A quilting glossary
This is not meant to be a fully comprehensive glossary, and there are many resources on the internet that will provide more detailed explanations.
Basting – temporary stitching, pins or glue that hold the three layers of the quilt together for quilting. The stitches or pins are removed just before that section of the quilt is quilted.
Batting (US term, now widely used in the UK). The material inside a quilt, between the top and the backing. Batting comes in many different materials such as cotton, cotton/polyester blend (often 80% cotton, 20% polyester), wool, silk, bamboo and soya. Batting often comes in 90", 96" or 108" widths. Many vintage quilts used an old blanket as batting.
Binding - the fabric strips stitched to the raw edges of a quilt and then folded over and stitched down. to cover the raw edges. Most quilts use a double layer of fabric for a durable finish. Quilts with curved edges require binding cut on the fabric bias.
Chain piecing – feeding pieces through the sewing machine continuously without cutting the thread, leaving just a couple of stitches between each piece of fabric. This creates a 'chain' that can then be cut afterwards. This method saves both time and thread.
Charm pack - a term coined by Moda Fabrics to describe a pack of precut 5" squares. There are usually 42 squares in a Moda charm pack; other suppliers may have different amounts.
Cornerstone blocks - the squares that join horizontal and vertical sashing strips.
Fat quarter – A half yard cut of fabric cut crossways to give a piece of fabric approximately 18" x 22". Many quilters like to purchase fat quarters so that they can have a selection of different fabrics.
Flimsy - the quilt top before it is made into a quilt sandwich and then quilted.
FPP - foundation paper piecing. A technique used to achieve very precise and/or complex shapes, often using very small pieces of fabric.
HST - half square triangle. Two triangles of contrasting fabric joined together on the diagonal to make a square. There are many ways of achieving this several at a time, so check online for the different methods.
Jelly roll - a term coined by Moda Fabrics to describe 2 1/2" by width of fabric strips of fabric. There are usually 42 strips in a Moda jelly roll; quantities may vary from other manufacturers who have copied the idea. Moda jelly rolls often contain all of the fabrics from a particular line.
Layer cake - a term coined by Moda Fabrics to describe a pack of precut 10" squares of fabric. There are usually 42 squares in a Moda layer cake, but other manufacturers who have copied the idea may have a different amount. Moda layer cakes often contain all of the fabrics from a particular line.
Memory quilt - a quilt usually made from old clothes and other fabric items that belong to someone who has passed away.
Mini charms - a term coined by Moda Fabrics to describe a pack of precut 2 1/2" squares.
Needle sizes - the higher the number, the larger the needle. A size 70 needle is good for piecing; Schmetz' needles guide is here.
Nesting seams - seams are pressed in opposite directions so that when two pieces are joined, the seams nest, thus reducing bulk.
On point - a square set on one of its corners, giving a diamond-like appearance.
Paper piecing/English paper piecing - the usually geometric shapes are tacked over paper, which stabilises the shapes. The pieces are typically handstitched together with an oversewn stitch.
Pressing vs ironing - ironing is a back-and-forth movement to remove creases; pressing is where the iron is placed down on an area and then lifted, flattening the seam.
Quilt - typically a (often pieced) top with batting and a backing. If a piece is put together without internal batting, it is traditionally known as a coverlet.
Quilting - the stitching that holds the quilt top, batting and backing together. This may be done by hand or machine.
Quilting pins - usually longer than dressmaking pins.
Quilt sandwich - the quilt top (usually pieced), batting and backing, pinned or basted together before quilting.
RST – right sides together. Place the fabric so the right sides face each other.
Sandwich - a quilt sandwich is the quilt top, batting and backing, when pinned/basted together before quilting.
Sashing - strips of fabric between quilt blocks.
Seam allowance – the distance between the stitching line and the seam. Quilters usually use a 1/4" seam allowance.
Selvedge (US selvage) - the woven edge of a piece of fabric. Fabric width is measured selvedge to selvedge. As selvedges have a tighter weave than the rest of the fabric, it is preferable not to use them in a quilt block as that part of the fabric might shrink differently.
Setting seams - pressing the seam flat (as sewn), before pressing it to one side or open. This 'relaxes' the thread and gives a flatter seam.
Stash - personal stock of fabric.
Thread - most quilters prefer a 100% cotton thread for piecing, often a 50wt thread. In general, the higher the thread number, the finer the thread.
Wholecloth quilt - a quilt where the top is made from a single piece of fabric, showcasing the quilting. Typical examples come from Durham and Wales.
Wadding (US term batting). The material inside a quilt, between the top and the backing. Wadding comes in many different materials such as cotton, cotton/polyester blend (often 80% cotton, 20% polyester), wool, silk, bamboo and soya. Batting often comes in 90", 96" or 108" widths. Many vintage quilts used an old blanket as wadding.
