Reference
Quilting Glossary
126 quilting terms defined — from half square triangles to quilt guilds. Whether you are brand new or have been quilting for decades, this glossary covers the vocabulary of the craft.
Browse by Category
Techniques
AppliquéA technique where fabric shapes are applied on top of a background fabric.BiasThe diagonal direction of fabric, at 45 degrees to the selvage, which stretches easily.Broderie PerseA historical appliqué technique where motifs are cut from printed fabric and appliquéd onto a plain background.Chain PiecingA method of sewing multiple pieces in sequence without lifting the presser foot or cutting thread between units.Curved PiecingSewing together pieces with curved edges, such as in Drunkard's Path and Double Wedding Ring patterns.Dog EarsThe small triangular points that stick out beyond a seam intersection, usually trimmed away.English Paper Piecing (EPP)A hand-piecing technique where fabric is wrapped around paper templates and whipstitched together.Flying GeeseA rectangular unit consisting of one large triangle (the 'goose') and two smaller triangles (the 'sky').Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP)A precision piecing method where fabric is sewn directly onto a printed paper pattern, enabling very accurate points and angles.FPP (Foundation Paper Piecing)A precision piecing method that sews fabric onto a paper foundation, enabling complex curves and sharp points.Fusible AppliquéAn appliqué method using iron-on adhesive web to bond fabric shapes to a background.Fussy CuttingDeliberately cutting fabric to center a specific motif or repeat within a patch.Half Square Triangle (HST)A square unit made from two right triangles of different fabrics sewn together along the diagonal.Improvisational (Improv) QuiltingQuilting without templates or pre-drawn patterns, cutting and sewing intuitively.Jelly Roll RaceA speed-quilting technique that sews all jelly roll strips end-to-end and then folds and sews repeatedly to build a quilt top in minutes.Needle-Turn AppliquéA hand appliqué method where the seam allowance is turned under using the tip of the needle as the shape is sewn.Nesting SeamsPressing opposing seams in adjacent rows in opposite directions so they interlock perfectly when sewn together.Partial SeamA seam that is sewn only partway, then completed after other pieces are added.PressingUsing an iron to set seams after sewing, either to one side or open, for a flat, accurate quilt top.QAYG (Quilt As You Go)A method of quilting each block individually before joining them, avoiding handling a large quilt sandwich.Quarter Square Triangle (QST)A square unit made from four triangles, each taking up one quarter of the square.Raw-Edge AppliquéAppliqué where fabric edges are intentionally left unfinished, fraying slightly with washing for a soft look.Scant Quarter-Inch SeamA seam allowance that is very slightly less than ¼ inch — the quilting standard that accounts for thread thickness and fold.Squaring UpTrimming a pieced unit to its exact finished size using a ruler and rotary cutter.Stitch and FlipA piecing method where a small square is sewn diagonally onto a corner, then flipped and trimmed to create a triangle corner.Strip PiecingSewing long strips of fabric together, then cutting the joined strip into segments.Y-Seam (Set-In Seam)A seam that joins three fabric pieces meeting at a single point at angles other than 90 degrees.
Block Patterns
Bear's PawA traditional block with triangular 'claws' and a central square that resembles a bear's footprint.Bow TieA four-patch block with two colored squares and two background squares, shaped by a stitch-and-flip corner to create a bow-tie silhouette.Churn DashA classic nine-patch block featuring a center square surrounded by half square triangles and rectangles.Courthouse StepsA Log Cabin variation where logs are added to opposite sides rather than rotating around the center.Double Wedding RingAn interlocking curved ring pattern traditionally made as a wedding or anniversary gift.Dresden PlateAn appliqué block made from fan-shaped wedges sewn together in a circle, resembling decorative china.Drunkard's PathA two-patch curved block that creates winding secondary patterns across the quilt when repeated.Eight-Pointed Star (LeMoyne Star)A star block made from eight diamond shapes meeting at a center point, requiring Y-seams.Flying Geese BlockA quilt block or border unit featuring rows of triangular 'geese' flying in formation.Four PatchA 2×2 grid block made from four squares of two alternating fabrics.Grandmother's Flower GardenA classic all-over hexagon pattern with flowers made from rings of colored hexagons around a center hexagon.HexagonA six-sided geometric shape used in all-over mosaic quilt designs, most famously in Grandmother's Flower Garden.Hourglass BlockA block made from four quarter square triangles arranged to form an hourglass shape.Irish ChainA two-block pattern featuring a diagonal chain of squares across the quilt, available in single, double, and triple variations.Kaleidoscope BlockA block made from identical wedge-shaped pieces cut from the same fabric repeat, creating a mirror-image kaleidoscope effect.Log CabinA block built by sewing successive strips ('logs') around a small center square.Lone StarA dramatic large-scale star quilt made from eight diamond-shaped points that meet at the center.Mariner's CompassAn elaborate circular block with many narrow, pointed rays radiating from the center.Nine PatchThe simplest 3×3 grid block, made from nine squares of alternating fabrics.Ohio StarA classic 9-patch star block made from quarter square triangles and solid squares.PinwheelA spinning block made from four half square triangles arranged to suggest rotation.Rail FenceA simple block made from three or four rectangles sewn side by side, set on alternating orientations.Snowball BlockA square block with triangular corners cut away, creating an octagonal shape.Tumbling BlocksAn optical illusion pattern using three diamonds in light, medium, and dark to create the appearance of three-dimensional cubes.
