Ease
Does this ever happen - no matter how carefully you cut and sew, two pieces that SHOULD match up just don't? Ease is when you make adjustments in sewing to help those two pieces match up at the seams. While I'm not matching seams, I have a short little video here for you showing one approach to easing fabric to help pieces match.
Echo Quilting
Echo quilting is when the quilting stitches follow (or echo) an appliqué shape OR the shape of the block or seam.
An easy approach to echo quilting is to use a reference, such as the width of your machine's presser foot, or a marking, to keep your lines consistent. Others prefer to free hand it, and just follow the line of the block, seam or applique without worrying about creating a consistent distance from one quilting line to the next.
In the close up above, the quilting inside the star echos the shape of the block, while the stitching in the background echoes the seam lines.
Embroidery
Embroidery is the process of adding decorative stitches (either by hand or by machine) using a variety of threads and thread weights.
In the example above from Lotta Love, hand embroidery using cotton floss adds detail and dimension to the project.
Embellishment:
Embellishment is the adding of decorative details to a work. Embellishment can be achieved by adding buttons, charms, beads, ribbon, lace, or embroidery stitches.
In the sweet little pincushion above from Your Love Gives Me Wings, machine embroidery stitches were added to give detail to the wings and to the heart, and french knots were added by hand to the small fused circles for additional interest. The ornament has machine stitched embroidery detail, and has beads added as additional embellishment in the heart and on the small circles surrounding the heart. Yes, you can combine hand and machine stitching, and different embellishments in one project!
Visit Kate's blog to get definitions of other "E" terms: English paper piecing (EPP), equilateral triangle, estimating fabric amount, even feed foot!
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