each paper template before the shapes
are joined together into a larger design.
The paper templates are removed once
the shapes have all been sewn together.
FAT EIGHTH
Half of a ‘fat quarter’, this is a piece of
fabric measuring 9in x 18in.
FAT QUARTER
A quarter of a yard of fabric made by
cutting half a yard in half across the
length to give a piece of fabric that
measures 18in x 22in. This means you
can cut larger pieces than you can from
a regular quarter (9in x 44in).
FOUNDATION PAPER PIECING
A precise way to piece blocks by sewing
pieces of fabric to a printed and numbered
paper template.
FREE-MOTION QUILTING
This is a style of machine quilting in which
a darning foot is used instead of the usual
foot so that the quilting stitches can be
‘drawn’ freehand in any direction rather
than in straight lines.
FUSIBLE WEB
The fabric equivalent of double-sided
sticky tape. Often used for appliqué work,
it melts slightly and becomes tacky when
ironed between two pieces of fabric,
making it a quick way to join material.
FUSSY CUT
To cut specifically around a motif on a
patterned piece of fabric to show off the
printed design.
GRAIN
The arrangement of threads in a piece
of woven fabric. Lengthwise grain is
created by the warp threads on the loom
(the ones that run up and down), and
crosswise grain by the weft (the ones that
run left to right).
HEM
To hem a piece of fabric is to turn the
edge over on itself and sew it in place
to stop it fraying, although a hem can
also be decorative.
HONEYCOMB
A common quilt top design made
from hexagons of fabric sewn together.
JELLY ROLL (ALSO: STRIP
ROLL, NOODLE)
A bundle of 20 or so strips of fabric that
each measure 2½in x 44in. Jelly rolls are
produced by Moda Fabrics, but other
companies make similar bundles with
different names such as Bali Pops, Stone
Strips and Roll Ups.INTERFACING
A reinforcing material that’s sewn or ironed
to the back of fabric to make it stronger or
more rigid.LAYER CAKE
Produced by fabric company Moda, a layer
cake is a bundle of 10in fabric squares.LOFT
A term for describing the thickness and
weight of batting. ‘High loft’ batting will
be thicker than ‘low loft’, although low loft
batting can be just as warm as high loft
batting – useful if you want a warm quilt
that isn’t too bulky.LONG-ARM QUILTING
For large projects, such as bedspreads,
it’s possible to pay to have the quilting
stitched by an industrial ‘long-arm’
sewing machine.LONG-ARM SEWING MACHINE
A long-arm sewing machine, as the
name suggests, is a domestic sewing
machine that has a longer arm that
creates more room between the needle
and the body of the machine so that
it’s easier to manoeuvre larger pieces
of fabric.LONG QUARTER
A quarter-yard of fabric cut along the
width of the bolt, measuring 9in x 44in.MEDALLION
A medallion is a centrepiece block in a
quilt, designed to be the focal point and
different from the surrounding blocks. The
rest of the quilt is built up in borders.MITRED CORNER
This produces a diagonal seam at
45-degrees to the edges of a square
where two pieces of fabric meet at a
corner. It is recommended to mitre your
binding corners.NAP
With a textured fabric such as velvet or
brushed cotton, the nap is the direction in
which the raised threads lie.NOTION
A general term for any tools and
accessories used for quilting, patchwork
and other crafts. Quilting notions include
rotary cutters, scissors, needles and pins,
amongst others.PANEL
Panels are pieces of fabric with a printed
illustration or other image on them that
are intended to be used in one whole
piece on a quilt top.PATCHWORK
Patchwork involves sewing together small
pieces of different fabrics to create a
pattern. The blocks of a quilt top are
usually patchworked.