Quilting and Sewing Terms: What They Mean Plus Free Sewing Patterns To Help You

Beginners start here. Novices and experts alike find themselves having to decode terminology from time to time. When you’re just getting started it’s nice to have all the terms and acronyms in one place. This isn’t an exhaustive list (I’m sure someone will email me with more suggestions), but it’s extensive.

Have you ever gone browsing for fabric and suddenly feel like you’re in a pastry shop? Maybe you were scrolling on Instagram and heard some confusing jargon. Did you know that a UFO is just as much a sewing term as it is scientific. Here is some guidance to help you understand what you’re hearing, and what you’re actually looking for.

Jelly Roll

jelly roll
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This is a pre-cut fabric bundle. Ultimately you have about three yards of fabric cut into strips that measure 2.5″ wide and 40″-42″ long. They are sold in either solid, or coordinating sets.

Jelly Roll Quilt

jelly roll quilt pattern
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Here is a great pattern to try out using a Jelly Roll fabric bundle. I call it the QAYG Jelly Roll Quilt.

QAYG – Quilt As You Go

https://www.polkadotchair.com/scrappy-halloween-table-runner/
Photo credit: Melissa Mortenson / Polka Dot Chair

Quilt-As-You-Go is a self-explanatory technique of quilting. You sew pieces of fabric together right onto the batting. Then you trim the pieces to the desired shape and size for use in your project. The finished product is nicely quilted without having to throw it on a long arm or work around seams and zippers.

QAYG Tote

qayg
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Try this Easy QAYG Tote with Pom Poms for some fun, and put your new terms into practice!

Honey Bun

Like a jelly roll, a honey bun is a pre-cut fabric strip bundle. Ultimately you have about 1 2/3 yards of fabric cut into strips that measure 1.5″ wide and 40″-42″ long. They are sold in either solid, or coordinating sets.

Merry Cheer Table Runner

honey bun
Photo credit: Melissa Mortenson / Polka Dot Chair

Use your honey bun to sew a runner, with the Merry Cheer Table Runner Pattern from Polka Dot Chair.

Layer Cake

A Layer Cake is a pre-cut fabric bundle consisting of 40, 10″ squares (not quite three yards of fabric). They are easy to sub-cut into smaller pieces, or you can use them as-is. These are also available in solid or coordinating bundles.

Star Cakes Quilt

layer cake
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Use your layer cakes to sew the Star Cakes Quilt from Fat Quarter Shop. I think you’ll love it!

Charm Square Pack

Charm Square Packs (or just Charm Packs) contain just over half a yard of fabric, pre-cut into 42 five-inch pieces. They are like the other fabric bundles in that the packs come with coordinating fabric that all look beautiful together.

Charm Poppy Quilt

charm pack
Photo credit: SewCanShe.com

My Free Charm Poppy Quilt Pattern was designed to use a pre-cut coordinating Charm Square bundle. Give it a try!

UFO – Unfinished Objects

ufo

These are the projects that you start, but don’t have time to finish right away. Usually you have a place to store these projects. I have a lot of friends with random quilt blocks lying around. Those count as UFOs.

Fat Quarter

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Fat Quarters are quarter-yard pieces of fabric, but the dimensions are not what you would have if you took a normal yard and cut it in four pieces (9″ x 44″). Fat Quarters are 18″ x 21″ instead.

Fat Quarter Sewing Patterns

fat quarter
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I have entire posts (links are below) filled with free sewing patterns for fat quarters, but I really love these Reversible Fold-Up Bins that I make. They are the perfect size for organizing a shelf.

HST – Half Square Triangle

https://sewcanshe.com/fat-quarter-whirlwind-quilt-free-pattern/ 66" x 55" throw
Photo credit: SewCanShe.com

An HST half of a square, cut so that the long edge is sturdy; this would be parallel to the selvage on your fabric.

Lunar Eclipse Mini Quilt

hst
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My Lunar Eclipse Mini Quilt is a great way to start sewing with HSTs. Mini Quilts can be displayed in many ways, and they don’t take up a lot of material or time.

If you want more HST patterns, try my post: 30 Magical Patterns Using Half Square Triangles.

Warp/Weft

warp vs weft
Photo credit: JustPaint.org

If you try to stretch a piece of cotton fabric you will notice that the amount of stretch depends on which sides you’re holding. Did you know that each direction has a name? The warp (lengthwise) threads are parallel to the selvage. On a loom they are the threads that are tight on each end. The weft (crosswise) threads are perpendicular; these are the threads that are woven between the warp threads. There is more “give” in the fabric if you are pulling on the weft (holding the selvage).

Bias

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The bias represents a diagonal at a 45 degree angle to the selvage edge of fabric. If you cut a strip of fabric on that 45 degree angle, you can take that fabric and make bias tape. You can then use that bias tape to bind your quilt, edge your armholes, hem your skirts and more.

Here is a great tutorial: How To Make Your Own Bias Trim. You can match it to your bags and quilts so much nicer when you make your own.

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Disclosure: some of my posts contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of those links I may receive a small commission, so thank you for supporting SewCanShe when you shop! All of the opinions are my own and I only suggest products that I actually use. 🙂