
Looking to expand your quilting vocabulary? Read our comprehensive A-Z glossary of quilting terms, perfect for both seasoned quilters and enthusiastic beginners. From basic stitches to complex techniques, we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re searching for definitions of common quilting terms or exploring specific quilting jargon, our guide will help you navigate the world of quilting with confidence.
You can always come back to this list, or you can download and print out our PDF version of this Complete Glossary of Quilting Terms.
Glossary of Quilting Terms and Definitions
Appliqué: A technique where fabric shapes are cut and sewn onto a fabric block or quilt top. Typically, a fusible material is ironed to the wrong side of a shape, and then ironed to the background fabric. There are many types of appliqué. Needle turned appliqué involves hand work where you use a needle to turn edge under and then hand stitch in place. Raw edge appliqué is a technique used to fuse your shape to fabric, then use a decorative stitch to adhere to quilt block. Applique is used to embellish or create interest to a block or quilt.
Related video: Appliqué Stained Glass Poppy
Backing: A quilt consists of three layers. The quilt top is either pieced or a single piece of fabric. The next layer is batting. The bottom layer of a quilt is a piece of fabric that is generally 4 inches longer and wider than the top on all sides, this allows for quilting. For example, if quilt top measures 60×60, backing and batting should measure at least 68×68. Backing fabric can be a single piece of extra wide backing fabric or a fabric of your choice which will be sewn together to the size needed. Some quilters like to piece their entire backing with scraps of fabric.
Backstitch: A stitch used to secure the stitch at the beginning and end of a seam by stitching 2 to 4 stitches forward, 2- 4 stitches back and then proceeding with your seam. This technique is done to secure the seam and ensure it does not pull apart during piecing or quilting of quilt.
Basting: Long stitches used to temporarily hold fabric in place, can be done by hand or by machine. It is also used to hold all three layers (quilt top, batting and backing) in place when ready for quilting. It is not necessary to secure thread knots on either end of the stitching, since it’s just a way to ensure that your project stays secure and doesn’t shift. These stitches can be removed once quilting is complete.
Batting: A product used between the quilt top and quilt backing. Batting is used for bed quilts, wall hangings, quilted clothing and home décor. Batting can also referred to as wadding. It’s generally made from cotton, cotton/polyester blend, bamboo, wool, or bamboo/cotton blend. There are two types of batting: with scrim and without scrim.
Related videos: Quilt Batting Choices, Upcycled Batting, Clever Uses for Quilt Batting ScrapsBearding: This refers to the batting fibers that end up poking through to the top of the quilt during the quilting process. This is caused by poor-quality batting and it will create this undesirable effect on the front and back of the quilt. Bearding happens when fibers in your batting pull apart and migrate through the fabric fibers of your quilt. You will most often notice this after a quilt is first washed. This is why it is important to choose good quality batting.
Betweens: Needles made specifically to sew all layers together during the hand quilting process. They are also used for hand sewing binding when finishing a quilt.
Bias: The length or width of woven fabric is considered the straight grain. There is no stretch when the fabric is on the straight grain. When you cut diagonally at a 45-degree angle across the straight grain, you will be cutting on the bias. When cutting on the bias you will always have a greater amount of stretch.
Related article from our friends at National Sewing Circle: Sewing with Bias Grain Fabric
Bias Tape: Pre-made strips of fabric in various sizes that are cut diagonally across the grain to give the fabric some movement so it will turn curves nicely. Used for binding a quilt.
Related video from our friends at National Sewing Circle: Applying Bias Tape to Edges and Mitering Corners
Binding: Finishing of the quilt. Long, thin fabric strips that are attached to the raw edges of a quilt.
Blanket Stitch: An embroidery stitch used to attach appliquéd fabric to a main fabric. Can be machine stitched or hand stitched.
Bleeding: When color or dyes from one fabric transfer to another during washing. This is due to hand dyes or color saturated fabrics losing their dyes when they are wet. It’s most commonly seen when washing vividly colored fabrics, particularly purples and reds. It’s always best to wash colors separately before cutting and piecing.
Blocks: The unit that is designed for a quilt. Generally, there will be many blocks in a quilt. A quilt block can be a single piece of fabric cut with a rotary cutter into a square or a block that has been pieced using many pieces of fabric and sewn together using a ¼ inch seam allowance.
