Quilt Glossary

APPLIQUE: The sewing technique for attaching pieces (appliqués) of fabric onto a background fabric in a quilting project. Applique may be stitched to the background by hand, using a blind stitch, or by machine, using a satin stitch or blind hem stitch.

ART QUILTS: The quilting glossary describes Art Quilts as fabric creations that resemble abstract art, or those that include techniques other than sewing with thread, like surface paint or paper.

BASTING: The sewing technique for joining by hand several layers of fabric or the layers of a quilt with large stitches. The stitching is temporary and is removed after permanent stitching or quilting is done. Safety pins are often used as basting in the construction of a quilt.

BATTING: The layers or sheets of filler placed between two pieces of fabric to form a quilt. Its thickness varies and it provides the warmth and accentuates the quilting.

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 design unit, usually a square, that is repeated to make the quilt top.

BLOCK TO BLOCK ASSEMBLY: The frustrating task of joining squares together to form a quilt while pretending they are equal on all four sides.

BORDER: A strip of fabric that is joined to the inner quilt to enhance it.

CONTEMPORARY QUILTS: Any use of a non-standard pattern or an original design to create a quilt.

DRAFT The drawn pattern, which is usually done on graph paper. Drafts usually are not cut apart.

DRAFTING: The drawing of an accurate pattern to be used for making templates.

ECHO QUILTING: A type of outline quilting in which the first line of quilting is quilted in-th-ditch of the applique motif. The next line is quilted ¼” away from the first, and subsequent lines ¼” away from the previous line.

FABRIC, RIGHT SIDE and WRONG SIDE: The front or top of the fabric is the right side. Patterns for quilt making should be marked on the wrong side of the fabric.

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 quilt block or quilt project.

FUSIBLE WEB: A material that has been treated with an adhesive that fuses fabric pieces together when pressed with a warm iron to add crispness to quilt pieces for easy machine piecing.

GRAIN: The lengthwise and crosswise threads of a woven fabric. A grain line arrow, printed on a pattern, helps you properly place your quilt pattern piece on the fabric.

GRID: The basic division of a quilt block.

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 applique edge of a quilt.

INNER QUILT: The middle area of a quilt without borders.

INNOVATIVE TRADITIONAL QUILTS: The quilting glossary describes Innovative Traditional Quilts as variations of traditional quilt patterns such as the Ohio Star with its points or quilt blocks set in an unusual pattern or perhaps with a different or striking color used.

MATCHPOINT: The ending or pivoting place of a seam line.

MITERED SEAM: A 45 degree angle seam used to attach binding to a quilt.

OUTLINE QUILTING: Stitching that is made outside or inside the seam lines of patchwork or applique to form a quilting pattern. An easy method for beginner quilters.

PATCH: An individual pattern piece, or a fabric piece that is sewn with other patches to make a quilt block.

PATCH LETTER: The identification of each part of the pattern so you know which shape goes where. A letter on a template also helps to identify the right side, which helps when marking fabric.

PATTERN: A term used to mean both the draft and individual pattern pieces.

QUICK CUTTING: The process of cutting fabric into strips and pieces using a rotary cutter, a thick, clear plastic ruler and a cutting mat. A method often used to speed the quilting process up.

QUICK PIECING: The easy machine piecing method for joining fabric to form the quilt block, instead of cutting into pattern pieces first.

QUICK TRIANGLES: A grid system method to make half-square triangle squares.

QUILTING THREAD: A cotton, or cotton covered polyester thread that is used for hand quilting.

QUILT BLOCK: A unit of patchwork, hopefully a true square and hopefully matching the other 47 units.

QUILT SANDWICH: The layering of the quilt top, batting and backing.

QUILTING: The small running stitches made through the layer of a quilt - top, batting and backing - to form decorative patterns on the surface of the quilt and to hold the layers together.

SASHING: The fabric that separates quilt blocks in a setting, framing them and making the quilt larger. There are two basic kinds of quilt sashing - continuous and sashing with sashing squares.

SATIN STITCH: A side by side stitch that resembles satin when completed. Used often in applique quilts.

SEAM ALLOWANCE The margin of fabric between the seam and the raw edge. The quilting seam allowance is ¼ inch.

SEAM LINE: The guideline that the quilter follows while stitching.

SELVAGE: The lengthwise finished edge on each side of the fabric.

SET OR SETTING: The organization of quilt blocks in the quilt top.

SETTING SQUARE: The plain block or square used with patchwork or appliquéd blocks in a setting.

SETTING TRIANGLE: A triangle placed between blocks along the sides of a diagonal set quilt.

SIGNATURE DOCUMENT: A label made by the quilt maker that contains his or her name, date and any other information about the quilt. Quilt signature documents are most often attached to the lower right hand corner of the quilt backing.

STENCIL: A quilting design pattern for quilting stitches used to trace the quilting pattern on the fabric so you can quilt the pattern on the quilt sandwich.

TEMPLATE: A durable patchwork or applique pattern, usually made from vinyl (plastic) or posterboard, that is used as a guide when marking fabrics with the pattern shapes. Templates are necessary in quilt making because the same pattern is often used repeatedly.

TRADITIONAL QUILTS: The quilting glossary describes Traditional Quilts as an existing familiar quilt pattern such as the Ohio Star in a standard straight or diagonal set with or without sashing in traditional colors, or in a familiar quilting pattern such as Grandmother’s Flower Garden.