.


gather

en-verb

gather (third-person singular simple present gathers, present participle gathering, simple past and past participle gathered)

gathers (present singular third-person)
gathering (participle present)
gathered (participle past)
gathered (past)
gether (alternative obsolete regional)

From Middle English gaderen, from Old English gaderian (“to gather, assemble”), from Proto-West Germanic *gadurōn (“to bring together, unite, gather”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰedʰ- (“to unite, assemble, keep”).

der

A gown should be gathered around the top so that it will remain shaped.

(sewing) To add pleats or folds to a piece of cloth, normally to reduce its width.

набирам

—sewing: to add pleats or folds to a piece of cloth


gimp

en-verb

gimp (third-person singular simple present gimps, present participle gimping, simple past and past participle gimped)

gimps (present singular third-person)
gimping (participle present)
gimped (participle past)
gimped (past)

Attested since about 1660, perhaps from Dutch gimp or French guimpe, and likely from Old French guimpre, a variant of guipure, a kind of trimming.
The regional sense of "gumption" is attested since about 1905, and may have developed due to the reinforced nature of gimp cord, or possibly the influence of the words gumption and gumph.

It consists of seventy fine spun cotton threads, gimped or tied around with thread by a machine similar to that for wrapping bonnet wire.

1856, Campbell Morfit, A Treatise on Chemistry Applied to the Manufacture of Soap and Candles, page 435 with illustration:

...low strings later than the mid-seventeenth century are commonly gimped (wound with fine wire on a moderate core) to allow sufficient tension without excessive mass or stiffness.

1982, Robert Donington, Music and Its Instruments, page 69:

(sewing, textiles) Of yarn, cord, thread, etc., to wrap or wind (surround) with another length of yarn or wire in a tight spiral, often by means of a gimping machine, creating 'gimped yarn', etc. Also, generally, to wrap or twist with string or wire. See gimped.


binding

From Middle English byndynge; equivalent to bind + -ing.

(sewing) A finishing on a seam or hem of a garment.

päättäminen

sewing: finishing on a seam or hem of a garment


grade

grade (third-person singular simple present grades, present participle grading, simple past and past participle graded)

grades (present singular third-person)
grading (participle present)
graded (participle past)
graded (past)

Borrowed from Middle French grade (“a grade, degree”), from Latin gradus (“a step, pace, degree”), from Proto-Italic *graðus, from Proto-Indo-European *gʰradʰ-, *gʰredʰ- (“to walk, go”). Doublet of gradus.
Cognate with Gothic 𐌲𐍂𐌹𐌸𐍃 (griþs, “step, grade”), Bavarian Gritt (“step, stride”), Lithuanian gri̇̀diju (“to go, wander”).

(sewing) To remove or trim part of a seam allowance from a finished seam so as to reduce bulk and make the finished piece more even when turned right side out.


dome

Borrowed from Middle French dome, domme (modern French dôme), from Italian duomo, from Latin domus (ecclesiae) (literally “house (of the church)”), a calque of Ancient Greek οἶκος τῆς ἐκκλησίας (oîkos tês ekklēsías). Doublet of domus and duomo.

cal

οἶκος τῆς ἐκκλησίας

tūtiti

a press stud or snap fastener used instead of buttons on clothing


shank

en-verb

shank (third-person singular simple present shanks, present participle shanking, simple past and past participle shanked)

shanks (present singular third-person)
shanking (participle present)
shanked (participle past)
shanked (past)

From Middle English schanke, from Old English sċanca (“leg”), from Proto-West Germanic *skankō, from Proto-Germanic *skankô (compare West Frisian skonk, Dutch schenkel, Low German Schanke, German Schenkel (“shank, leg”), Danish skank, Norwegian skank, Swedish skänkel), from *skankaz (compare Old Norse skakkr (“wry, crooked”)), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)keng- (compare Middle Irish scingim (“I spring”), Ancient Greek σκάζω (skázō, “to limp”).

The system is suitable for shanking all kind of sewn buttons (jackets, coats, blouses, shirts, trousers).

2000, The Indian Textile Journal (volume 110, issues 7-12)

(transitive, sewing) To provide (a button) with a shank (loop forming an eye).


piping

en-noun

piping (countable and uncountable, plural pipings)

(sewing) An ornamentation on the edges of a garment; a small cord covered with cloth.


becket

Compare Dutch bek (“beak”) beak, and English beak.

(sewing) A loop of thread, typically braided, attached at each end to a jacket. Used to pass through the brooch bar of medals to affix them to the jacket without damaging it.


tuck

tuck (countable and uncountable, plural tucks)

From Middle English tuken, touken (“to torment, to stretch (cloth)”), from Old English tūcian (“to torment, vex”) and Middle Dutch tucken (“to tuck”), both from Proto-Germanic *teuh-, *teug- (“to draw, pull”) (compare also *tukkōną), from Proto-Indo-European *dewk- (“to pull”). Akin to Old High German zucchen (“to snatch, tug”), zuchôn (“to jerk”), German Low German tuken (“to tug, pluck, grab and pull towards”), Old English tēon (“to draw, pull, train”). Doublet of touch.

cog

(sewing) A fold in fabric that has been stitched in place from end to end, as to reduce the overall dimension of the fabric piece.


batting

en-noun

batting (countable and uncountable, plural battings)

From bat + -ing, batt + -ing (“material, collection”).

