Quilting Glossary: A-E | F-L  | M-P | Q-Z

Quilt Top.  The top layer of a quilt Sandwich.

Quilting. In general, the process of making a quilt. Specifically, the small running stitches that hold the three layers of a quilt together.

Quilting Frame.  A large free-standing floor apparatus made from wood or plastic pipe that holds the layers of a quilt together during quilting.

Quilting Guild. An organization of quilters which may provide opportunities to share projects, instruction and community service.

Quilting Hoop.   A small circular or oval apparatus that is used to hold the layers of a quilt together during quilting.

Reverse Appliqué.   Designs made by sewing on a patch to the underside of a Block and then cutting away and turning under the edge of the top fabric.

Rotary Cutter and Mat.   A fabric cutting tool with a circular blade that cuts through several layers of fabric at once. It is best used with a clear plastic ruler as a quilting guide. A cutting mat is essential to protect the work surface and preserve the blade's sharpness.

Sandwich.  Traditional description of a quilt: a sandwich consisting of a Quilt Top, filling or Batting, and a Backing.

Sampler Quilt.   A quilt constructed of a collection of Blocks in different patterns, usually with no pattern repeated. Blocks may be the uniform or varying sizes.

Sashing. The fabric that separates the Blocks, framing them and making the quilt larger.

Scrap Quilt.   A quilt, usually patchwork, made of many different fabrics, often left over from other projects.

Seminole Piecing.   A method of cutting joined strips of fabric into sections and re-piecing them with either plain contrasting fabric strips in between, or in staggered rows similar to a checkerboard. Adapted from the bright patchwork of the Seminole Indians in Florida, this technique is often used in Borders and quilted clothing.

Setting.  The arrangement of completed Blocks forming the Quilt Top. Blocks can be set side by side, or on point, like diamonds, with or without Sashing. Arrangements can also vary with certain asymmetrical block patterns.

Stippling.  Very closely stitched background quilting that can be done by hand or machine to create surface texture.

Stitch in the Ditch.  To sew your stitches in the "ditch" created by the joins of the pattern pieces.

Strip Piecing.  A technique in which strips of fabric are cut and joined lengthwise to form a strip set of fabric strips that resemble striped fabric. The strip set is cut at intervals across seam lines to form segments. Joining these segments to form block units is also called strip-piecing.

Template.  A cardboard or plastic shape used as a pattern for tracing either Piecing or Appliqué patches, or for tracing lines to be quilted.

Trapunto.  A dimensional design created by parallel outlining stitches that are then stuffed with yarn or Batting.

Tied Quilt.  A type of quilt in which yarn or thread ties are used to secure layers of the quilt, instead of quilting stitches.

Utility Quilt.   A quilt made for everyday use, generally in a similar pattern involving no elaborate sewing skills.

Wall Quilt.  A small quilt intended to be hung on the wall for decoration. Can contain specialty fabrics and embellishments that are not meant to be washed or undergo strain or wear.

Warp/Weft.  The woven threads in the fabric. Warp threads are long and run from top to bottom in the length of the material. Weft threads run from side to side and are shorter.

Watercolor Quilt.  A quilt made of small squares of floral fabrics that create a quilt pattern in the style of an Impressionist painting. Also called colorwash quilting.

White Work.  A quilt in which the entire design is in the quilting stitches. Usually made up in solid white fabric as a display of the quilter's stitching skills.

Whole-Cloth Quilt.  A quilt made from one large piece of fabric, usually a solid color, that is quilted only. Neither Patchwork nor Appliqué is used to decorate the Quilt Top.

Quilting Glossary: A-E | F-L  | M-P | Q-Z