Our Mission
Providing a place of support, inspiration, exploration and growth to discover, enjoy and master particular and diverse fiber arts.
We provide information to enhance your experience and enjoyment creating beauty through fiber. We offer a variety of fabrics and notions, classes, scissor sharpening and service to keep "the old" sewing machine going.
We love to see your projects, help you with them or get you started. Explore these wonderful Areas of the Fiber Arts. Traditional Rug Hooking, Clothing, Quilting, Stitching. Make a Purse and other Accessories. Spend time dreaming up that Prom Dress. It's all in a little town in Central Michigan named Evart.
Providing a place of support, inspiration, exploration and growth to discover, enjoy and master particular and diverse fiber arts.
We provide information to enhance your experience and enjoyment creating beauty through fiber. We offer a variety of fabrics and notions, classes, scissor sharpening and service to keep "the old" sewing machine going.
We love to see your projects, help you with them or get you started. Explore these wonderful Areas of the Fiber Arts. Traditional Rug Hooking, Clothing, Quilting, Stitching. Make a Purse and other Accessories. Spend time dreaming up that Prom Dress. It's all in a little town in Central Michigan named Evart.
Common Sewing/Quilting Terms
Applique' Technique in which pieces of fabric are fused and/or sewn to a background fabric to create designs. A tight zig zag stitch or blanket stitch are common methods to finish the edges. They can be sewn by hand or machine.
A-Line A dress or skirt that is in the shape of the letter "A". Narrow at top and then flares out towards the hem.
Backing A layer of fabric on the back of a quilt.
Backstitch A reinforced stitch to help keep the end from unraveling. A few stitches sewn in reverse at the beginning and end of a stitch. A backstitch is also a style of an embroidery stitch
Basting A method of securing layers of fabrics or to start ruffles. Safety Pins are typically used to secure a quilt top, batting and backing before quilting. Basting adhesives are great for holding an applique in place until sewn on. An even wide stitch, which is also known as a gathering stitch, is used to create a ruffle.
Batting A layer of cotton generally used between a quilt top and backing.
Betweens Short needles with a narrow shaft used for hand sewing.
Bias Diagonal grain of fabric. Bias Binding / Tape is a narrow strip of fabric cut at a 45-degree angle on the fabric's bias grain.
Binding A folded fabric strip used to cover the raw edges of a quilt or other projects.
Block The main element of a quilt, usually square and repeated throughout the quilt top.
Blocking A technique used with knit or crochet garments to maintain the shape of the garment. Also used when finishing hooked rugs.
Bodice The top part of a garment that is above the waist.
Borders Strips of fabrics used to frame the center of a quilt.
Charm Pack 40-42 5" squares from a single collection of fabric. Charm Square A 5" square of fabric.
Color Wheel Tool defining the characteristics of primary, secondary and tertiary colors.
Continuous-line Quilting Stitching a quilt design from beginning to end without stopping.
Corner Square A block added to the end of a border strip on a quilt.
Crewel Needle A type of hand sewing needle also referred to as an embroidery needle. They are medium in length with a long, oval eye for threading embroidery floss and yarn with a sharp point.
Diagonal Set Quilt top where blocks are set on point in diagonal rows.
Double-fold Binding Fabric strip folded in half before being sewn to the quilt edge. Also known as French-fold Binding.
Echo Quilting Following the outline of a motif with multiple stitching lines expanded at regular intervals.
Embroidery Needle A type of hand sewing needle also referred to as a crewel needle. They are medium in length with a long, oval eye for threading embroidery floss and yarn with a sharp point.
Fat Eighth A 9" x 22" piece of fabric.
Fat Quarter An 18" x 22" piece of fabric.
Felting A method of matting together wool fibers.
Fusible Webbing A double sided adhesive activated by the heat of an iron to fuse two pieces of fabric together. Often used to aid in applique', quilting, and sewing.
Fussy Cut To cut a specific motif that's printed on the fabric, rather than randomly cutting yardage as normal. Used to center a specific print withing individual patches or alternate blocks of a quilt. May also cut directly on lines printed on the fabric when motifs do not follow the fabric grain.
Grosgrain A type of ribbon with ribs that run crosswise down the ribbon.
Half-rectangle A rectangle cut in half diagonally to create two half-rectangles triangles.
Half-square triangle A square cut in half diagonally to create two half-square triangles.
Hand Piecing Stitching seams of blocks and quilt tops by hand.
Hand Quilting Hand sewing a series of running stitches through layers of fabric and batting.
Hanging Sleeve A piece of fabric attached to the back of a quilt, so the quilt can be displayed easily on a rod.
Hem The finished bottom edge of a garment.
Interfacing A material used between fabrics to add stability and strength to a garment or bag. It can be ironed on or sewn and comes in different weights.
Jelly Roll 40 2-1/2" wide strips of fabric from a single collection of fabric.
