Glossary Page 2, Craft Tales

Hook and Loop Tape - Also known as Velcro, a brand name. This is a pull-apart fastener with one side having numerous small hooks and the other side having loops. It is available in sew on and self-adhesive styles. It comes in tape sold by the package or yard and dots of various sizes.

Nap - Also known as pile. Raised, hairy, or fuzzy surface on fabrics such as fur, corduroy and velvet that feels different or the shading of which is visibly different when examined in each direction.

Open seam - Pressing a seam on the wrong side so the raw edges are on each side of the seam.

Pile - Also known as nap. Raised, hairy, or fuzzy surface on fabrics such as fur, corduroy and velvet that feels different or the shading of which is visibly different when examined in each direction.

Running stitch - Hand sewn small stitches going from one side of the fabric to the other so the fabric will pull up into gathers on the thread.

Seam Allowance - The amount of fabric extending from the seam line to the raw edge.

Straight of Grain - (See Grain) To ensure woven fabric will hang correctly and not twist, the grain of the fabric must run straight up and down or sideways on the project. To accomplish this, find a lengthwise or crosswise thread and place the grain arrow on it, making sure the arrow follows the same path as the thread. You can also find straight of grain by measuring from the fabric selvage to the top of the grain arrow on the pattern. Then measure from the same selvage at the bottom of the arrow using the same distance from the top measurement.

Tack - To secure one piece of fabric to another with two or three small stitches sewn by hand, one stitch sewn directly over the top of the other stitch, then tied off.

Template - A pattern that has no seam allowance and is used as the seam line. The fabric is not cut out before sewing, but rather after. Place the template directly on the assembled pieces of fabric, and trace around it using a marking pen that will show on the fabric. Sew directly on the traced line. Cut away the excess fabric just outside the sewing line. You may also pin the template to the fabric and sew directly around it instead of tracing.

Velcro - A brand name for hook and loop tape. This is a pull-apart fastener with one side having numerous small hooks and the other side having loops. It is available in sew on and self-adhesive styles. It comes in tape sold by the package or yard and dots of various sizes.

Weighting material - A heavy substance usually sewn into small bags and then inserted inside an object during stuffing to add weight. Typical weighting materials are BBs, steel shot, small glass beads, clean sand and rice. Use sand and rice carefully. Sand is difficult to contain and some claim rice can develop bugs. I have personally used rice with no problems, but I live in an extremely dry climate.