Common Quilting Terms

Bias
Diagonal from the straight grain of the fabric (45 degree angle). The bias is the most stretchy part of the fabric.

Crosswise grain
Threads that are perpendicular to the selvage.

Ease
A way of sewing a length of fabric into a bit of a smaller space without resulting in gathers or puckers.

Freeze Paper
White paper with a plastic coating on one side. Used to do applique on quilts, iron onto fabric and then remove the paper.

Lengthwise grain
Threads that are parallel to the selvage.

Miter
Neatly squaring the corners while creating a diagonal seam from the point of the corner to the inside edge.

Selvage
The edge on either side of a woven or flat-knitted fabric so finished as to prevent raveling