Album Quilt
The album or friendship quilt became popular in America during the 19th Century. To make this quilt each patchwork or appliqué block would be created by a different person in the family or community. The finished quilt would be presented as a gift to a man on his 21st birthday, a bride, someone who was leaving the community or a church minister.
All-over Pattern
A single shape repeated over the whole quilt surface. The all-over pattern can also be a quilt top made up or pieced from one or more shapes rather than blocks.
Amish Patchwork
Created by the Amish Community in America, this is a style of patchwork quilting.
Appliqué
This is a method whereby a piece of fabric is sewn onto a background fabric by hand or machine stitching. The word is derived from the French word appliqué, which means to put or lay on.
Back
Also known as the backing, this is the bottom layer of the quilt sandwich.
Basting
Also called tacking, this is a temporary method of holding together the layers of the quilt sandwich. This is done by use of large hand or machine sewn stitches or pins.
Batting
See filling or wadding
Beeswax
Thread is run through or rubbed over beeswax to strengthen the thread and help prevent it from tangling.
Betweens
Short needles used for quilting.
Binding
A narrow fabric strip either cut from the straight grain of the fabric or on the bias and used to finish off the edges of a quilt or project.
Bleeding
Where the colour from a fabric runs when washed, thus discolouring surrounding fabrics.
Block
The block is a unit of patchwork - typically a square - that is a complete design in itself. The finished blocks are sewn together to make a quilt.
Border
This is an optional frame of fabric that edges a quilt.
Broderie Perse
This is an appliqué technique where fabrics with printed designs (for example large florals) are cut out and sewn onto a background fabric.
Cable Twist
This is a quilting pattern where the running stitch forms an outline depicting the curves of a rope cable.
Candlewicking
A series of knots embroidered in a design or pattern on plain cloth using candlewick threads.
Cathedral Window
A form of patchwork design which when completed resembles a stained glass window.
Charm Quilt
This is a patchwork quilt where no two pieces in the quilt are cut from the same fabric. In practice it is made up of many fabrics collected by the quilter over a period of years.
Colourfast
This is a fabric that has dyed in colours that will not fade or wash out.
Compass
A geometry tool which can be purchased from any stationary outlet and used to draw accurate circles and curves.
Corded/ Italian Quilting
Two layers of fabric are sewn together using parallel lines of running stitch to form a design or pattern. Cord is then inserted between the fabric and the lines of running stitches to highlight the pattern formed.
Cotton
Fabric woven from the natural fibre also known as cotton. Its qualities of being easy to sew and hardwearing mean it is favoured by quilters.
Counterpane
A light patchwork or appliquéd quilt, which has no filling and is suitable for summer use.
Courthouse Steps
In this patchwork pattern dark and light strips of material are pieced on opposite sides of a centre square. See also Log Cabin patchwork.
Crazy Patchwork
Using a variety of fabrics, various shaped patches are pieced together. The seams are then embellished with embroidery stitches.
Ditch Quilting
The quilting stitches are worked very close or in the seamlines to add texture to a pieced project whilst keeping the quilting stitches hidden.
Double Wedding Ring
A patchwork design where curved pieces are sewn together to form a series of interlocked rings.
Dressmakers Carbon Paper
Available in a variety of colours, this paper with a waxy finish is used to mark placement or cutting lines on fabric.
Drunkards Path
A patchwork block pattern where curved patches are joined to form a pattern of staggered waves.
Echo Quilting
Used particularly with Hawaiian Appliqué this is a form of quilting where the stitching runs parallel around the appliqué shape creating a ripple effect as the stitches echo the line of the shape.
Embroidery
A method of adding interest to a fabric by using a variety of types of stitch.
English Patchwork
A patchwork technique where the fabric patches are first basted or tacked over paper templates before being stitched together. This is commonly seen when using hexagonal patches.
Fabric Gluestick
An adhesive in solid form used for joining fabrics.
Fat Quarter
A popular cut of fabric for patchwork and quilting. It is where a half metre of fabric is cut from the bolt and then cut in half again horizontally resulting in two pieces of fabric each measuring approximately 22" by 20", each piece is a fat quarter.