Fabric & Materials
Background FabricThe fabric that forms the negative space behind the primary design in a block or quilt.BatikA hand-dyed fabric with a distinctive mottled, marbled appearance created using a wax-resist dyeing process.Blender FabricA low-volume print that reads quietly and supports other more dominant fabrics in a quilt.Charm PackA precut bundle of 5×5-inch squares, one of each print in a fabric collection.Color ValueThe relative lightness or darkness of a fabric, independent of its hue.Fat EighthAn 9×22-inch cut of fabric, half of a fat quarter.Fat QuarterA quarter yard of fabric cut as 18×22 inches rather than 9×44 inches, providing a more usable square shape.Focal FabricThe dominant, often large-scale print that anchors a quilt's color palette.Grain LineThe direction of the warp and weft threads in a woven fabric.Jelly RollA precut bundle of 40 fabric strips, each 2.5 inches wide × the full fabric width, rolled into a 'roll'.Layer CakeA precut bundle of 10×10-inch squares, one of each print in a fabric collection.PrecutsFactory-cut fabric pieces sold in standardized sizes, including jelly rolls, charm packs, fat quarters, and layer cakes.Print ScaleThe size of the motifs or pattern repeat in a printed fabric.Quilting CottonA tightly woven, 100% cotton fabric specifically manufactured for quilting, typically 44–45 inches wide.SelvageThe tightly woven, finished edge running the length of a bolt of fabric.Tone-on-ToneA fabric where the print and background are the same or very similar colors, reading as a textured solid.WOF (Width of Fabric)The usable width of a bolt of fabric selvage-to-selvage, typically 40–44 inches after washing.
Tools & Equipment
Basting SprayA temporary adhesive spray used to hold quilt layers together before quilting, as an alternative to pin or thread basting.Design WallA vertical batting- or flannel-covered wall surface where quilt blocks stick without pins, allowing layout planning.Free Motion Foot (Darning Foot)A presser foot used with dropped feed dogs to allow the quilter to move fabric freely in any direction while machine quilting.Longarm Quilting MachineA large industrial sewing machine mounted on a frame that moves over a stationary quilt sandwich.Quarter-Inch FootA sewing machine presser foot precisely sized to guide fabric at an exact quarter-inch seam allowance.Quilting RulerA thick, clear acrylic ruler used with a rotary cutter to make precise cuts.Rotary CutterA circular blade tool that rolls across fabric to cut precise straight lines, like a pizza wheel for fabric.Seam RipperA small tool with a hooked blade for removing stitches cleanly.Self-Healing Cutting MatA gridded mat that protects the work surface when using a rotary cutter and heals after each cut.StilettoA pointed tool used to guide and control fabric near the needle and to open seam intersections.Walking Foot (Even Feed Foot)A sewing machine presser foot that feeds the top layer of fabric at the same rate as the feed dogs feed the bottom layer.Wedge RulerA specialty acrylic ruler cut in a wedge or fan shape for cutting Dresden Plate and Kaleidoscope pieces.