WOF - width of fabric (selvedge to selvedge).
WST - wrong sides together. Place the fabric so that the wrong sides face each other (rare).
Quilting accronyms
Batting (US term, now widely used in the UK). The material inside a quilt, between the top and the backing. Batting comes in many different materials such as cotton, cotton/polyester blend (often 80% cotton, 20% polyester), wool, silk, bamboo and soya. Batting often comes in 90", 96" or 108" widths. Many vintage quilts used an old blanket as batting.
Binding - the fabric strips stitched to the raw edges of a quilt and then folded over and stitched down. to cover the raw edges. Most quilts use a double layer of fabric for a durable finish. Quilts with curved edges require binding cut on the fabric bias.
Chain piecing – feeding pieces through the sewing machine continuously without cutting the thread, leaving just a couple of stitches between each piece of fabric. This creates a 'chain' that can then be cut afterwards. This method saves both time and thread.
Charm pack - a term coined by Moda Fabrics to describe a pack of precut 5" squares. There are usually 42 squares in a Moda charm pack; other suppliers may have different amounts.
Cornerstone blocks - the squares that join horizontal and vertical sashing strips.
Fat quarter – A half yard cut of fabric cut crossways to give a piece of fabric approximately 18" x 22". Many quilters like to purchase fat quarters so that they can have a selection of different fabrics.
Flimsy - the quilt top before it is made into a quilt sandwich and then quilted.
FPP - foundation paper piecing. A technique used to achieve very precise and/or complex shapes, often using very small pieces of fabric.
HST - half square triangle. Two triangles of contrasting fabric joined together on the diagonal to make a square. There are many ways of achieving this several at a time, so check online for the different methods.
Jelly roll - a term coined by Moda Fabrics to describe 2 1/2" by width of fabric strips of fabric. There are usually 42 strips in a Moda jelly roll; quantities may vary from other manufacturers who have copied the idea. Moda jelly rolls often contain all of the fabrics from a particular line.
Layer cake - a term coined by Moda Fabrics to describe a pack of precut 10" squares of fabric. There are usually 42 squares in a Moda layer cake, but other manufacturers who have copied the idea may have a different amount. Moda layer cakes often contain all of the fabrics from a particular line.
Memory quilt - a quilt usually made from old clothes and other fabric items that belong to someone who has passed away.
Mini charms - a term coined by Moda Fabrics to describe a pack of precut 2 1/2" squares.
Needle sizes - the higher the number, the larger the needle. A size 70 needle is good for piecing; Schmetz' needles guide is here.
Nesting seams - seams are pressed in opposite directions so that when two pieces are joined, the seams nest, thus reducing bulk.
On point - a square set on one of its corners, giving a diamond-like appearance.
Paper piecing/English paper piecing - the usually geometric shapes are tacked over paper, which stabilises the shapes. The pieces are typically handstitched together with an oversewn stitch.
Pressing vs ironing - ironing is a back-and-forth movement to remove creases; pressing is where the iron is placed down on an area and then lifted, flattening the seam.
Quilt - typically a (often pieced) top with batting and a backing. If a piece is put together without internal batting, it is traditionally known as a coverlet.
Quilting - the stitching that holds the quilt top, batting and backing together. This may be done by hand or machine.
Quilting pins - usually longer than dressmaking pins.
Quilt sandwich - the quilt top (usually pieced), batting and backing, pinned or basted together before quilting.
RST – right sides together. Place the fabric so the right sides face each other.
Sandwich - a quilt sandwich is the quilt top, batting and backing, when pinned/basted together before quilting.
Sashing - strips of fabric between quilt blocks.
Seam allowance – the distance between the stitching line and the seam. Quilters usually use a 1/4" seam allowance.
Selvedge (US selvage) - the woven edge of a piece of fabric. Fabric width is measured selvedge to selvedge. As selvedges have a tighter weave than the rest of the fabric, it is preferable not to use them in a quilt block as that part of the fabric might shrink differently.
Setting seams - pressing the seam flat (as sewn), before pressing it to one side or open. This 'relaxes' the thread and gives a flatter seam.
Stash - personal stock of fabric.
Thread - most quilters prefer a 100% cotton thread for piecing, often a 50wt thread. In general, the higher the thread number, the finer the thread.
Wholecloth quilt - a quilt where the top is made from a single piece of fabric, showcasing the quilting. Typical examples come from Durham and Wales.
Wadding (US term batting). The material inside a quilt, between the top and the backing. Wadding comes in many different materials such as cotton, cotton/polyester blend (often 80% cotton, 20% polyester), wool, silk, bamboo and soya. Batting often comes in 90", 96" or 108" widths. Many vintage quilts used an old blanket as wadding.
WOF - width of fabric (selvedge to selvedge).
WST - wrong sides together. Place the fabric so that the wrong sides face each other (rare).
Quilting accronyms
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