Feed dogs
A sewing machine part found in the needle plate which moves up and down during the sewing process to help pull the fabric along. The feed dogs are often dropped whilst machine quilting.
Felt
A fabric produced by pressing fibres together using heat and moisture. It is not woven and so has no grain. It is not washable.
Filling
Otherwise known as batting, padding or in Britain as wadding, this is the material used between the quilt top and backing, forming the middle layer of the quilt sandwich.
Finger Press
A way of temporarily pressing fabric without an iron by the use of the thumb and forefinger or fingernail to crease the fabric into the desired position.
Flying Geese
A patchwork pattern where right angled triangles are pieced together to resemble a group of geese in flight.
Folded Star
Also known as Somerset Patchwork or Mitred, the Folded Star is a method whereby rectangles or circles of fabric are folded into triangular shapes and arranged in a pattern which resembles a star.
Foundation
This can be a lightweight fabric, interfacing or soft paper and is used as a base upon which patchwork or appliqué pieces are sewn.
Four Block Quilt
A simple quilt made up of four large blocks and usually surrounded by a border. Traditionally, these were quilts which took only a short time to make and so were used as everyday quilts.
Frame Quilt
A traditionally British patchwork pattern where a central square is surrounded by a series of borders.
Freehand Feathers
A traditional quilting pattern where feathers are marked freehand on the quilt top.
Friendship Quilt
See Album Quilt
Fusible Interfacing
A material created of fibres which when applied to another fabric by ironing, gives the other fabric more body or makes it stiffer.
Fusible Web
This material is used to fuse two layers of fabric together. The fusible web is placed between two fabrics and heat applied with an iron, thus sticking the fabrics together.
Gathered Patchwork
A method of patchwork quilting where the piecing and quilting are done together. Here the top layer of fabric is larger than the wadding or back. The top layer is pleated over a mound of wadding. The top, wadding and base are then quilted together with running or stab stitches.
Grain
The direction in which threads lie in a piece of woven fabric. The threads which run in a vertical direction are called the lengthwise grain and those that run horizontal are called the crosswise grain. When piecing fabric and putting blocks together it is usual to ensure that the grain of the fabrics runs in the same direction.
Grandmother's Flower Garden
A type of honeycomb quilt design.
Hawaiian Appliqué
Originating from the Hawaiian Islands the quilts are designed with a bold and intricate motif centred on a foundation.
Hem
The name given for finishing the edges of fabrics so that the cut edges are hidden. This is done by folding the edges of the fabric to the wrong side and using a slip stitch to secure. The stitches should not generally be seen on the right side of the fabric.
Honeycomb Pattern
This is a patchwork technique whereby hexagons of fabric are sewn together to produce a honeycomb effect. The hexagons are generally made by using paper templates.
Italian Quilting
See corded quilting
Lap Throw
A small quilt made to cover the lap and knees.
Lattice
See sashing
Linen
A fabric which is produced from the flax plant. Quite often it has a slightly uneven texture and tends to crease easily. It is very strong and washable.
Loft
Refers to the thickness or weight of wadding or batting.
Log Cabin
A patchwork technique where strips of fabric are sewn around a central shape, usually a square.
Mariners Compass
A patchwork block pattern in which long triangles radiate from the centre to resemble the points on a compass.
Marking
The transferring of a design by marker to a fabric.
Marriage Quilt
Historically, in America the marriage or bride quilt was an elaborate quilt covered in romantic decoration. Traditionally it was the thirteenth quilt that a girl would make and take into the marriage. It was said to bring bad luck if the girl worked on her marriage quilt before she became engaged.
Medallion Quilt
The earliest style of patchwork quilt where a large, elaborate, central motif, sometimes commemorative is surrounded by several different borders.
Milliners Needle
A long needle used in making hats. This can be useful for basting or tacking layers of a quilt together.
Mitre
Creating a corner by sewing the fabrics together at a 45 degree angle.
Mosaic Quilt
A patchwork technique where the quilt top is pieced with geometric shapes reflecting mosaic tiled floors and marquetry.