Finishing
BastingTemporarily securing the three layers of a quilt sandwich before quilting.BindingStrips of fabric sewn around the perimeter of a finished quilt to enclose and finish the raw edges.Echo QuiltingQuilting lines that run parallel to and outward from the edges of a design, like ripples in water.Free Motion Quilting (FMQ)Machine quilting with the feed dogs dropped, allowing the quilter to create any design by moving the fabric freely.Hanging SleeveA fabric tube sewn to the back of a quilt to hold a hanging rod for display.PantographA continuous-line pattern template used by longarm quilters to guide an all-over quilting design.Quilt LabelA fabric label attached to the back of a quilt documenting the maker, recipient, date, and occasion.Quilting DensityHow closely spaced the quilting lines are, which affects how much the quilt drapes and how visible the batting is.Quilting in the DitchMachine quilting directly along or in the seam lines of a quilt top so stitches are nearly invisible.StipplingDense free-motion quilting in a random meandering line with no crossing lines, used to fill background areas.
Quilt Anatomy
Batting (Wadding)The middle layer of a quilt sandwich, providing loft, warmth, and texture.BorderStrips of fabric added around the perimeter of an assembled quilt top to frame it.CornerstonesSmall squares set at the intersections of sashing strips in a quilt layout.Mitered BorderA border treatment where corners are joined at a 45-degree angle, like a picture frame.On-Point SettingA quilt layout where blocks are rotated 45 degrees so they sit on their corners.Quilt BackingThe fabric layer on the underside of a finished quilt.Quilt BlockA single unit of pieced or appliquéd fabric that is repeated to create a quilt top.Quilt SandwichThe three-layer stack of quilt top, batting, and backing ready for quilting.Quilt SettingThe arrangement of quilt blocks within the quilt top.Quilt TopThe decorative upper layer of a quilt, made from pieced or appliquéd fabric.SashingStrips of fabric sewn between quilt blocks to separate and frame them.Seam AllowanceThe strip of fabric between the cut edge and the stitching line.
Community & Culture
Block SwapAn organized exchange where quilters make and send blocks to each other according to agreed-upon rules.Charity QuiltA quilt made specifically to be donated to a person or organization in need.Longarm Quilting ServiceA professional service where a quilter with a longarm machine completes the quilting step for clients.Mystery QuiltA quilt project where instructions are released in stages and participants don't see the finished design until the end.Quilt Along (QAL)An organized event where many quilters simultaneously make the same quilt or pattern, sharing progress online.Quilt BeeA small group of quilters who meet to work on each other's projects in rotation.Quilt GuildAn organized group of quilters who meet regularly to share skills, swap fabrics, and celebrate the craft.Quilt RetreatAn organized multi-day gathering where quilters bring projects and sew together, often at a dedicated venue.Round RobinA collaborative quilt project where each participant adds a border or section to another quilter's center, passing it along until it returns to the original maker.Sampler QuiltA quilt featuring many different blocks, each demonstrating a different pattern or technique.Scrappy QuiltA quilt made from many different fabrics, often using up scraps and stash fabric rather than a planned palette.StashA quilter's personal collection of accumulated fabric, often larger than any single project requires.UFO (Unfinished Object)A quilt project that has been started but not completed, often waiting in a pile or basket for years.WIP (Work in Progress)Any quilt project that is actively being worked on.
Quilt Sizes
Baby QuiltA small quilt sized for an infant, typically 36×45 to 45×54 inches.Crib QuiltA quilt sized to fit a standard crib mattress, typically 45×60 inches.Full / Double QuiltA quilt sized for a full or double bed, typically 80×96 inches.King QuiltA quilt sized for a king or California king bed, typically 108×108 inches or larger.Mini QuiltA small quilt, typically under 24 inches in any dimension, often made as a wall hanging or gift.Queen QuiltA quilt sized for a queen bed, typically 90×108 inches.Table RunnerA long, narrow quilted piece placed down the center of a dining table.Throw / Lap QuiltA quilt sized for draping over a sofa or wrapping around one person, typically 50×65 to 60×72 inches.Twin QuiltA quilt sized for a twin bed, typically 60×80 to 70×90 inches.Wall HangingA quilt or quilt-like textile made specifically for display on a wall rather than use on a bed.
A–Z Index
A
- Appliqué— A technique where fabric shapes are applied on top of a background fabric.
B
- Baby Quilt— A small quilt sized for an infant, typically 36×45 to 45×54 inches.
- Background Fabric— The fabric that forms the negative space behind the primary design in a block or quilt.
- Basting— Temporarily securing the three layers of a quilt sandwich before quilting.
