Okuzeka
Fashion & Textiles vocabulary · Sewing & Construction

Stitch

Meaning in fashion & textiles, with examples

/stɪtʃ/nounCore term

In fashion & textiles, stitch means: A single loop of thread made by a needle in sewing, or a particular type of stitching such as lockstitch, chainstitch or coverstitch.

In Turkish: dikiş, ilmek, batış

How it is used

Specs give the stitch type and density, often as stitches per inch (SPI) or per centimetre; too few stitches look cheap and too many can damage the fabric. As a verb, you stitch two pieces together. Skipped stitches are a common sewing defect.

Example sentences

  1. Please use 12 stitches per inch on all visible seams.

  2. The hem is finished with a coverstitch, which stretches with the fabric.

Common collocations

  • stitch density
  • stitches per inch
  • lockstitch
  • skipped stitches
  • stitch length
  • seamThe line where two or more pieces of fabric are joined together, usually by sewing, such as the side seam or shoulder seam of a garment.
  • overlockA stitch, or the machine that sews it, which wraps thread around the edge of fabric to stop fraying and often trims and joins the seam at the same time.
  • topstitchingA row of stitching sewn on the right side of a garment, close to a seam or edge, for decoration or to keep the seam flat.
  • quality controlChecking materials and products at different stages of production to find defects and make sure they meet the agreed standards.

More terms: Sewing & Construction

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