Needle Marking
A method generally used by experienced quilters. Here after the quilt sandwich has been basted or tacked together a template is placed on the quilt top. A blunt yarn needle is used to mark round the template creating a series of indentations which are then quilted.
New York Beauty
A form of patchwork block pattern which uses a combination of circular shapes and precise points.
Notch
A triangular shape marked or cut out on fabric pieces to help match the individual pieces together before sewing. This method is useful when piecing circular designs.
On Point
The placing of a square patch or block at an angle so that it appears as a diamond.
Orange Peel
The patchwork pattern consists of pieces of fabric shaped as curved orange segments.
Organdy
A fine, transparent cotton material which has been permanently stiffened.
Organza
A fine, transparent material of silk or synthetic fibre which has a slight sheen.
Overcasting
A stitch used to finish the edges of fabrics that fray easily. Working along the edge of the fabric from either direction, take the thread up and over the edge of the fabric. Take care not to pull the stitches too tight so that the edge of the fabric curls.
Padding
See wadding
Patch
A small piece of fabric used either with other patches to make a patchwork quilt or to cover a worn area of fabric or clothing.
Patchwork
The technique or practice of sewing patches of fabric together to produce a larger piece of fabric.
Pieced Quilt
A quilt composed of patches.
Pin Baste
Temporarily fixing two or more pieces of fabric together by using long pins instead of stitches. This is useful where the pieces to be sewn are small or simple. Pin baste also means to secure the quilt sandwich together by the use of safety pins.
Polyester
A woven or knitted fabric made of synthetic fibres. It can be manufactured in different weights and is also used to make strong thread.
Press
To flatten fabric using heat, steam and pressure.
Presser Foot
Found on a sewing machine and used to hold the fabric to the needle plate so that the needle can go through the fabric.
Quilt
A bedcover made of a sandwich of fabric, top, wadding and back, held together by quilting stitches or ties.
Quilt-as-you-go
A technique where pre-quilted sections are made and then joined together to form a quilt.
Quilting Frame
A four-sided structure designed to hold the quilt sandwich taut to aid even stitching when quilting by hand.
Quilting Hoop
A portable round or oval hoop designed to hold the quilt sandwich taut to aid even stitching when quilting by hand.
Quilting Stitch
A running stitch sewn by hand or machine to secure the three layers of the quilt sandwich together. The stitch usually follows a design or pattern.
Reducing Glass
This works in the opposite way to a magnifying glass. It can be used by the patchwork quilter to look at the patchwork before it has been sewn together to help show how the finished patchwork design will look.
Reverse Applique
The opposite of appliqué in that a layer or layers of fabric are removed to reveal the design.
Rose in a Ring
An appliqué block pattern, usually of roses, arranged in a wreath.
Rotary Cutter
A circular blade which when used with a self healing cutting board and ruler can be used to cut up to several layers of fabric at one time.
Rotary Ruler
A thick clear plastic ruler used with the rotary cutter.
Sampler Quilt
A block style quilt where all of the individual blocks are different from one another.
Sashiko
A style of Japanese geometric embroidery used on indigo coloured fabric with white thread.
Sashing
Also known as a lattice, sashing is the use of strips of fabric to frame blocks. The use of this technique creates a way to frame individual blocks, unify a quilt design, enlarge a quilt or highlight quilting stitch patterns.
Satin
A shiny fabric made from silk, cotton or synthetic fibres. The material can be difficult to sew as it has a very smooth and slippery texture.
Scrap Quilt
A quilt made entirely out of leftover pieces of fabric.
Seam Ripper
See unpicker
Selvages
The finished edges of the fabric.
Seminole Patchwork
A patchwork technique whereby strips of fabric are sewn together. The sewn strips are then cut into segments and re-sewn to create geometric designs.
Shell Patchwork
A style of mosaic patchwork where the fabric patches are cut into shapes representing shells or fish scales.
Shadow Applique
A technique in appliqué where the shape or motif is placed between the foundation fabric and a transparent fabric. The shape or motif is then sewn to the foundation fabric. The finished effect is that of the appliqué showing through the top fabric.
Shadow Quilting
A method in shadow appliqué where the appliqué shape is sewn over a padded foundation thereby sewing and quilting is done at the same time.