- Basting Spray— A temporary adhesive spray used to hold quilt layers together before quilting, as an alternative to pin or thread basting.
- Batik— A hand-dyed fabric with a distinctive mottled, marbled appearance created using a wax-resist dyeing process.
- Batting (Wadding)— The middle layer of a quilt sandwich, providing loft, warmth, and texture.
- Bear's Paw— A traditional block with triangular 'claws' and a central square that resembles a bear's footprint.
- Bias— The diagonal direction of fabric, at 45 degrees to the selvage, which stretches easily.
- Binding— Strips of fabric sewn around the perimeter of a finished quilt to enclose and finish the raw edges.
- Blender Fabric— A low-volume print that reads quietly and supports other more dominant fabrics in a quilt.
- Block Swap— An organized exchange where quilters make and send blocks to each other according to agreed-upon rules.
- Border— Strips of fabric added around the perimeter of an assembled quilt top to frame it.
- Bow Tie— A four-patch block with two colored squares and two background squares, shaped by a stitch-and-flip corner to create a bow-tie silhouette.
- Broderie Perse— A historical appliqué technique where motifs are cut from printed fabric and appliquéd onto a plain background.
C
- Chain Piecing— A method of sewing multiple pieces in sequence without lifting the presser foot or cutting thread between units.
- Charity Quilt— A quilt made specifically to be donated to a person or organization in need.
- Charm Pack— A precut bundle of 5×5-inch squares, one of each print in a fabric collection.
- Churn Dash— A classic nine-patch block featuring a center square surrounded by half square triangles and rectangles.
- Color Value— The relative lightness or darkness of a fabric, independent of its hue.
- Cornerstones— Small squares set at the intersections of sashing strips in a quilt layout.
- Courthouse Steps— A Log Cabin variation where logs are added to opposite sides rather than rotating around the center.
- Crib Quilt— A quilt sized to fit a standard crib mattress, typically 45×60 inches.
- Curved Piecing— Sewing together pieces with curved edges, such as in Drunkard's Path and Double Wedding Ring patterns.
D
- Design Wall— A vertical batting- or flannel-covered wall surface where quilt blocks stick without pins, allowing layout planning.
- Dog Ears— The small triangular points that stick out beyond a seam intersection, usually trimmed away.
- Double Wedding Ring— An interlocking curved ring pattern traditionally made as a wedding or anniversary gift.
- Dresden Plate— An appliqué block made from fan-shaped wedges sewn together in a circle, resembling decorative china.
- Drunkard's Path— A two-patch curved block that creates winding secondary patterns across the quilt when repeated.
E
- Echo Quilting— Quilting lines that run parallel to and outward from the edges of a design, like ripples in water.
- Eight-Pointed Star (LeMoyne Star)— A star block made from eight diamond shapes meeting at a center point, requiring Y-seams.
- English Paper Piecing (EPP)— A hand-piecing technique where fabric is wrapped around paper templates and whipstitched together.
F
- Fat Eighth— An 9×22-inch cut of fabric, half of a fat quarter.
- Fat Quarter— A quarter yard of fabric cut as 18×22 inches rather than 9×44 inches, providing a more usable square shape.
- Flying Geese— A rectangular unit consisting of one large triangle (the 'goose') and two smaller triangles (the 'sky').
- Flying Geese Block— A quilt block or border unit featuring rows of triangular 'geese' flying in formation.
- Focal Fabric— The dominant, often large-scale print that anchors a quilt's color palette.
- Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP)— A precision piecing method where fabric is sewn directly onto a printed paper pattern, enabling very accurate points and angles.
- Four Patch— A 2×2 grid block made from four squares of two alternating fabrics.
- FPP (Foundation Paper Piecing)— A precision piecing method that sews fabric onto a paper foundation, enabling complex curves and sharp points.
- Free Motion Foot (Darning Foot)— A presser foot used with dropped feed dogs to allow the quilter to move fabric freely in any direction while machine quilting.
- Free Motion Quilting (FMQ)— Machine quilting with the feed dogs dropped, allowing the quilter to create any design by moving the fabric freely.
- Full / Double Quilt— A quilt sized for a full or double bed, typically 80×96 inches.
- Fusible Appliqué— An appliqué method using iron-on adhesive web to bond fabric shapes to a background.
- Fussy Cutting— Deliberately cutting fabric to center a specific motif or repeat within a patch.
G
- Grain Line— The direction of the warp and weft threads in a woven fabric.
