Can You Name All of These Sewing Terms?

By: Lauren Lubas
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Name All of These Sewing Terms?
Image: Anouk de Maar / Cultura / Getty Images

About This Quiz

For years, most people thought of sewing as a hobby that older women were into. However, with the release of "Project Runway," people started to realize that sewing is actually really cool. You can create basically anything that you can imagine, as long as you know how to create the pattern, and you can create things that others have imagined by using their patterns. Not only that, you can save a lot of money if you know how to sew - you don't have to worry about buying new clothes every year, because you can mend them yourself with your sewing machine or a needle and thread. These days sewing is making a comeback, and if you are on the bandwagon with the greatest stitchers of our time, you should know some of the most important terms that are involved in sewing.

Whether you consider yourself a master of stitching or you are new to this game, this quiz is right up your alley. Let's see if you have what it takes to match (or beat) some of the greatest tailors of our time. If you can name all of these sewing terms, you're in the lead. Take this quiz to test your sewing skills.

When you mess up a stitch or you have to remove a seam, what would you use?
Pinking shears
Seam ripper
Rotary cutter
Measuring tape
What do you use to protect your fingers while sewing?
Gloves
Needle
Thimble
Thread
What items would you use to ensure that your fabric stays in place until you sew it?
Needles
Staples
Seam gauges
Pins

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Which of these is NOT a notion?
Zipper
Thread
Button
Pillow
Which cutting tool looks very much like a pizza cutter?
Rotary cutter
Circle slicer
Pinking shears
Seam ripper
What is another name for fabric scissors?
Fabric cutters
Fabric slicers
Scissor cutters
Fabric shears

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While you are marking a place you want to cut on a piece of fabric, what is the best tool to use?
Tailor's chalk
Sharpie
Scissors
Seam ripper
What would you use a seam gauge for?
Separating seams
Cutting seams
Measuring seams
Finding seams
Which of these is NOT considered a fabric?
Denim
Satin
Cotton
Chipboard

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What stitch would you make to create a buttonhole?
Buttonhole stitch
Pocket stitch
Stick stitch
Whip stitch
What is interfacing used for?
Covering pillows
Stuffing pillows
Maintaining the structure of a fabric
Threading machines
Where would you find the spool pin on your machine?
At the top
Under the presser foot
Next to the feed dogs
Under the table

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Which type of fabric is made from plants?
Cotton
Fleece
Wool
Nylon
What stitch looks like pinking shear cuts?
Zigzag stitch
Brase stitch
Copic stitch
Backyard stitch
What is needlework?
Using a sewing machine
Decorative hand sewing
Pinning fabric
Patching clothes

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What is topstitching normally used for?
Creating seams
Decoration
Buttons
Hiding errors
Can you name the hand stitch that looks like dashes?
Walking stitch
Bouncing stitch
Running stitch
Jumping stitch
Can you name the technique that helps make fabric look fuller?
Frogging
Gathering
Hemming
Interfacing

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If you don't have a seam ripper, what can you use to cut seams apart cleanly?
Razor blade
Pinking shears
Needle
Rotary cutter
Why would you pleat something?
To add style and give to a garment
To prepare it for sewing
To repair it
To open it
What is the raw edge of a piece of fabric?
The side that doesn't have a pattern
The side that has been cut but not hemmed
The side that is hemmed
The side that is finished

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What is a nap - in sewing?
The texture of a fabric
A break
A seam
A needle
Do you know what a fat quarter is?
A piece of fabric to help let out clothes
A piece of fabric that's half a yard long
A piece of cotton
A yard of fabric
In sewing, which side is the wrong side?
The flat side of a pin
The back side of the sewing machine
The underside of a fabric
The patterned side of the fabric

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Where would you find a match point?
On a pattern
On the underside of a piece of fabric
On a sewing machine
On a pin cushion
On a sewing machine, what is the presser foot?
The part that holds down the fabric so it doesn't slip
The part where you select your stitch
The part you press to start the machine
The bobbin case
What is another word for a serger?
Overlocker
Machine
Quilter
Embroidery machine

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What is the bobbin used for?
Holds additional thread
Makes perfect stitches
Aligns the hems
Hems the pants
Which stitch will give you a line of Xs?
Back stitch
Catch stitch
Pitch stitch
Baste stitch
What would you use a staystitch for?
To prevent fabric from stretching out of shape
To keep things in place
To hold two pieces of fabric together
To give you a nice decoration

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What hand stitch gives you a straight line with no gaps?
Over stitch
Running stitch
Under stitch
Back stitch
Where would you find the termination point?
Where the garment ends
Where the threading needs to be replaced
Where two seams meet
A hole that needs to be patched
Do you know what a seam allowance is?
Opening seams
Splitting seams
Additional material under the seam
Additional material over the seam

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When would you use a measuring tape?
To measure people
To measure patterns
To measure fabric
To measure machines
What would you use a tuck for?
Embroidery
Holding two pieces of fabric together while pinning
Decoration
Cutting fabric