(sewing) Cotton, wool, silk or synthetic material used to stuff the inside of a mattress, quilt etc.


yo-yo

→ Italian: yo-yo

Genericized trademark. Most likely from Ilocano yóyo, or another Philippine cognate.

(sewing) A cloth rosette formed by gathering the outside edge of a circle of fabric in toward the centre using a running stitch.


facing

(sewing) Fabric applied to a garment edge on the underside.


Singer

The sewing machines were named after the company founder, I. M. Singer.

They were ancient industrial Singers, made of iron and brass and strung with heavy cotton binding thread that fed like spider webs from spools perched on tall twin spindles.

2021, Ruth Ozeki, The Book of Form and Emptiness, Canongate Books (2022), page 288:

(sewing) A sewing machine of the Singer brand.


CB

CB (countable and uncountable, plural CBs)

(textiles, sewing) Initialism of center back, a line marking the center on the back side of a piece of clothing.


barring

/ˈbɑːɹɪŋ(ɡ)/

(sewing) The sewing of a decorative bar or tack upon a fabric or leather.


basting

(sewing) The use of long or loose stitches; the act by which something is basted.


tacking

tacking (countable and uncountable, plural tackings)

(sewing) Loose temporary stitches in dressmaking etc.


smock

en-verb

smock (third-person singular simple present smocks, present participle smocking, simple past and past participle smocked)

smocks (present singular third-person)
smocking (participle present)
smocked (participle past)
smocked (past)

→ Dutch: smokken

From Middle English smok, from Old English smocc, smoc, from Proto-Germanic *smukkaz (“something slipped into”).
Akin to Old High German smocho, Icelandic smokkur, and from the root of Old English smugan (“to creep”), akin to German schmiegen (“to cling to, press close”). Middle High German smiegen, Icelandic smjúga (“to creep through, to put on a garment which has a hole to put the head through”); compare with Lithuanian smukti (“to glide”). See also smug, smuggle.


crochet

crochets (plural)
crotchet (alternative archaic)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-crochet.wav

From French crochet, from Middle French crochet, from Old French crochet, crokét (“curved instrument, hook”), diminutive of Old French croc (“hook”), from Old Frankish *krōk (“hook”) or from Old Norse krókr (“hook, bend, bight”), both from Proto-Germanic *krōkaz (“hook”), from Proto-Indo-European *gerg- (“tracery, basket, twist”). Cognate with Middle English crōc (“crook, hook”), Middle Dutch croec, crōc (“curl”). Doublet of crocket, croquet, and crotchet. More at crook, crooked.

doublet

(sewing) A form of needlework that is made by looping thread with a hooked needle.


thimble

The noun is derived from Middle English thymbyll, thimel (“thimble”) [and other forms], from Old English þȳmel (“thimble, thumbstall; fingerstall”), then either:
* from Old English þūma (“thumb”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *tewh₂- (“to swell”)) + -el (suffix forming agent nouns and the names of instruments); or
* from Proto-Germanic *þūmilaz (“thumb-covering, thumb-sheath”), from *þūmô (“thumb”) (ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root mentioned above) + *-ilaz (suffix forming agent nouns).
The English word is analysable as thumb + -le (suffix forming agent nouns), and is cognate with Dutch duimeling (“thumbstall”), German Däumling (“thumbstall”), German Low German Dümelke (“thumbstall”), Saterland Frisian Düümelke (“thumbstall”), Scots thummle, thumble (“thimble”).
The verb is derived from the noun.

nb...

themel, themelle, themyl, themylle, thomble, thomelle, thymbyl, thymbyll, thymelle, thymle, thymyl, thymylle, timmele, þymel

cog

She had worn a hole through her silver thimble, and wanted Owen to repair it.

1846, Nathaniel Hawthorne, “The Artist of the Beautiful”, in Mosses from an Old Manse:

(sewing) A pitted, now usually metal, cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, which is used in sewing to push the needle through material.

vingerhoed

cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material


backstitch

(sewing) A type of sewing stitch where the stitch goes backwards on the top side of the fabric and doubles forward on the bottom, coming out farther in front, then repeats. The backstitch is a very tight and secure stitch, and also looks very neat.


safety pin

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-safety pin.wav

(sewing) A pin in the form of a clasp, which has a guard to cover the sharp point; used to join two pieces of fabric, etc., together temporarily.


knife pleat

(sewing) A type of sharply pressed pleating, especially in a skirt or kilt, in which all of the folds are turned in one direction, with each pleat being three layers of fabric thick.


lockstitch

lockstitches (plural)
lock stitch (alternative)

