A Quilter's Alphabet: S Terms

Sampler Quilt

A sampler quilt is made up of different blocks, often with each block being different.  The fabrics can be repeated among the blocks, or each block can be made up of different fabrics.  Making a sampler quilt exposes the quilter to a variety of piecing styles, techniques or blocks.

Scrap Quilt

Leftover fabric from other quilts and projects, as well as new fabrics, are used in scrap quilts.  Each patch can be made up of different fabrics, or a fixed number of fabrics can be used.

Scrim

Scrim is a thin mesh stabilizer that is needle-punched into batting to make it more stable and durable.  Batting with scrim can usually be quilted further apart, as the batting won't separate when the quilt is washed.

Selvedge

Selvedge refers to the finished edge on fabric that appears at both ends of the fabric.  It is denser and more tightly woven and prevents the fabric from fraying.  With many print fabrics, the name of the fabric line, the designer, the fabric company and the colors used in the print may be printed along the selvedge.  With batiks, the selvedge does not contain any printing, and is much narrower.  It is generally recommended that the selvedge NOT be included in any piecing.

Setting the Seam

Once a seam is sewn, setting the seam will enable more accurate and flat pressing.  To set a seam, run the iron over the newly stitched seam BEFORE opening up the seam or pressing to one side.  Setting the seam helps the threads sink into the fabric.

Straight of Grain

Woven fabric is made up of a warp and a weft.  The weft threads run over and under the warp threads, creating the lengthwise and crosswise threads.  Lengthwise threads run along or parallel to the selvedge and has the least amount of stretch.  Crosswise threads run up and down from selvedge to selvedge and has slightly more stretch.

Steam

Adding water to your iron will allow you to use steam when pressing.  Some quilters prefer to not use steam, while others favor pressing with steam.  If too much steam or too much pressure is used, the fabric or seams can be distorted.

Strip

A strip is a length of fabric cut selvedge to selvedge and can be of any width.

Strip Piecing

Strip piecing is when two or more strips are sewn together and then cut into smaller segments.

 

Head over to Kate's blog to get her insights on more "S" quilting terms!

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