Glossary

Sewing and pattern words.

Bias: The diagonal of woven fabric, at 45° to the grain: it stretches and drapes, so bindings and circle skirts use it.
Block (sloper): A close-fitting basic pattern to someone’s measurements, without style, to design other patterns from.
Ease: Room added beyond the body measurement, for movement and style.
Facing: A piece sewn to an edge (a neckline) and turned inside to finish it.
Grain: The direction of the threads: lengthwise along the selvedge, crosswise across it.
Interfacing: A layer, often ironed on, that stiffens facings, waistbands and collars.
Notions: The other things a garment needs: zips, buttons, elastic, thread.
Selvedge: The finished woven edges along the length of the fabric.
Toile (muslin): A test version in cheap fabric, to check the fit before cutting the real thing.
Understitching: Stitching a facing to the seam allowances close to the seam, so it rolls inside.