- Grandmother's Flower Garden— A classic all-over hexagon pattern with flowers made from rings of colored hexagons around a center hexagon.
H
- Half Square Triangle (HST)— A square unit made from two right triangles of different fabrics sewn together along the diagonal.
- Hanging Sleeve— A fabric tube sewn to the back of a quilt to hold a hanging rod for display.
- Hexagon— A six-sided geometric shape used in all-over mosaic quilt designs, most famously in Grandmother's Flower Garden.
- Hourglass Block— A block made from four quarter square triangles arranged to form an hourglass shape.
I
- Improvisational (Improv) Quilting— Quilting without templates or pre-drawn patterns, cutting and sewing intuitively.
- Irish Chain— A two-block pattern featuring a diagonal chain of squares across the quilt, available in single, double, and triple variations.
J
- Jelly Roll— A precut bundle of 40 fabric strips, each 2.5 inches wide × the full fabric width, rolled into a 'roll'.
- Jelly Roll Race— A speed-quilting technique that sews all jelly roll strips end-to-end and then folds and sews repeatedly to build a quilt top in minutes.
K
- Kaleidoscope Block— A block made from identical wedge-shaped pieces cut from the same fabric repeat, creating a mirror-image kaleidoscope effect.
- King Quilt— A quilt sized for a king or California king bed, typically 108×108 inches or larger.
L
- Layer Cake— A precut bundle of 10×10-inch squares, one of each print in a fabric collection.
- Log Cabin— A block built by sewing successive strips ('logs') around a small center square.
- Lone Star— A dramatic large-scale star quilt made from eight diamond-shaped points that meet at the center.
- Longarm Quilting Machine— A large industrial sewing machine mounted on a frame that moves over a stationary quilt sandwich.
- Longarm Quilting Service— A professional service where a quilter with a longarm machine completes the quilting step for clients.
M
- Mariner's Compass— An elaborate circular block with many narrow, pointed rays radiating from the center.
- Mini Quilt— A small quilt, typically under 24 inches in any dimension, often made as a wall hanging or gift.
- Mitered Border— A border treatment where corners are joined at a 45-degree angle, like a picture frame.
- Mystery Quilt— A quilt project where instructions are released in stages and participants don't see the finished design until the end.
N
- Needle-Turn Appliqué— A hand appliqué method where the seam allowance is turned under using the tip of the needle as the shape is sewn.
- Nesting Seams— Pressing opposing seams in adjacent rows in opposite directions so they interlock perfectly when sewn together.
- Nine Patch— The simplest 3×3 grid block, made from nine squares of alternating fabrics.
O
- Ohio Star— A classic 9-patch star block made from quarter square triangles and solid squares.
- On-Point Setting— A quilt layout where blocks are rotated 45 degrees so they sit on their corners.
P
- Pantograph— A continuous-line pattern template used by longarm quilters to guide an all-over quilting design.
- Partial Seam— A seam that is sewn only partway, then completed after other pieces are added.
- Pinwheel— A spinning block made from four half square triangles arranged to suggest rotation.
- Precuts— Factory-cut fabric pieces sold in standardized sizes, including jelly rolls, charm packs, fat quarters, and layer cakes.
- Pressing— Using an iron to set seams after sewing, either to one side or open, for a flat, accurate quilt top.
- Print Scale— The size of the motifs or pattern repeat in a printed fabric.
Q
- QAYG (Quilt As You Go)— A method of quilting each block individually before joining them, avoiding handling a large quilt sandwich.
- Quarter Square Triangle (QST)— A square unit made from four triangles, each taking up one quarter of the square.
- Quarter-Inch Foot— A sewing machine presser foot precisely sized to guide fabric at an exact quarter-inch seam allowance.
- Queen Quilt— A quilt sized for a queen bed, typically 90×108 inches.
- Quilt Along (QAL)— An organized event where many quilters simultaneously make the same quilt or pattern, sharing progress online.
- Quilt Backing— The fabric layer on the underside of a finished quilt.
- Quilt Bee— A small group of quilters who meet to work on each other's projects in rotation.
- Quilt Block— A single unit of pieced or appliquéd fabric that is repeated to create a quilt top.
- Quilt Guild— An organized group of quilters who meet regularly to share skills, swap fabrics, and celebrate the craft.
- Quilt Label— A fabric label attached to the back of a quilt documenting the maker, recipient, date, and occasion.
