Quilting Acronyms That Every New Quilter Should Know

If you’re new to quilting, sewing, or making your very first quilt, you’ve probably come across a lot of letters and abbreviations that look like a secret code. This guide is here to help with clear definitions of the most common quilting acronyms used in patterns, tutorials, and fabric descriptions. From FQ (fat quarter) to WOF (width of fabric), HST (half-square triangle) to WIP (work in progress), you’ll find easy explanations written with beginners in mind. Understanding these sewing terms will make following beginner quilt patterns, learning new techniques, or shopping at your local quilt shop much easier—so you can spend less time feeling confused and more time enjoying the process of quilting.

We included a graphic with all of these definitions for easy reference when screenshotted! 

DSM – Domestic Sewing Machine

DWR – Double Wedding Ring (classic quilt pattern)

EPP – English Paper Piecing

FMQ – Free-Motion Quilting

FPP – Foundation Paper Piecing

FQ – Fat Quarter (18" × 22")

HST – Half-Square Triangle

LOF – Length of Fabric (cutting along the length instead of width)

LQ – Lap Quilt

LQS – Local Quilt Shop

PHD – Projects Half Done (a playful take on UFO)

QAYG – Quilt-As-You-Go

QST – Quarter-Square Triangle

SA – Seam Allowance (often ¼″ in quilting)

SITD – Stitch in the Ditch

UFO – Unfinished Object (projects that stalled out)

WIP – Work in Progress

WOF – Width of Fabric (selvage to selvage, usually 42–44")

Other Jargon

Chain Piecing – Sewing pieces one after another without cutting the thread

Charm Pack – (5″ square precuts)

Jelly Roll – Precut 2½″ strips (sometimes abbreviated as JR)

Layer Cake – (10″ square precuts, also called 10" stackers)

Mini Charms – (2½″ squares, also called candy packs)

Rolie Polie – (Riley Blake’s 2½″ strips version)

Stash – Your personal fabric collection

Scrappy – Quilt made from leftovers and scraps