GLOSSARY OF QUILTING TERMINOLOGY

Alternate Block-  Support block to the main block within a quilt. Often provides a secondary pattern.
Background-  Fabric, usually light in value, surrounding darker, more intricate areas of a block. 
Backing-  The layer of fabric which backs the quilt. Can be one fabric or a combination of many fabrics used in the front/top of the quilt for a scrappy approach.
Baste-  Using needle and light weight thread (large stitches), basting spray or curved safety pins to hold all three layers of a quilt together before quilting.
Bias-  Grain of fabric cut at a 45 degree angle. Most stretchy of all fabric grains.
Binding-  Bias or straight grain strips of fabric sewn to the outer edges of a quilted quilt. Encases the raw edges for a smooth finish. Bias binding is necessary for smooth, curved edges.
CST- Corner setting triangle.
Continuous Line-  Quilting design that is continuous from start to finish  without stopping.
Corner Stone-  Square or block pieced where strips of sashing intersect.
Crosswise Grain-  Grain of fabric running selvage to selvage. Second strongest grain.
Directional-  Motifs/design of a fabric runs obviously in one direction.
Ditsy-   Small to miniature size motifs throughout a print. Will not detract from larger scale, more intricate prints such as focal prints.
Fat Quarter-  Half of a half yard of fabric. Approx. 18" x 22-1/2"depending on width of fabric.
Finished Measurement-  Measurement once all seam allowances have been sewn. Does not include seam allowances.
Focal Print-  Medium to large scale print from which all other designs in a collection coordinate. The center of attention in a quilt.
Fussy Cutting-  Isolating a specific motif/design within a print to fit a shape.
Grain-  Direction the thread/yarn of fabric runs.
Half Square Triangle (HST)-  Two triangles sewn together to form a square. A square cut once diagonally yields two HST.
Lengthwise Grain-  Grain of fabric running parallel to the selvage. Strongest grain. Often used in outer borders to stabilize a quilt’s finished shape.
Match Point-  Exact point at which two pieces intersect. Where seams intersect.
Motif-   Design or pattern within a print.
Quarter Square Triangle (QST)- Four triangles sewn together to form a square.  A square cut twice diagonally yields four QST.
Running Stripe-  Stripe print where motifs run parallel to the selvage.
Sashing-  Strips of fabric separating blocks within a quilt. Usually narrow.
Scale-   Size of motifs/design in a print.
SST- Side setting triangle.