(sewing) A stitch made by a sewing machine in which two threads are interlocked.


lockstitch

en-verb

lockstitch (third-person singular simple present lockstitches, present participle lockstitching, simple past and past participle lockstitched)

lockstitches (present singular third-person)
lockstitching (participle present)
lockstitched (participle past)
lockstitched (past)
lock stitch (alternative)


presser foot

(sewing) The part of a sewing machine which rests on the fabric and presses it down upon the table of the machine and against the feed dog.


serge

serge (third-person singular simple present serges, present participle serging, simple past and past participle serged)

serges (present singular third-person)
serging (participle present)
serged (participle past)
serged (past)

From Middle English sarge, from Old French sarge, serge, from Vulgar Latin *sarica, from Latin sērica (“silken, silk things”), from Ancient Greek σηρικός (sērikós, “silken”), from σήρ (sḗr, “silkworm”) + -ικός (-ikós, “-ic”), possibly from Old Chinese 絲 (*sə, “silk”). Doublet of silk and seric.


pincushion

pincushions (plural)
pin cushion (alternative)
pin-cushion (alternative)

/ˈpɪnˌkʊʃn̩/

The noun is derived from pin + cushion. The verb is derived from the noun.

Then for womens cloaths, the cabadge of cloath of ſilver, brancht Sattin, and the like, went for pin-cuſhions, pin-pillows, womens purſes; and if black, Church-wardens capes.

1671, [Richard Head (denies authorship); Francis Kirkman (purported)], “He is Bound Prentice to a Taylor, the Knavery of that Trade, His Master of a Stitch, He is Turn’d over to a Baker, who Misusing Him He Runeth Away”, in The English Rogue: Continued in the Life of Meriton Latroon, and Other Extravagants. […] The Second Part. […], London: […] Francis Kirkman, […], →OCLC, page 113:

Some were condenſing Air into a dry tangible Subſtance, by extracting the Nitre, and letting the aqueous or fluid Particles percolate; others ſoftening Marble for Pillows or Pincuſhions; others petrifying the Hoofs of a living Horſe to preſerve them from foundring.

1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author Permitted to See the Grand Academy of Lagado. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume II, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part III (A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Glubbdubdribb, Luggnagg, and Japan), page 70:

And if, wiſely, or taught by Experience, ſhe [a prostitute] has ſunk any Part [of the money], by hiding it, ſuppose in a Pincuſhion, ripp'd and ſew'd up again, or in her Hair, [...] and is found out, it muſt be pleaſant enough to hear the conſcientious Pandar exclaiming, and crying Vengeance againſt her, for Perfidiouſneſs, and Breach of Truſt.

1749, [attributed to John Cleland], The Case of the Unfortunate Bosavern Penlez, London: Printed for T. Clement […], →OCLC, page 12:

From the inn she is taken to the house of the procuress, divested of her home-spun garb, and dressed in the gayest style of the day; her pincushion and scissars discarded for an etwee and watch, and the tender native hue of her complexion incrusted with paint, and disguised by patches.

1791 June 1, John Ireland, “The Harlot’s Progress. Plate I.”, in Hogarth Illustrated, volume I, [London]: J[ohn] & J[osiah] Boydell […], →OCLC, pages 4–5:

Surely, man is a pincuſhion.— [...] He muſt, as other pincuſhions, (whether in the form of a heart, an oval, or an oblong ſquare,) be formed by the ingenuity, and faſhioned by the judgment of ſome ſkilful female. How great an analogy is there between man and a pincuſhion. The one fed with grain, the other with the huſks of it. As the bran is preſſed into the pincuſhion by the ſlender fingers of the deſigning female, ſo are new principles, new ideas, and new affections, diffuſed into the mind, and inculcated in the breaſt, by the powerful charms of the uſurping maid.

1793 September, “Essay on a Pincushion. Addressed to Miss Hales.”, in The Lady’s Magazine; or, Entertaining Companion for the Fair Sex, Appropriated Solely to Their Use and Amusement, volume XXIV, London: Printed for G. G. J. & J. Robinson, […], →OCLC, pages 489–490, column 1:

It is also expedient to carry about you a purse, a thimble, a pincushion, a pencil, a knife, and a pair of scissars, which will not only be an inexpressible source of comfort and independence, by removing the necessity of borrowing, but will secure the privilege of not lending these indispensable items.

1820, Theresa Tidy [pseudonym; Elizabeth Susannah Davenport Graham], chapter VIII, in Eighteen Maxims of Neatness and Order. […], 10th edition, London: Printed for J[ohn] Hatchard and Son, […], →OCLC, page 22:

Here, take thy satin pincushion, with thy curious half-hundred of pins in it, that you made such a vapouring about yesterday; tell them carefully, there's not one wanting.