Silk
A fibre produced by the silkworm. The fibre is woven to produce a lustrous material. It can be woven to produce different weights and textures.
Sleeve
A fabric casing sewn to the back of a quilt that enables it to be hung.
Stained Glass Applique
A method in appliqué where instead of turning under or using a satin stitch to cover the raw edges of the appliqué shapes, thin strips of fabric which have been cut on the bias are used instead. The finished effect is that of a stained glass window.
Star of Bethlehem
A patchwork block pattern where each of the eight points of the star are pieced from fabric cut in a diamond shape.
Stay Stitching
Used when the edges of a fabric needs to be stabilised, this is a line of even stitches which are sewn just inside the seam allowance.
String or Strip Patchwork
A method of patchwork where thin strips of fabric are sewn together to create a larger piece of fabric from which shapes can be cut out.
Strip Piecing
This is where strips are sewn together before cutting apart with a rotary cutter to reveal strips that are already sewn together. This method is called 'strip-piecing' and is faster and often more accurate than more traditional methods.
Also a method of sewing strips of fabric together and then cutting out shapes for appliqué or patchwork.
Strippy Quilt
The quilt top is made of strips of fabric in alternating colours which run lengthwise down the quilt. It is common for the quilting stitches to be sewn within each strip.
Sunshine & Shadow
Also known as 'Trip around the World' this patchwork pattern is made up of rows of patchwork squares, pieced together diagonally in alternating colours.
Tacking
Also called basting, this is a temporary method of holding together the layers of the quilt sandwich. This is done by use of large hand or machine sewn stitches or pins.
Templates
A pattern piece or shape made out of stiff card, plastic or metal used for marking out shapes or patterns for patchwork, appliqué or quilting.
Thin Quarter
This is a cut of fabric where the fabric is cut at one quarter of a metre, resulting in a long and thin piece of fabric (measuring approximately 44" by 20"). See also Fat Quarter.
Throw
A small patchwork or appliqué cover which has a simple backing with no middle layer of wadding.
Tied Quilting
An alternative to quilting the three layers of the quilt sandwich with a running stitch. Instead thread or yarn is inserted through the quilt at regular intervals and tied in a square knot or bow.
Top
The top layer of the quilt sandwich which is either made of patchwork pieces, appliqué or a whole piece of fabric. A quilting pattern is then marked on the top to be sewn.
T-Quilt
A quilt made to fit a four poster bed. The two bottom corners of the quilt are cut out so that the quilt lies flat between the bottom posts of the bed. The final shape of the quilt resembles the letter T.
Tubular Quilting
A technique where the quilt is made of strips of fabric which are sewn to a foundation and then stuffed to form tubes.
Trapunto
A method in quilting where two layers of fabric are joined using a pattern of stitches. Areas of the quilt are then stuffed from the wrong side to make the design stand out.
Unpicker
Also known as a seam ripper, this is a tool with a sharp curved and pointed tip used to undo stitches.
Value
In colour terms the value relates to the lightness or darkness of a colour. Optical effects can be achieved by careful placement of light and dark values.
Velvet
A woven fabric of cotton, silk or synthetic fibres which has a nap.
Voile
A plain weave cotton or synthetic fabric which is transparent.
Wadding
Also known as batting or padding, this is the middle layer or filling of the quilt. (See also Filling).
Warp
The vertical threads which run the length of a woven fabric.
Weft
The horizontal threads in a woven fabric.
Whip Stitch
A stitch used to hold together two finished edges. For example, in stitching together the patchwork pieces in English Quilting. The needle is passed through the fabric at right angles to the finished edges.
Whitework
White stitches are sewn onto white fabric. By the use of different stitches and patterns used a decorative effect is created.
Wholecloth Quilt
This is a quilt made from two large pieces of plain or printed fabric with padding in between. The whole cloth quilt is usually elaborately quilted.
Wool
A natural fibre woven from the fleece of sheep.
Wrinkle Quilting
A type of quilt where the quilt top is larger than the back. The quilting stitches holding the layers together cause the quilt top to wrinkle.