Blocking: When a block is not square, a process that requires wetting and pressing the fabric to form a proper square block. This is also done using steam to help stretch portions of your block to match other blocks.
Borders: Strips of fabric that frame the edges of the quilt. You can have one or many borders in a quilt top. You may also have borders surrounding your quilt blocks, also known as sashing, or as part of the quilt block design.
Cake Layers: Fabric that is cut into 10 inch squares. These can be bought pre- packaged in many quilt stores.
Chain Piecing: This technique is used when sewing many quilt pieces that are identical. For example: sewing 144 two-inch squares together. Feed these pieces through your machine, right sides together, sewing consecutively without cutting the thread, also called fast feeding. Cut the thread later when all units have been sewn together.
Charm Pack: A variety of a fabric line cut into 5 inch squares. Charm packs are sold in many quilt shops, and are packaged by numerous fabric retailers. The number in bundles can vary among manufacturers.
Related video: How to Make a Tote Bag Using Charm Packs
Continuous Line Quilting: A pattern in quilting in which the design line continues from start to finish so you don’t have multiple stops and starts.
Corner Square: A square that is sewn to the ends of the top and bottom borders before being added to a quilt. Side borders will be sewn to the quilt first.
Corner Triangle: The triangles set in the corners of a quilt that is set on “point.” These are half square triangles, meaning the straight grain is on the outer edges of the triangle.
Cornerstones: A name given to the small blocks that join sashing strips together surrounding a block or blocks in a quilt top.
Crosswise Grain: The threads of woven fabric that run perpendicular to the selvage.
Drape: This is the way a quilt will feel or hang after it is quilted. The batting choice, as well as how much quilting is done, will determine how a quilt will drape. Higher quality batting is able to take more stitches and still retain a soft, cozy feel, whereas cheaper battings will turn to a stiffer feel.
Ease: Distributing the fabric evenly while long arm quilting so that the quilt lies flat.
Echo Quilting: Sometimes called shadow quilting, this is a technique where quilting is done around an outline of an applique piece on a quilt top or around a design or pattern. Then the quilting is echoed again and again around the previously stitched line. Continue to do this until the block is filled or desired effect is achieved.
Fat Eighth: A typical 1/8 yard of fabric is 4 ½ inches x 42 inches. A fat eight is 9 inches x 21 inches. It produces a fatter square piece of fabric, giving you more options.
Related video: Fat Eighth Drawstring Bag
Fat Quarter: A typical 1/4 yard of fabric is 9 inches x 44 inches. A fat quarter is 18 inches x 22 inches. It produces a fatter square piece of fabric, which gives you more options.
Feed Dogs: Teeth-like mechanisms that sit below the presser foot of a sewing machine and move fabric through the machine as you stitch. Feed dogs also help control stitch length. If you drop your feed dogs, you can achieve free motion quilting.
Finger Pressing: Walking your finger along a seam, pressing with your nail or fingertip to crease it without use of iron.
Free Motion Quilting: A process requiring a free motion quilting, darning, or hopping foot. It requires you to drop your feed dogs so you can move fabric freely in all directions. Special gloves marketed for free motion quilting can help in controlling the fabric by providing extra grip.
Related video: Free-Motion Quilting with Freezer Paper
Foundation Piecing: A method used for joining together small pieces of fabric to form a more complicated pattern or design. It is done by sewing the small pieces of fabric onto a foundation paper or fabric.
Grain: The direction of threads running through a woven fabric.
Half Square Triangles: A triangle that is created when you cut a square from one corner to the opposite corner (45-degree angle). The straight grain is on the short, outer sides of the triangle.
Hand: A term used to describe the feel and texture of a fabric. “This fabric has a nice hand to it.”
Interfacing: The term for a variety of materials that are used on the wrong side (either fused or sewn in) of a fabric to give it more stability, loft, or achieve whatever the desired effect may be.
Jelly Roll: Fabric cut into 2 ½ inch strips and wound into a roll. Used for strip piecing and other various patterns, and also binding.
Lattice: Same as sashing. A border that is created around blocks of a quilt. It’s most often called lattice when your quilt blocks are set on point (set in to look like a diamond as oppose to a square).