[1824?], T. King, “Lovers Quarrels; or, Like Master Like Man: An Interlude, in One Act. Altered from ‘The Mistake’ of Sir John Vanbrugh, by T. King.”, in The Select London Stage; a Collection of the Most Reputed Tragedies, Comedies, Operas, Melo-dramas, Farces, and Interludes. […], London: G. Balne, […], →OCLC, act I, scene iii, page 5, column 2:

He was accompanied by the honest Bonnet-maker, who, being, as the reader is aware, a little round man, had planted himself like a pin-cushion, (for he was wrapped in a scarlet cloak, over which he had slung a hawking-pouch,) on the top of a great saddle, which he might be said rather to be perched upon than to bestride.

1828 May 15, [Walter Scott], chapter VII, in Chronicles of the Canongate. Second Series. […] (The Fair Maid of Perth), volume I, Edinburgh: […] [Ballantyne and Co.] for Cadell and Co.; London: Simpkin and Marshall, →OCLC, pages 191–192:

Do you think I am going to allow my body to be made a pincushion of, by every little frog-eater who don't like the shape of your nose?

1905 January 12, Baroness Orczy [i.e., Emma Orczy], “An Exquisite of ’92”, in The Scarlet Pimpernel, popular edition, London: Greening & Co., published 20 March 1912, →OCLC, page 58:

Going up to the dressing-table he passed his hand over the lilac-coloured pincushion, into which were stuck all kinds of pins; a bowl of pot-pourri exhaled a scent that made his head turn just a little.

1920, John Galsworthy, “Soames Entertains the Future”, in In Chancery (The Forsyte Saga; 2), London: William Heinemann, →OCLC, part I, pages 87–88:

All our foolish little paper-knives and pincushions have their origin in the gold and myrrh and frankincense that the three wise men brought to that lowly stable in Bethlehem.

1923, Compton Mackenzie, “The First Sermon”, in The Parson’s Progress, London; New York, N.Y.: Cassell and Company, →OCLC, page 24:

[...] and, finally, came a platoon of footmen, bearing a large green coffer full of mirrors, sponges, clothes brushes with red velvet handles, pin cushions of crimson satin, combs, nightcaps—everything that could be thought of for her comfort.

1967, Mildred Allen Butler, Twice Queen of France: Anne of Brittany, New York, N.Y.: Funk & Wagnalls, →OCLC; republished [s.l.]: Ad Stellae Books, 2013, page 127:

Yes, at two or more f-stops smaller than maximum aperture there should be a gain in sharpness, particularly in the corners. Is it sharp enough to satisfy you? Examine the horizontal building lines. Do they bulge outwards, indicating barrel distortion, or inward (pincushion distortion)?

1992 September, Herbert Keppler, “How to Test Your Lens”, in Popular Photography, volume 99, number 9, New York, N.Y.: Hachette Magazines, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 51, column 2:

Pincushion distortion is a form of spatial distortion that warps the appearance of the image. It is a consequence of projecting the image formed on a curved input phosphor to a flat output phosphor. Pincushion distortion results in slightly higher magnification of the input image toward the edge of the image.

1997, Robert J. Parelli, “Image Intensifier System”, in Principles of Fluoroscopic Image Intensification and Television Systems: Workbook and Laboratory Manual, Delray Beach, Fla.: GR/St. Lucie Press, →ISBN, page 13:

Unaware of what she was doing, Skyla gripped Ladek's arm. For someone who bit her nails, they were remarkably sharp, and within seconds he felt like a pin cushion.

2012, S. V. Bodle, “Hiding Place”, in Planet Treasure Guardians: Hunt for the Emberteller, [Bloomington, Ind.]: Xlibris, →ISBN, page 75:

(sewing) A device, originally like a small, stuffed cushion, designed to have sewing pins and needles stuck into it to store them safely; some modern pincushions hold the objects magnetically.

buirac

device designed to have sewing pins and needles stuck into it


pinking shears

(sewing) A pair of scissors with zigzag cutting edges, used to cut fabric: the zigzag edge helps keep the fabric from fraying.


ballpoint

(sewing) A kind of needle with a rounded tip.


blanket stitch

en-noun

blanket stitch (countable and uncountable, plural blanket stitches)

(sewing) A strong stitch, similar to a buttonhole stitch, used to finish and reinforce the edges of blankets etc.


running stitch

running stitch (plural running stitches)

(sewing) A simple embroidery stitch in which the needle is passed in and out of the fabric in a series of even stitches in a straight row.


smocking

smocking (countable and uncountable, plural smockings)

refn

From the collection of the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, New York, USA.

Mr. Hudson […] preaches in his surplice. We see no reason why all clergymen should not do likewise. This donning and undonning, this white dressing and black smocking which one sees in so many churches, is a piece of stale nonsense; […]

1872, Atticus [pseudonym; A. Hewitson], “Fulwood Church”, in Our Country Churches & Chapels. Antiquarian, Historical, Ecclesiastical, and Critical Sketches, Preston, Lancashire: A. Hewitson, […]; London: Simpkin, Marshall, and Co., →OCLC, page 19:

Smocking forms an effective trimming for ladies' dresses, either as a waistcoat or yoke, and looks well for the crown of a small toque with a velvet brim. The great difficulty in smocking is to gather the material regularly, or the embroidery will look crooked.

