Beginner’s Quilt Dictionary

A Glossary of Quilting Terms from Clover Cottons

Find yourself watching tutorials or reading instructions, and not sure what something means? Bookmark this blog post, as the term you're wondering about is likely defined here. 

Learning to quilt comes with lots of new words. Don’t worry – you don’t need to know them all at once! This glossary is here to give you quick, clear explanations whenever you come across something unfamiliar.

Fabric & Materials

Batting – The fluffy middle layer of your quilt that adds warmth and softness.
Backing – The large piece of fabric that covers the back of the quilt.
Binding – The strip of fabric sewn around the raw edges of the quilt to finish it off.
Precuts – Fabric cut into standard sizes (fat quarters, charm packs, jelly rolls, layer cakes). They make quilting faster and easier. Shop our pre-cut fabrics! 
Selvage – The tightly woven edge of the fabric, usually printed with color dots and designer info.
Grain – The direction of the threads in the fabric; fabric cut on the bias (diagonal) will stretch more.
Fat Quarter – A versatile piece of fabric, usually 18″ × 22″, that gives you more usable shapes than a standard quarter yard cut.

Quilt Construction

Block – A small unit of patchwork that’s joined with others to form the quilt top.
Patchwork – Sewing small pieces of fabric together to make a bigger design.
Appliqué – Adding fabric shapes onto a background and stitching them in place.
Sashing – Strips of fabric used between quilt blocks to separate them.
Border – Fabric strips that frame the outside of a quilt top.
Quilt Sandwich – The three quilt layers stacked together: top, batting, and backing.
Seam Allowance – The space between your stitching and the raw fabric edge (quilters almost always use ¼ inch).

Quilting Techniques

Chain Piecing – Sewing fabric pairs one after another without cutting the thread. Fast and efficient! Click here for a tutorial!
Pressing – Using an iron to flatten seams. Quilters often “press to the dark side” so seams are less visible, but most patterns tell you which way to press.
Stitch in the Ditch – Quilting right along the seam lines so stitches are almost hidden.
Free-Motion Quilting – Moving the quilt freely under the needle to create patterns with stitches.
Piecing – Sewing smaller fabric shapes together to build the quilt top.
Basting – Temporarily securing all three quilt layers with pins, spray, or stitches before quilting.

Tools

Rotary Cutter – A sharp, pizza-cutter-like tool used with a mat and ruler to cut fabric.
Cutting Mat – A self-healing surface that protects your table and keeps cuts accurate.
Quilting Ruler – A clear ruler with measurement markings for precise cutting.
Walking Foot – A sewing machine foot that helps multiple fabric layers feed through evenly.
Seam Ripper – A small tool for removing stitches (essential for fixing mistakes).

✨ Tip from Clover Cottons: Don’t feel pressured to memorize every term. Quilting is about creativity and joy, and you’ll naturally learn the lingo as you sew!