Loft: Loft is another word for thickness. The higher the loft of the batting the thicker the quilt. This does not necessarily also mean a warmer quilt. There are wool battings that are very thin and super warm. **The thicker your batting, the more difficult it will be to baste.
Micro Quilting: Quilting that is done as background fill, using small and precise micro patterns. Micro quilting contrasts with your primary motifs and actually makes them stand out in a quilt. This technique adds visual interest, definition, and texture.
Mitered-Corners: A binding strip that is sewn and folded at a 45-degree angle at each corner, giving the appearance of a frame corner.
Negative Space: Unoccupied area that surrounds another shape in a project. Negative space can be in a block or the area surrounding a block. It encompasses the areas and flows in, around, and between quilt blocks.
Notions: Small accessories used to aid in sewing and quilting: scissors, needles, thread, seam ripper, zippers, etc.
On Point: A block that is placed at a 45-degree angle on the quilt top.
Patchwork: The art of sewing small pieces of fabric together to make a larger fabric or design. It is then usually quilted.
Piecing: Process where fabric pieces are sewn together to form a block, garment, or quilt.
Pressing: An iron is used to press a seam after stitching. You do not move the iron around, as that would cause stretching or distortion of the seam. Instead, set the iron onto the seam, lift, and set again. Repeat until the seam is pressed.
Quarter Inch Foot: Presser foot that has a guide to achieve a ¼ inch seam.
Quarter-Square Triangle: A triangle made when you cut a square diagonally twice from one corner to the opposite corner at 45-degree angles, making an X in the center of the block. The straight grain will be on long edge of the triangle. You will get four triangles from one square of fabric.
Quilt-As-You-Go: Process where each block or section is layered (top, batting, and backing) and quilted separately. Each separately quilted block or section can then be assembled into a larger quilt top.
Quilting: The process of sewing the three quilt layers together, using stitches in decorative patterns as motifs, or in utilitarian patterns, such as straight lines with larger stitches. Quilting is generally done by hand or machine.
Quilt Challenge: Many people making a quilt project with predetermined rules/criteria. It’s a friendly competition.
Quilt Frame: Can be a small quilt hoop or a large floor frame that holds the three layers of a quilt (top, batting, and backing) as it is hand quilted.
Quilt Hoop: Two circles that hold the quilt layers together during the quilting process. One of the circles has an adjustment to fit over the layers.
Quilt Label: A patch or an area on the back of the quilt. Generally, the quilt label will have a date, the recipient name, the name of its maker, and sometimes even a little about the quilt.
Quilt Sandwich: The three layers of a quilt: the quilt top, the quilt batting, and the quilt backing.
Quilt Sleeve: A strip of fabric that is applied to a quilt to enable hanging. A rod is often slipped through the sleeve.
Hand Quilting Thread: Thread used to quilt the three layers together by hand. This thread is generally not used in a sewing machine since it’s very thick.
Redwork: The name given to the embroidery technique where pictures are “drawn” with a series of joined stitches. Preferred stitches are usually backstitch or stem stitch, and the picture is embroidered in a single red color. (It can also be stitched in black or blue for variation.)
Right Side: The “front” side of the fabric; usually the distinctly printed side of the fabric.
Rocker Quilting Stitch: A stitch used when hand quilting when you gently rock the needle down through quilt and then back up in a running stitch.
Rotary Cutter: A cutting tool for quilting that has a very sharp round blade. Must be used on a cutting mat and preferably with a quilting ruler.
Rotary Mat: A cutting surface that is self-healing. Used with fabric and rotary cutters.
Rotary Rulers: Rulers made from Plexiglas type material. They have a raised edge to guide rotary cutters along the edge.
Running Stitch: A style of stitch where the needle goes in and out of the fabric in a continual motion.
Sandpaper Circles: Circles made of sandpaper with adhesive on one side. Place the adhesive side to bottom side of rotary rulers to prevent slippage.
Sashing: Strips of fabric sewn around or between blocks of a quilt top. These strips are generally joined together by cornerstone blocks or sashing squares. See Lattice.
Sashing Squares: Squares used to sew sashing together. See Cornerstones.
Scrap Quilts: Quilts that are made from various fabrics, often scraps from other projects or clothing. There are many patterns for this style of quilt, or you can just start sewing them together and cut them into blocks.