Layer Cake 42 10" squares of fabric from a single collection of fabric.
Loft The thickness of batting.
Machine Quilting Sewing a series of stitches through layers of fabric and batting with a sewing machine.
Marking Tools Pens, pencils and chalks used to mark fabric as a sewing guideline.
Meandering A quilt stitch used to cover a quilt surface; also referred to as stippling.
Mitering Sewing a 45-degree angle to join borders or binding at corners.
Notion A supply needed for sewing such as needles, thread, buttons, etc.
Outline Quilting A series of stitches 1/4" from the seam line that outlines the block motif.
Piecing Process of sewing fabric pieces together to create a block or quilt top.
Pleat A fold in fabric made by doubling the material over on itself and then pressing or stitching it into place.
Press Using an iron in an up and down motion on fabric or seams.
Primary Colors The three main colors on the color wheel - red, yellow and blue.
Quarter-square Triangles A square cut diagonally twice to create quarter-square triangles.
Quilt Sandwich The layers of backing, batting and quilt top.
Quilting Ruler A clear plastic ruler, designed to be used with a rotary cutter and cutting mat. Gridlines on the rulers help make cutting the fabric easier and more precise.
Rotary Cutter Tool with a circular blade that can cut through several layers of fabric at once.
Ruffle A piece of fabric that has been gathered with a basting or gathering stitch to create a ruffle. A ruffle can also be made by using a ruffle foot on a sewing machine.
Running Stitch Series of hand sewing stitches used for piecing.
Sashing Strips of fabric used to separate blocks in a quilt top.
Satin Stitch A stitch created with a tight zigzag stitch on a sewing machine and generally used for applique' projects.
Scale The size of the pattern on a fabric.
Seam A line of stitching that joins two fabrics together.
Seam Allowance The fabric between the raw edge and the seam, usually 1/4" for quilting and 1/2" for clothing, accessories, and window treatments.
Seam Ripper A tool used to cut and pull threads out of a seam.
Secondary Color A color that is created by combining two primary colors.
Selvage The finished edge of a fabric that identifies the fabric name, designer, and color swatches for each individual fabric.
Setting Triangles Triangles used to fill in a space when blocks are set on point in a diagonal set quilt top.
Sharps Needles with a narrow shaft and small eye used for hand piecing and applique'.
Stabilizers Product used as a foundation when appliqueing shapes to fabric.
Stippling Refer to Meandering.
Stitching-in-the-ditch A series of stitches sewn very close to the seams in a block, sashing and borders.
Straight-set A quilt top with blocks assembled in straight horizontal rows.
Templates A pattern made from plastic to cut shapes for applique'.
Tertiary color A primary and secondary color mixed in equal measures.
Topstitching A decorative or straight stitch used to finish the outside of a garment or other sewing project. Generally, a topstitch is about 1/8" running parallel to the edge or seam.
Whipstitch A stitch used for finishing an edge or attaching two pieces of fabric.
Zigzag Stitch A stitch feature on a sewing machine that creates a satin stitch for applique projects and is used to finish off the raw edge on garments.
Applique' Technique in which pieces of fabric are fused and/or sewn to a background fabric to create designs. A tight zig zag stitch or blanket stitch are common methods to finish the edges. They can be sewn by hand or machine.
A-Line A dress or skirt that is in the shape of the letter "A". Narrow at top and then flares out towards the hem.
Backing A layer of fabric on the back of a quilt.
Backstitch A reinforced stitch to help keep the end from unraveling. A few stitches sewn in reverse at the beginning and end of a stitch. A backstitch is also a style of an embroidery stitch
Basting A method of securing layers of fabrics or to start ruffles. Safety Pins are typically used to secure a quilt top, batting and backing before quilting. Basting adhesives are great for holding an applique in place until sewn on. An even wide stitch, which is also known as a gathering stitch, is used to create a ruffle.
Batting A layer of cotton generally used between a quilt top and backing.
Betweens Short needles with a narrow shaft used for hand sewing.
Bias Diagonal grain of fabric. Bias Binding / Tape is a narrow strip of fabric cut at a 45-degree angle on the fabric's bias grain.
Binding A folded fabric strip used to cover the raw edges of a quilt or other projects.
Block The main element of a quilt, usually square and repeated throughout the quilt top.
Blocking A technique used with knit or crochet garments to maintain the shape of the garment. Also used when finishing hooked rugs.
Bodice The top part of a garment that is above the waist.
Borders Strips of fabrics used to frame the center of a quilt.
Charm Pack 40-42 5" squares from a single collection of fabric. Charm Square A 5" square of fabric.
Color Wheel Tool defining the characteristics of primary, secondary and tertiary colors.
Continuous-line Quilting Stitching a quilt design from beginning to end without stopping.
Corner Square A block added to the end of a border strip on a quilt.
Crewel Needle A type of hand sewing needle also referred to as an embroidery needle. They are medium in length with a long, oval eye for threading embroidery floss and yarn with a sharp point.
