Glossary
This glossary brings together the key sewing terms you’ll encounter throughout your course, all in one clear and friendly place. Whether you’re brand new to sewing or brushing up on your technical language, you can use it to quickly check definitions, understand techniques, and feel more confident as you work through each unit. Dip in whenever you need a reminder — it’s here to support you at every stage of your learning.
No search results found. Try a different term.
Utility Stitch
Functional stitch used for durability.
Universal Needle
Needle suitable for most fabrics.
Unit Construction
Method of assembling garment sections separately.
V-Neck
Neckline shaped like the letter V.
Velvet
Soft fabric with a short, dense pile.
Velour
Plush knit fabric similar to velvet.
Velveteen
Cotton fabric with a short pile.
Vent
Opening in a garment for movement (e.g., skirt vent).
Viscose
Semi-synthetic fibre made from cellulose.
Voile
Lightweight, sheer woven fabric.
V?Stitch
Decorative stitch shaped like a V.
Vintage Pattern
Older sewing pattern, often with unique sizing.
Walking Foot
Foot that helps feed multiple layers evenly.
Waist Stay
Ribbon or tape used to stabilise waist seams.
Waistline
The line around the narrowest part of the torso.
Warp
Lengthwise threads in woven fabric.
Weft
Crosswise threads in woven fabric.
Welt
Folded fabric strip used for pockets or decoration.
Welt Pocket
Pocket with a welt opening.
Whipstitch
Hand stitch used to join edges.
Wigan
Stiffening used in hems.
Winceyette
Soft, brushed cotton fabric.
Wing Needle
Needle with flared sides for decorative holes.
Wool
Natural fibre from sheep.
Wool Crepe
Wool fabric with a crinkled texture.
Wrong Side
The inside or non-public side of fabric.
Walking Stitch
Slow, controlled stitch for precision.
Wrap Skirt
Skirt that wraps around the body.
Woven Fabric
Fabric made from interlaced warp and weft.
X-Acto Knife
Precision knife used for cutting paper patterns.
X-Stitch
Another term for cross stitch.
Yarn
Fibre used for knitting, crochet, or embellishment.
Yoke
Pattern piece used across shoulders or hips for shaping.
Yardage
Amount of fabric required for a project.
Yarn-Dyed
Fabric dyed as yarn before weaving.
Y-Seam
Seam where three pieces meet at a Y-shape.
Zigzag Stitch
Back?and?forth stitch used for stretch or finishing.
Zip
Fastener with teeth and a slider.
Zip Foot
Presser foot used for sewing zips.
Zip Guard
Fabric strip behind a zip to protect skin.
Zip Pull
The tab used to operate a zip.
Zip Tape
The fabric part of a zip.
Zipper Stop
Metal or plastic piece preventing slider from coming off.
Z-Twist
Direction of twist in thread or yarn.