1887, “Smocks and Smocking”, in The Illustrated Queen Almanac and Lady’s Calendar, London: The Queen Office, […], →OCLC, page 39, column 2:

Smocking is not in the least difficult once the method has been thoroughly grasped. For some reason it is much more popular in England than in the United States. […] Smocking done in colors on fine white batiste, silk mull, or nainsook makes pretty guimpes and dresses for children and very smart blouses for women.

1916, “Smocking”, in The Dressmaker: A Complete Book on All Matters Connected with Sewing and Dressmaking […], 2nd revised and enlarged edition, New York, N.Y., London: The Butterick Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 29:

Such decoration should be chosen for these as can be designed to follow the threads of the material; that is, tucks, plaits, shirrings, and smockings.

1917, Jane Fales, “Waists”, in Dressmaking: A Manual for Schools and Colleges, New York, N.Y., Chicago, Ill.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC, part 3 (Dressmaking), page 318:

An English countryman of the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century would be amazed to see how smocking has changed today. The early traditional smock, with its geometric smocking and embroidered motifs, […] originally adorned the clothing of men who toiled in the fields, tended flocks of sheep, cut wood or led wagons or carts.

1985, Allyne S. Holland, “Smocking Traditions”, in Treasury of Smocking Designs (Dover Needlework Series), New York, N.Y.: Dover Publications, →ISBN, page 4:

Her stitching was fine and regular, her smocking came out even, and the plaids of her jackets met invisibly at the seams.

1994, Ian Frazier, chapter 1, in Family, New York, N.Y.: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, →ISBN; republished New York, N.Y.: Picador USA; Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2002, →ISBN:

(sewing) An embroidery technique in which the fabric is gathered and then embroidered with decorative stitches to hold the gathers in place; the product of the use of this embroidery technique.

smokwerk

embroidery technique in which the fabric is gathered and embroidered with decorative stitches


crow's foot

en-noun

crow's foot (plural crow's feet or crows' feet)

crow's feet (plural)
crows' feet (plural)
crow's-foot (alternative)
crowsfoot (alternative)

(sewing) A triangular embroidery stitch.


shirr

en-verb

shirr (third-person singular simple present shirrs, present participle shirring, simple past and past participle shirred)

shirrs (present singular third-person)
shirring (participle present)
shirred (participle past)
shirred (past)

(US, sewing) To make gathers in textiles by drawing together parallel threads.


flouncy

en-adj

flouncy (comparative flouncier, superlative flounciest)

flouncier (comparative)
flounciest (superlative)
flouncey (alternative)

From flounce (noun) + -y (suffix forming adjectives with the sense ‘having the quality of’).

suffix

[N]ovv praye, vvhat may you call that flouncy garment? for I ſuppoſe it has ſome fine fangled neam belonging to it.

1756, [Charlotte] Charke, “Mr. Dumont Arrives at Iver. […]”, in The History of Henry Dumont, Esq; and Miss Charlotte Evelyn. […], London: […] H. Slater, […]; and H. Slater, jun. and S. Whyte, […], →OCLC, page 119:

Sometimes she thought of adopting a more showy, flouncy style of dress—like the Miss Smiths; but when it came to the point, somehow Hannah always felt she could not go out so. People would laugh at her, and say she was copying the Smiths, and "anything rather than that," thought Hannah Brown.

1863, [Christiana Jane Douglas], “Hannah Brown”, in The Browns and the Smiths. […], volume I, London: Hurst and Blackett, publishers, successors to Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, pages 44–45:

They sat about in black and shiny and flouncey clothing adorned with gimp and beads, eating great quantities of cake, drinking much tea in a stately manner and reverberating remarks.

1908, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, “Of Bladesover House, and My Mother; and the Constitution of Society”, in Tono-Bungay […], Toronto, Ont.: The Macmillan Company of Canada, Ltd., →OCLC, 1st book (The Days before Tono-Bungay was Invented), section IV, page 17:

He noticed that Elaine appeared charming in her neat little, flouncy printer's apron.

1911 September 23, Joseph Swerling, “One Way of Collecting a Bad Printing Account”, in Printing Trade News: The Business Publication of the American Printing Industry, volume XI, number 38, New York, N.Y.: The Printing Trade News Pub. Co., →OCLC, page 8, column 1:

The performers are dressed by Gary Lisz in saccharine, fussy balletic glosses on eighteenth-century costume—much gartering and lacing, with absurd skintight pantaloons beneath the flouncy short tutus.

1989 June 19, Tobi Tobias, “Dance: Help Wanted”, in Edward Kosner, editor, New York, volume 22, number 25, New York, N.Y.: News America Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 67, column 1:

Mavis Longbottom is there, together with Angel Robinson in her flounciest printed cotton, but not inside the cathedral.