Diagonal Set Quilt top where blocks are set on point in diagonal rows.
Double-fold Binding Fabric strip folded in half before being sewn to the quilt edge. Also known as French-fold Binding.
Echo Quilting Following the outline of a motif with multiple stitching lines expanded at regular intervals.
Embroidery Needle A type of hand sewing needle also referred to as a crewel needle. They are medium in length with a long, oval eye for threading embroidery floss and yarn with a sharp point.
Fat Eighth A 9" x 22" piece of fabric.
Fat Quarter An 18" x 22" piece of fabric.
Felting A method of matting together wool fibers.
Fusible Webbing A double sided adhesive activated by the heat of an iron to fuse two pieces of fabric together. Often used to aid in applique', quilting, and sewing.
Fussy Cut To cut a specific motif that's printed on the fabric, rather than randomly cutting yardage as normal. Used to center a specific print withing individual patches or alternate blocks of a quilt. May also cut directly on lines printed on the fabric when motifs do not follow the fabric grain.
Grosgrain A type of ribbon with ribs that run crosswise down the ribbon.
Half-rectangle A rectangle cut in half diagonally to create two half-rectangles triangles.
Half-square triangle A square cut in half diagonally to create two half-square triangles.
Hand Piecing Stitching seams of blocks and quilt tops by hand.
Hand Quilting Hand sewing a series of running stitches through layers of fabric and batting.
Hanging Sleeve A piece of fabric attached to the back of a quilt, so the quilt can be displayed easily on a rod.
Hem The finished bottom edge of a garment.
Interfacing A material used between fabrics to add stability and strength to a garment or bag. It can be ironed on or sewn and comes in different weights.
Jelly Roll 40 2-1/2" wide strips of fabric from a single collection of fabric.
Layer Cake 42 10" squares of fabric from a single collection of fabric.
Loft The thickness of batting.
Machine Quilting Sewing a series of stitches through layers of fabric and batting with a sewing machine.
Marking Tools Pens, pencils and chalks used to mark fabric as a sewing guideline.
Meandering A quilt stitch used to cover a quilt surface; also referred to as stippling.
Mitering Sewing a 45-degree angle to join borders or binding at corners.
Notion A supply needed for sewing such as needles, thread, buttons, etc.
Outline Quilting A series of stitches 1/4" from the seam line that outlines the block motif.
Piecing Process of sewing fabric pieces together to create a block or quilt top.
Pleat A fold in fabric made by doubling the material over on itself and then pressing or stitching it into place.
Press Using an iron in an up and down motion on fabric or seams.
Primary Colors The three main colors on the color wheel - red, yellow and blue.
Quarter-square Triangles A square cut diagonally twice to create quarter-square triangles.
Quilt Sandwich The layers of backing, batting and quilt top.
Quilting Ruler A clear plastic ruler, designed to be used with a rotary cutter and cutting mat. Gridlines on the rulers help make cutting the fabric easier and more precise.
Rotary Cutter Tool with a circular blade that can cut through several layers of fabric at once.
Ruffle A piece of fabric that has been gathered with a basting or gathering stitch to create a ruffle. A ruffle can also be made by using a ruffle foot on a sewing machine.
Running Stitch Series of hand sewing stitches used for piecing.
Sashing Strips of fabric used to separate blocks in a quilt top.
Satin Stitch A stitch created with a tight zigzag stitch on a sewing machine and generally used for applique' projects.
Scale The size of the pattern on a fabric.
Seam A line of stitching that joins two fabrics together.
Seam Allowance The fabric between the raw edge and the seam, usually 1/4" for quilting and 1/2" for clothing, accessories, and window treatments.
Seam Ripper A tool used to cut and pull threads out of a seam.
Secondary Color A color that is created by combining two primary colors.
Selvage The finished edge of a fabric that identifies the fabric name, designer, and color swatches for each individual fabric.
Setting Triangles Triangles used to fill in a space when blocks are set on point in a diagonal set quilt top.
Sharps Needles with a narrow shaft and small eye used for hand piecing and applique'.
Stabilizers Product used as a foundation when appliqueing shapes to fabric.
Stippling Refer to Meandering.
Stitching-in-the-ditch A series of stitches sewn very close to the seams in a block, sashing and borders.
Straight-set A quilt top with blocks assembled in straight horizontal rows.
Templates A pattern made from plastic to cut shapes for applique'.
Tertiary color A primary and secondary color mixed in equal measures.
Topstitching A decorative or straight stitch used to finish the outside of a garment or other sewing project. Generally, a topstitch is about 1/8" running parallel to the edge or seam.
Whipstitch A stitch used for finishing an edge or attaching two pieces of fabric.
Zigzag Stitch A stitch feature on a sewing machine that creates a satin stitch for applique projects and is used to finish off the raw edge on garments.