Scrim: A term used in batting where a thin layer of polyester is added to the cotton to be needle punched into. This gives stability to your batting so it won’t break apart within your quilt. Scrim adds poly to your batting so it will no longer be 100% cotton.
Seam: The line where two pieces of fabric are joined together by sewing them with thread.
Seam Allowance: The fabric between the sewing line and the raw edge. In quilting it is ¼ inch.
Seam Ripper: A tool used for picking or ripping out sewing stitches.
Selvage: The manufactured finished edge of fabric that prevents fraying before it gets to the consumer. This is where you can find the name of the fabric line, the company, and the colors that were used.
Serging: A method of sewing looped threads over the raw edge of the fabric to finish the edge to prevent fraying. This is a fun way to finish wall hangings.
Related video from our friends at National Sewing Circle: Savvy Serger Tips and Techniques
Setting the Seam: When an iron is pressed on the seam before pressing it to the side or open, depending on your project. This allows the thread to relax into the fabric and become more secure.
Setting: The arrangement of the blocks and various fabrics in a quilt. A straight setting is when blocks are placed in a vertical and horizontal grid. A diagonal setting is when a block is set on point, resembling a diamond.
Sharps: Sets of extra sharp sewing needles for hand piecing or appliqué. Many quilters use this for bindings as well.
Stab Stitching: The process where the needle is pushed to back side of the quilt sandwich with one hand and returned to top side with the other hand.
Stash: Fabrics that have been accumulated for projects, or because you really liked it, or because you have a fabric addiction.
Stay Stitch: Pre-sewing along the edge of a curve to help prevent stretching along the bias when assembling a garment. Often used on the curves of sleeves for stability during garment construction.
Stencils: Designs that are cut into a template. Stencils are used for marking quilts during the quilting process.
Stitch-in-the-Ditch: A quilting term used to describe the method of stitching along existing seams in a patchwork piece or a quilt top in order to quilt it together with the batting and backing.
Straight Cut Borders: Top, bottom, and side borders that meet at a horizontal seam. Sew the sides on first, then the top and bottom.
Straight Grain: The grain of the fabric that runs lengthwise or crosswise through the fabric. This is the most stable and has less stretch.
Strip Piecing: A technique where strips are cut and pieced together, and then cut to design a block. Used in rail fence quilts as well as many other types.
Stippling: A technique used in both hand and machine quilting to flatten an area of a quilt and create texture.
Template: A shape or design that is placed on fabric and is used as a pattern to trace or cut around. Often used as an appliqué when finished.
Tension: The amount of pinching done to your thread as it flows through your sewing machine. Thicker fabrics need a higher tension so the thread doesn’t flow out too quickly. Thinner fabrics need less tension to let the thread out easily to prevent puckering.
Thimble: A protective covering for your finger used during hand quilting or sewing binding and/or appliqué.
Tied Quilt: A technique where a quilt is layered with backing, batting, and top. It’s usually laid out on a large table and periodically tied and knotted with pearl cotton or yarn to hold it together instead of quilting it. High-loft batting is generally used with this technique.
Top Stitch: The process of stitching on the exterior side of a project to finish the seams or folds to keep them in place. This is usually paired with a longer stitch length which looks more professional and can make it easier to go in a straight line. It can also can be known as edge stitching if it is done near a fold.
UFO: A term used to refer to an unfinished object or project. Most quilters have many projects on the table at any given time.
Wadding: Batting or wadding is the middle layer of the quilt, adding to the warmth and loft of the product.
Walking Foot: Presser foot attachment that helps to easily feed more than two layers at the same rate.
Whole Cloth Quilts: A name given to three single pieces of fabric sandwiched and sewn together in the quilting process.
WOF: Width of fabric. You will find this abbreviation in many quilting patterns.
Wrong Side: The back side of the fabric; usually the opposite side of a distinctly printed fabric.
You can always come back to this list, or you can download and print out our PDF version of this Complete Glossary of Quilting Terms.
If you’re looking for another handy glossary, our friends at National Sewing Circle have a Glossary of Sewing Terms as well!
What is fussy cutting?
What is the term for the cardboard roll (tube) that a roll of batting comes on? My grandma used to call it something and I can't remember :(
What does “piece for length” mean?
when did the term "push quilting" replace the term "flat bedding" ? What does the term " rail quilting " mean.
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