- Quilt Retreat— An organized multi-day gathering where quilters bring projects and sew together, often at a dedicated venue.
- Quilt Sandwich— The three-layer stack of quilt top, batting, and backing ready for quilting.
- Quilt Setting— The arrangement of quilt blocks within the quilt top.
- Quilt Top— The decorative upper layer of a quilt, made from pieced or appliquéd fabric.
- Quilting Cotton— A tightly woven, 100% cotton fabric specifically manufactured for quilting, typically 44–45 inches wide.
- Quilting Density— How closely spaced the quilting lines are, which affects how much the quilt drapes and how visible the batting is.
- Quilting in the Ditch— Machine quilting directly along or in the seam lines of a quilt top so stitches are nearly invisible.
- Quilting Ruler— A thick, clear acrylic ruler used with a rotary cutter to make precise cuts.
R
- Rail Fence— A simple block made from three or four rectangles sewn side by side, set on alternating orientations.
- Raw-Edge Appliqué— Appliqué where fabric edges are intentionally left unfinished, fraying slightly with washing for a soft look.
- Rotary Cutter— A circular blade tool that rolls across fabric to cut precise straight lines, like a pizza wheel for fabric.
- Round Robin— A collaborative quilt project where each participant adds a border or section to another quilter's center, passing it along until it returns to the original maker.
S
- Sampler Quilt— A quilt featuring many different blocks, each demonstrating a different pattern or technique.
- Sashing— Strips of fabric sewn between quilt blocks to separate and frame them.
- Scant Quarter-Inch Seam— A seam allowance that is very slightly less than ¼ inch — the quilting standard that accounts for thread thickness and fold.
- Scrappy Quilt— A quilt made from many different fabrics, often using up scraps and stash fabric rather than a planned palette.
- Seam Allowance— The strip of fabric between the cut edge and the stitching line.
- Seam Ripper— A small tool with a hooked blade for removing stitches cleanly.
- Self-Healing Cutting Mat— A gridded mat that protects the work surface when using a rotary cutter and heals after each cut.
- Selvage— The tightly woven, finished edge running the length of a bolt of fabric.
- Snowball Block— A square block with triangular corners cut away, creating an octagonal shape.
- Squaring Up— Trimming a pieced unit to its exact finished size using a ruler and rotary cutter.
- Stash— A quilter's personal collection of accumulated fabric, often larger than any single project requires.
- Stiletto— A pointed tool used to guide and control fabric near the needle and to open seam intersections.
- Stippling— Dense free-motion quilting in a random meandering line with no crossing lines, used to fill background areas.
- Stitch and Flip— A piecing method where a small square is sewn diagonally onto a corner, then flipped and trimmed to create a triangle corner.
- Strip Piecing— Sewing long strips of fabric together, then cutting the joined strip into segments.
T
- Table Runner— A long, narrow quilted piece placed down the center of a dining table.
- Throw / Lap Quilt— A quilt sized for draping over a sofa or wrapping around one person, typically 50×65 to 60×72 inches.
- Tone-on-Tone— A fabric where the print and background are the same or very similar colors, reading as a textured solid.
- Tumbling Blocks— An optical illusion pattern using three diamonds in light, medium, and dark to create the appearance of three-dimensional cubes.
- Twin Quilt— A quilt sized for a twin bed, typically 60×80 to 70×90 inches.
U
- UFO (Unfinished Object)— A quilt project that has been started but not completed, often waiting in a pile or basket for years.
W
- Walking Foot (Even Feed Foot)— A sewing machine presser foot that feeds the top layer of fabric at the same rate as the feed dogs feed the bottom layer.
- Wall Hanging— A quilt or quilt-like textile made specifically for display on a wall rather than use on a bed.
- Wedge Ruler— A specialty acrylic ruler cut in a wedge or fan shape for cutting Dresden Plate and Kaleidoscope pieces.
- WIP (Work in Progress)— Any quilt project that is actively being worked on.
- WOF (Width of Fabric)— The usable width of a bolt of fabric selvage-to-selvage, typically 40–44 inches after washing.
Y
- Y-Seam (Set-In Seam)— A seam that joins three fabric pieces meeting at a single point at angles other than 90 degrees.
Ready to put these terms into practice?
NiftyFifty is a community of quilters from all 50 states. Join a block swap, find a quilting bee, or browse our pattern tools.