2006, [Derek] James Hawkins, chapter 12, in Barry Jowett, editor, Deadly Sin: A Chief Inspector Bliss Mystery, Toronto, Ont.: Dundurn Press, →ISBN, page 200:

I think a frillier, flouncier dress might be in order tomorrow, though.

2012, Rebecca Dean, The Shadow Queen: A Novel of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor, New York, N.Y.: Broadway Books, →ISBN, page 133:

(sewing) Of a garment, etc.: having a flounce (“strip of decorative material, usually pleated, attached along one edge”) or flounces; gathered and pleated.

röyhelöinen

of a garment, etc.: having a flounce or flounces


belt loop

belt loops (plural)
beltloop (alternative)

(clothing, sewing) One of the loops of fabric ringing the waist of a pair of pants, used to hold the belt in place.

(clothing, sewing) The D-shaped frame of a belt buckle.


overhand

over-hand (alternative)
overhanded (alternative)
over-handed (alternative)

(sewing) Sewn with close, vertical stitches that draw the edges of a seam together.


knop

From Middle English knop, from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch knoppe, from Proto-Germanic *knuppô, *knuppaz, *knappô, which is perhaps related to *knappō (“knob, boy”). Possible doublet of knave and knob.

The thick places are created by winding effect yarn around the core yarn. We can distinguish the length of the knop L, its thickness D, the distance between them Q, and the nominal diameter of continuously twisted component yarns d. The sum of the distance between the knops and the length of a knop is the stitch of this kind of fancy yarn.

2015, Katarzyna Ewa Grabowska, Izabela Ciesielska-Wróbel, “Characteristic and Application of Knop Fancy Yarn”, in Fibres and Textiles in Eastern Europe, volume 23, number 1(109), archived from the original on 2023-11-04, pages 17-25:

(sewing) A tuft or overthickened bunch of looped or twisted yarn


trapunto

en-noun

trapunto (countable and uncountable, plural trapuntos)

[…] the Proenza Schouler line could be described as representing the best of their past hits: a palm print skirt for $24.99, a hooded cotton anorak for $39.99, a silk camisole with trapunto topstitching for $49.99.

2007 January 18, Eric Wilson, “Making Money in Multiples”, in New York Times:

(sewing) A type of quilting producing a raised surface.


flounced

en-adj

flounced (comparative more flounced, superlative most flounced)

more flounced (comparative)
most flounced (superlative)

A flounced skirt.


unpick

en-verb

unpick (third-person singular simple present unpicks, present participle unpicking, simple past and past participle unpicked)

unpicks (present singular third-person)
unpicking (participle present)
unpicked (participle past)
unpicked (past)

From Middle English unpiken, equivalent to un- + pick.


tucking

White embroidery, lace, delicate tuckings, and elaborate ribbings rioted across the white of his short doubtlet, breech, and tight stockings.


CF

en-noun

CF (countable and uncountable, plural CFs)

(textiles, sewing) Initialism of center front, a line on a pattern marking the center on the front side of a piece of clothing.


piqué

piqué (countable and uncountable, plural piqués)

Borrowed from French piqué (“(noun) ribbed fabric; (ballet) step on to the point of the leading foot without bending the knee; (adjective) backstitched; (cooking) larded”), Middle French piqué (“quilted”), a noun use of the past participle of piquer (“to prick, sting; to decorate with stitches; to quilt; to stitch (fabric) together; to lard (meat)”).

bor

I found three piqué shirts, each a shade lighter than the one before it, and each so fine and closely woven it shone like satin.

1998, Sarah Waters, Tipping the Velvet, Virago (2018), page 269:

(sewing) A kind of corded or ribbed fabric made from cotton, rayon, or silk.


blackwork

All those garments are long gone since, that Katherine embroidered with Spanish blackwork.

2020, Hilary Mantel, The Mirror and the Light, Fourth Estate, page 334:

(sewing) A form of counted-thread embroidery that is usually stitched on even-weave fabric with a twisted thread.


buttonhook

(sewing) A hook used to pull thread through the holes of a button.

crúca cnaipe

A hook used to pull thread through a button's holes


godet

From Middle French godet, from Dutch kodde (“piece of cylindrical wood”).

der

A pie-shaped godet (the most common one), is usually cut with straight grain down the center of the piece of fabric, leaving bias edges on the sides.

Designs with godets, gussets, square or pointed yokes and shawl collars have seams with reverse corners, that is, an inward corner on one edge and an outward corner on the adjoining edge.

1993, Claire B. Shaeffer, Couture Sewing Techniques, page 51:

You can sew a godet into a slit cut perpendicular to a hem edge, but it's more common—and much easier—to insert it into a vertical panel seam, as shown here. Because godets are shaped pieces, often with a pronounced curve at the hem edge, they can be tricky to hem.

2011, Carol Jean Fresia, Threads Sewing Guide, page 135:

(sewing) A piece of fabric inserted into a garment along a seam or cut to lengthen the free edge, and to make a garment roomier and to add a wavy edge cf. gusset.

