Find all the English translations of the most commonly used sewing words in our glossary. You can search from French to English, or from English to French.
Press ctrl + F (or command + F ) on your keyboard at the same time and type your word, in French or English. You will immediately find your translation without having to search the entire lexicon.
Please let us know in the comments if there's a word missing from this glossary; we'll try to add it quickly. Happy sewing!
| ankle | ankle |
| ankle-length | ankle length |
| armhole | armhole |
| armhole depth | armhole depth |
| armpit | armpit |
| assembly range | assembly range |
| awl | punch |
| back | back |
| b ackstitch | backstitch / backstitch |
| to back stitch | make a breakpoint |
| balloon sleeve | balloon sleeve |
| batting | padding |
| belt loop | belt loop |
| bias | bias |
| bias tape / bias strip | bias tape |
| blind stitch | invisible stitch |
| bobbin | can |
| box pleat | hollow fold |
| brace buckle | overalls buckle |
| brim | visor / brim of a hat |
| bust dart | bust clamp |
| bust point | bust point / end point of dart (bust dart) |
| butterfly sleeve | butterfly sleeve |
| button fly | button fly |
| button tab /placket | button placket |
| buttonhole | buttonhole |
| calf | calf |
| care label | care label |
| cashmere | cashmere |
| center back seam | center back seam |
| center crease | front fold, center fold |
| center front | middle in front |
| chalk / tailor's chalk | chalk, tailor's chalk |
| to clip | notch |
| to clip an angle = to thin out an angle | to trim an angle |
| to close the darts | close the clamps |
| collar | collar |
| collar band | collar stand |
| crease | crease |
| crew neck | crew neck |
| crossover / overlap | cruise |
| cuff (shirt's cuff) | shirt cuff, bottom of sleeve |
| to cut on fold | cut at the fold |
| cutting layout = cutting plan | sectional plan |
| cutting line | cutting line |
| dart | pliers |
| dolman sleeve | batwing sleeve |
| double hem | double hem |
| double stitch | double stitching |
| double-piped pocket | double piped pocket |
| dress | dress |
| dungarees | overalls |
| dyeing | dyeing |
| ease | embu |
| edge topstitch | ribbed stitching |
|
to edge stitch |
make a rib puncture |
| edgestitch | rib stitching |
| elastic waistband | elasticated waist |
| embellishment = finishing details | finishes |
| embroidery machine | embroidery machine |
| eye / needle eye | eye (eye of the needle) |
| fabric care | fabric care |
| fabric patterns | patterns on a fabric |
| fabric scissors | fabric scissors |
| fabric swatches | fabric samples |
| facing | facing, shape, cleanliness |
| facing pattern | the facing pattern |
| to fell / to tuck | make a filling |
| fitted sleeve | angled sleeve |
| flap pocket | flap pocket |
| flared | flared |
| flat pleats | flat folds |
| flat pocket | flat pocket |
| flat trousers | pleated pants |
| fly front = fly zipper | codpiece |
| fold line | fold line |
| to fray | to fray |
| French curve | pistol or parrot |
| French seams | English seams |
| forehead | in front |
|
front hip pocket |
quarter round pocket |
| funnel neckline | high collar |
| to fuse | iron-on |
| interfacing fuse | iron-on interfacing |
| gabardine | gabardine |
| garment | garment |
| to gather a fabric | to gather a fabric |
| gathering | ruffle |
| gauntlets | gloves / mittens |
| grainline = straight grain | straight grain |
| haberdashery | haberdashery |
| hand-baste | build |
| hanger loop | suspension flange |
| hem | hem |
| hip | hip |
| hip circumference | hip circumference |
| hood | hood |
| hook / eye fastener | clip |
| inseam length | inseam length |
| invisible zipper | invisible zipper |
| iron | iron |
| ironing board | ironing board |
| Japanese ruler | Japanese ruler |
| Jersey | jersey :) |
| jumpsuit | combination |
| kangaroo patch pocket | kangaroo patch pocket |
| to knot | to tie |
| knot | node |
| lace | lace |
| leg hole | leg opening |
| linen | linen |
| mandarin collar | officer collar |
| mannequin = dummy = dress form | dressmaker's mannequin |
| to mark the notches | mark the notches |
| measurement chart | table of measurements |
| mid-calf | mid-calf |
| mid-thigh | mid-thigh |
| midi skirt | midi skirt |