годе

piece of fabric inserted to lengthen the free edge


gazar

en-noun

gazar (countable and uncountable, plural gazars)

Against a projected background of collages by Timotheus Paulus Roeloffs, a Berlin artist, Ms. Versace sent out minimalist day clothes: tailored dark trousers, navy wool and silk gazar dresses with asymmetrical draping at the neckline, and raised-collar minicoats with a Cardin influence.

2008 February 23, Cathy Horyn, “Much to Applaud, With Footnotes”, in New York Times:

(sewing) A silk organza, a lightweight fabric with a plain weave.


topstitch

topstitch (usually uncountable, plural topstitches)

(sewing, uncountable) A sewing technique, most often used on garment edges such as necklines and hems, where it helps facings to stay in place and gives a crisp edge.


overlock

(sewing) A stitch that sews over the edge of one or two pieces of cloth for edging, hemming or seaming.


overlock

en-verb

overlock (third-person singular simple present overlocks, present participle overlocking, simple past and past participle overlocked)

overlocks (present singular third-person)
overlocking (participle present)
overlocked (participle past)
overlocked (past)


bargello

(sewing, embroidery) A type of needlepoint embroidery consisting of upright flat stitches laid in a pattern to create zigzag or flamelike motifs, or similar motifs created in quilts.


seam allowance

Trim the seam allowances to between 1/4 in. and 1/2 in. Fold one seam allowance in toward the other and pin along the fold.

2001, Claire B. Shaeffer, Couture Sewing Techniques, page 40:

(sewing) The part of the material or fabric added to the dimensions of a sewing pattern outside the seam.

saumanvara

part of the material or fabric added to the dimensions of a pattern outside the seam


whip stitch

(sewing) A simple embroidery or hand sewing stitch in which the needle is passed in and out of the fabric in a series of stitches that circle an edge of the fabric.


serger

If using a serger instead of a sewing machine, remember to eliminate or otherwise take into account the seam allowances given to each pattern, or you may end up with a larger pillow than expected.[…]Sergers, which create a series of overlapping stitches on the actual edge of the fabric, cutting away the excess, do not require seam allowances.

2008, Shannon Okey, The Pillow Book: Over 25 Simple-to-Sew Patterns for Every Room and Every Mood, page 31:

If you have a serger, you can use it to finish fabric edges so they don't ravel, but the zigzag stitch on your regular machine works well, too.

2008, Madlyn Easley, Quick and Easy Window Treatments: 15 Easy-Sew Projects that Build Skills, Too, page 20:

With that, Mikhail sat down to place spools of thread on the serger, studying the directions and clearly dismissing her.

2010, Cait London, Instinctive Male, page 158:

(sewing) A type of sewing machine designed to produce an overlock stitch and to cut the fabric as it stitches.


pintuck

pintuck (third-person singular simple present pintucks, present participle pintucking, simple past and past participle pintucked)

pintucks (present singular third-person)
pintucking (participle present)
pintucked (participle past)
pintucked (past)


tailor's ham

Due to its shape resembling a joint of meat.

(sewing) A tightly stuffed pillow used as a curved mold when pressing curved areas of clothing.


dressmaker's ham

en-noun

dressmaker's ham (plural dressmakers' hams)


redwork

(sewing) A form of embroidery done in red thread rather than black.


merrow

en-verb

merrow (third-person singular simple present merrows, present participle merrowing, simple past and past participle merrowed)

merrows (present singular third-person)
merrowing (participle present)
merrowed (participle past)
merrowed (past)


overedge

overedge (third-person singular simple present overedges, present participle overedging, simple past and past participle overedged)

overedges (present singular third-person)
overedging (participle present)
overedged (participle past)
overedged (past)


Bernina

The name comes from the Bernina Range area of Switzerland.


pick stitch

(sewing) A simple running stitch that catches only a few threads of the fabric, showing very little of the thread on the right (outer) side of the garment.


point presser

(sewing) An object with a free-standing point for use in ironing collars, corners and facings.


pressing cloth

(sewing) A cloth used to protect textiles from forming a shine when ironed.


pounding block

(sewing) A block of a hard material used to flatten seams by clapping or pounding the seam with the block against a hard surface.


dropbox

dropboxes (plural)
drop box (alternative)
drop-box (alternative)

In 1738, John Kay, a native of Bury (though at the time residing in Colchester) invented the fly-shuttle, and in 1760 his son Robert invented the dropbox, by which patterns of various colours are woven nearly with the same facility as plain calico.

1869, “The Provincial History of England”, in The Spectator, volume 42, page 1528:

(sewing) An enhancement to a loom that allows patterns of multiple colors to be woven from the same loom.


unbasted

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-unbasted.wav

(sewing) Not basted; not given long loose stitches.


Aida cloth

en-noun

Aida cloth (countable and uncountable, plural Aida cloths)

(embroidery, sewing) An open-weave, even-weave fabric with a natural mesh, traditionally used for cross-stitch embroidery.


closed-toe

(sewing) Of the foot of a sewing machine: having has its front area cut away. https://books.google.com/books?id=5W-ChoTedM4C&pg=PA128&dq=%22closed-toe%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CC4Q6AEwADgKahUKEwjEiNe5j-nIAhVFLYgKHRv-Abw#v=onepage&q=%22closed-toe%22&f=false


opened-toe

(sewing) (of a foot of a sewing machine) that does not have its front area cut away (opposite of closed-toe) https://books.google.com/books?id=5W-ChoTedM4C&pg=PA128&dq=%22closed-toe%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CC4Q6AEwADgKahUKEwjEiNe5j-nIAhVFLYgKHRv-Abw#v=onepage&q=%22closed-toe%22&f=false


self-fabric

Use self-fabric for the pockets.

(sewing) The same fabric used for the main garment, rather than another contrasting fabric.


underwrap

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-underwrap.wav

Buttons used with the horizontal buttonholes are sewn on the underwrap in line with the buttonhole and exactly on the centre front or back line (diag 20).

1973, Lorraine Kloppman, Woman's Day book of sewing, →ISBN, page 58:

The best wrap skirt is a faux wrap; designed to include the top third of the underwrap (the skirt panel closest to you) in the side seam.

2000, Sandra Betzina, Power Sewing Step-by-step, →ISBN, page 104:

When finished with a waistband, an underwrap can be created with a hook fastening or button and buttonhole.

2008, Annete Fischer, Basics Fashion Design 03: Construction, →ISBN, page 170:

(sewing) The portion of a garment that is overlapped by another portion, such as the hidden part of a wrap skirt or the edge that holds buttons which is hidden when a garment is buttoned up.


shir

en-verb

shir (third-person singular simple present shirs, present participle shirring, simple past and past participle shirred)

shirs (present singular third-person)
shirring (participle present)
shirred (participle past)
shirred (past)

(sewing, cooking) Alternative form of shirr.


right side

Pin fabric A and fabric C together, right sides facing.

(textiles, sewing) The side of a fabric, often with a more visible color or pattern, that is intended to face outward on a finished project.


wrong side

Trace the pattern on the wrong side so that any mistakes won't show when you're done.

(textiles, sewing) The side of a fabric, often with a less visible color or pattern, that is not intended to be seen on a finished project.


ladder stitch

(sewing) A stitch used to close seams, in which the thread runs through alternating lengths of both sides.


French seam

French seams, however, are unsuitable for intricately shaped seamlines and for garments that are closely fitted or might require alterations .

2001, Claire B. Shaeffer, Couture Sewing Techniques, page 46:

A French seam is used as a seam finish for fabrics when the seam will show through to the right side (as in sheer fabrics), when both sides of the fabric are visible, or when there is no lining to cover the wrong side of the fabric.

2002, Donna Babylon, Victoria Waller, More Splash Than Cash Window Treatments, page 210:

Once you have mastered the rolled hem, the French seam will be easy to understand.

2011, Kenneth D King, Cool Couture: Construction Secrets for Runway Style, page 33:

(sewing) A seam that is sewn by first stitching with wrong sides together, then stitching with right sides together so that the unfinished edges are contained within the seam.


set-in

(sewing) A sleeve that is made separately and inset into a garment.


set-in

(sewing) Made separately and inset into a garment.


baste up

baste up (third-person singular simple present bastes up, present participle basting up, simple past and past participle basted up)

bastes up (present singular third-person)
basting up (participle present)
basted up (participle past)
basted up (past)

(transitive, sewing) To prepare or treat a fabric by basting (to sew with long or loose stitches).


couch down

couch down (third-person singular simple present couches down, present participle couching down, simple past and past participle couched down)

couches down (present singular third-person)
couching down (participle present)
couched down (participle past)
couched down (past)

(sewing, transitive) To couch (a thread) onto a fabric (use small stitches to attach it in order to produce a textured effect).


marcella

From an alteration of Marseille, due to the French city formerly being a centre of piqué production.

(sewing) A kind of corded or ribbed fabric made from cotton, rayon, or silk.


drawnwork

(needlework, sewing) The ornamental working of linen or other fabric by drawing out threads according to a pattern.


honeycomb quilt

en-noun

honeycomb quilt (plural honeycomb quilts)

(sewing) A quilt made of many hexagonal pieces of fabric to create a design based on the structure of a bee's honeycomb.


honeycomb stitch

honeycomb stitch (plural honeycomb stitches)

(sewing) A decorative stitch used in knitting and embroidery that creates a hexagonal pattern.


machine lace

(sewing, embroidery, textiles) A style of lace that is made or replicated using mechanical means.


box stitch

(sewing) A reinforcing stitch used to secure the corners of patches, hems, or belt loops.


unbaste

en-verb

unbaste (third-person singular simple present unbastes, present participle unbasting, simple past and past participle unbasted)

unbastes (present singular third-person)
unbasting (participle present)
unbasted (participle past)
unbasted (past)

(sewing, transitive) To undo the basting of; to remove long or loose stitches from.