| midi-length = mid-calf length | midi length |
| mitered corner | mitered corner |
| mittens | mittens |
| muslin / canvas fabric | cloth |
| natural fibers | natural fibers |
| neckline | neck |
| needle | needle |
| needle eye | eye of the needle |
| notch | notch |
| notching | notching |
| we fold | at the fold |
| outerwear | coats, jackets… |
| overalls | overalls |
| to overcast = to oversew | overlock |
| to overlock | |
| overlocker = serger | overlocker |
| pants = trousers | pants |
| patch pocket | patch pocket |
| patch pocket with flap | patch pocket with flap |
| pattern / sewing pattern | sewing pattern |
| pattern paper / white tracing paper | semi-transparent white paper for pattern |
| Peter Pan collar | Peter Pan collar |
| pin cushion | pin cushion |
| "pin it in place" | pin to hold in place |
| piped pocket | peasant pocket |
| placket / button tab | button placket |
| pleat | fold |
| poached | |
| pocket flap | pocket flap |
| pocket in a seam | side seam pocket |
| pocket with gusset | gusseted pocket |
| to press seam open | open the seam allowances with an iron |
| to press the fold | iron the fold |
| to press the seam | flatten the seam with an iron |
| press foot | presser foot / presser foot |
| princess cut | princess cutout |
| printed pattern layout | Assembly plan (A4 pattern) |
| printing | impression |
| puffed sleeve | puffed sleeve |
| purse pocket | purse pocket |
| to quilt | quilt |
| raglan sleeve | ranglan sleeve |
| raw edges | raw edges |
| ready-to-sew | ready-to-sew |
| ready-to-wear | ready-to-wear |
| removable pad | removable cap |
| reverse button | reverse button |
| right side / wrong side | right side / wrong side of a fabric |
| "right sides together" | "place against place" |
| rivet | rivet |
| round collar | round neck |
| ruler | ruler |
| safety pin | safety pin |
| sailor collar | sailor collar |
| sandwiched | sandwiched |
| scissors for paper cutting | rock paper scissors |
| seam allowance | seam allowance / seam allowance |
| s eam ripper | unpick quickly |
| selvage / selvedge | edge |
| separate hem | cleanliness |
| serger = overlocker | overlocker |
| sewing machine | sewing machine |
| sewing pins | sewing pins |
| sewing thread | sewing thread |
| shank button = jeans button | jeans button |
| shawl | shawl |
| shawl collar | shawl collar |
| shirring | elastic gathers |
| shirt | shirt |
| shoulder line | shoulder line |
| side seam lines | sidelines |
| side seams | side seams |
| silk | silk |
| silk organza | silk organza |
| slant pocket | Italian pocket |
| sleepwear / nightwear | nightwear |
| sleeve | sleeve |
| sleeve board | Jeanette |
| slit | slot |
| tuxedo | smocking |
| snap fastener | snap button |
| split skirt | culottes |
| thread spools | spools of thread |
| spun | spun |
| stitching line | sewing line |
| stock-tie collar | tie collar |
| to stop stitch = to back stitch | make a breakpoint |
| straight grain = grainline | straight grain |
| to straight stitch | make a straight stitch |
| straight skirt | straight skirt |
| straight stitch | straight stitch |
| straps | suspenders |
| suit | suit |
| suspender strap / brace | strap |
| tailor's ham | chest pad |
| tape measure | tape measure |
| technical fabric | technical fabric |
| teddy jacket / bomber jacket | bomber |
| thigh | thigh |
| thimble | thimble |
|
to thin out an angle = to clip an angle |
to trim an angle |
| thin black ribbon | black self-adhesive ribbon |
| three-piece suit | three-piece suit |
| tie | tie |
|
tracing wheel |
pattern roulette |
| to trace | trace |
| to trim | to thin out |
| to tuck / to fell | make a filling |
| turtleneck | turtleneck |
| twin needle | double needle |
| underwear | underwear, lingerie |
| underwire | frame |
| unlined | unlined |
| wadding | wadding / padding |
|
waist |
size |
| waist circumference | waist size |
| waist dart | waist clip |
| waistband | belt |
| watch pocket / coin pocket | gusset pocket |
| weaves | armor (types of weaving) |
| world pocket | piped pocket / vest pocket |
| width | width / width |
| wool | wool |
| woolen | in wool |
|
woven |
woven |
| wrap skirt | wrap skirt |
| yarn | thread |
| yoke | yoke |
|
zip / zipper |
zipper |
