Fashion Encyclopedia and Sewing Dictionary - W
Crafty Fashion Encyclopedia entries for 'W'
Index: Rain's Crafty Fashion Encyclopedia and Sewing Dictionary
What is a Waistline?
What is a waistline? This is the (sometimes invisible) line that separates the top and bottom portions of a garment. A waistline can actually fall anywhere between the hips and bust, depending on the style of the garment. As with empire waistlines, the line is just under the bust. With low-rise jeans, the waistline falls much lower, even below the hips.
- Back to 'W' Index
Index: Rain's Crafty Fashion Encyclopedia and Sewing Dictionary
What is a Walking Foot?
What is a Walking Foot? Also known as a ‘dual foot’, a walking foot creates a set of upper feed dogs that move in time with the feed dogs on your machine. This keeps the upper and lower layers of fabric from shifting while you sew. A walking foot is commonly used with slick fabrics such as satin or silk, because these are likely to slip out of place during stitching. A walking foot can also be used to help manage multiple layers of fabrics, as used in quilting.
- Back to 'W' Index
Index: Rain's Crafty Fashion Encyclopedia and Sewing Dictionary
What is Warp?
What is Warp? The warp of the fabric, or ‘lengthwise grain’ consists of the threads that run all along the length of a woven fabric. The warp length of the fabric weave has very little stretch or none at all. The opposite of the warp is the ‘weft’.
- Back to 'W' Index
Index: Rain's Crafty Fashion Encyclopedia and Sewing Dictionary
What is Webbing?
What is Webbing? Webbing is a thick woven fabric that can add firmness and strength to specificgarment pieces. Purse handles and belts are good examples of webbing put to work.
Webbing must be finished on the ends, or it will unravel. Since webbing can be made of many materials and used for so many purposes, a little more research may be needed before you get started. See our About.com article on webbing by our expert, Debbie Colgrove.
- Back to 'W' Index
Index: Rain's Crafty Fashion Encyclopedia and Sewing Dictionary
What is Weft?
What is Weft? The weft of the fabric is the threads that run the width. It is not stretchy, and crosses the ‘warp’ of the fabric at a 90 degree angle. The weft is the opposite of the warp.
- Back to 'W' Index
Index: Rain's Crafty Fashion Encyclopedia and Sewing Dictionary
What is Wickability? Wickability is determined by the amount of moisture that a piece of fabric can wick away. A good wickability accelerates the evaporation of moisure, letting the fabric dry more efficiently. This is especially handy in clothes designed for working in, as they would move sweat away from the body. Wickable materials help the body to regulate temperate by keeping moisture off of the skin.
Wickability is the opposite of absorbency.
- Back to 'W' Index
Index: Rain's Crafty Fashion Encyclopedia and Sewing Dictionary
What is a Whipstitch? A whipstitch, or overcast stitch, is a type of running stitch used to hold two pieces of material together. You will often see a whipstitch used holding crochet and knit pieces together at the edges. A whipstitch can be used as a decorativefinish, or blend in with the fabric for a completely functional use.
- Back to 'W' Index
Index: Rain's Crafty Fashion Encyclopedia and Sewing Dictionary
(Need help? Ask Rain on Facebook.)
Fast DIY Jewelry:
Milk Tab Bracelet . Pop Tab Bracelet . Make Paper Jewelry . Toothbrush Bracelet . Microchip Earrings . Hemp Necklace . Pressed Penny Bracelet
Easy Bags, Hats, Scarves and More:
4 Ways to Tie a Tie . Make Glittery Heels . 5 Placemat Purses . Cassette Tape Wallet . Duct Tape Wallet . How-To Bags . Finger Knit a Scarf . Gloves and Wristbands . Easy Zippered Change Purse
Clothes you can Make:
10 Upcycled T-shirt Tutorials . Make Pants . Skirt Tutorials . Dye Your Clothes . Recycle Your Clothes . 10 Clothing Repairs You Should Know . Beginner Sewing Projects
Please Note: Photographs, patterns and illustrations contained in this article are copyrighted ©Rain Blanken and Getty Images, and licensed to About.com, Inc. Do not redistribute these photographs or illustrations in any form.
Crafty Fashion Encyclopedia entries for 'W'
Index: Rain's Crafty Fashion Encyclopedia and Sewing Dictionary
What is a Waistline?
What is a waistline? This is the (sometimes invisible) line that separates the top and bottom portions of a garment. A waistline can actually fall anywhere between the hips and bust, depending on the style of the garment. As with empire waistlines, the line is just under the bust. With low-rise jeans, the waistline falls much lower, even below the hips.
- Back to 'W' Index
Index: Rain's Crafty Fashion Encyclopedia and Sewing Dictionary
What is a Walking Foot?
What is a Walking Foot? Also known as a ‘dual foot’, a walking foot creates a set of upper feed dogs that move in time with the feed dogs on your machine. This keeps the upper and lower layers of fabric from shifting while you sew. A walking foot is commonly used with slick fabrics such as satin or silk, because these are likely to slip out of place during stitching. A walking foot can also be used to help manage multiple layers of fabrics, as used in quilting.
- Back to 'W' Index
Index: Rain's Crafty Fashion Encyclopedia and Sewing Dictionary
What is Warp?
What is Warp? The warp of the fabric, or ‘lengthwise grain’ consists of the threads that run all along the length of a woven fabric. The warp length of the fabric weave has very little stretch or none at all. The opposite of the warp is the ‘weft’.
- Back to 'W' Index
Index: Rain's Crafty Fashion Encyclopedia and Sewing Dictionary
What is Webbing?
What is Webbing? Webbing is a thick woven fabric that can add firmness and strength to specificgarment pieces. Purse handles and belts are good examples of webbing put to work.
Webbing must be finished on the ends, or it will unravel. Since webbing can be made of many materials and used for so many purposes, a little more research may be needed before you get started. See our About.com article on webbing by our expert, Debbie Colgrove.
- Back to 'W' Index
Index: Rain's Crafty Fashion Encyclopedia and Sewing Dictionary
What is Weft?
What is Weft? The weft of the fabric is the threads that run the width. It is not stretchy, and crosses the ‘warp’ of the fabric at a 90 degree angle. The weft is the opposite of the warp.
- Back to 'W' Index
Index: Rain's Crafty Fashion Encyclopedia and Sewing Dictionary
What is Wickability? Wickability is determined by the amount of moisture that a piece of fabric can wick away. A good wickability accelerates the evaporation of moisure, letting the fabric dry more efficiently. This is especially handy in clothes designed for working in, as they would move sweat away from the body. Wickable materials help the body to regulate temperate by keeping moisture off of the skin.
Wickability is the opposite of absorbency.
- Back to 'W' Index
Index: Rain's Crafty Fashion Encyclopedia and Sewing Dictionary
What is a Whipstitch? A whipstitch, or overcast stitch, is a type of running stitch used to hold two pieces of material together. You will often see a whipstitch used holding crochet and knit pieces together at the edges. A whipstitch can be used as a decorativefinish, or blend in with the fabric for a completely functional use.
- Back to 'W' Index
Index: Rain's Crafty Fashion Encyclopedia and Sewing Dictionary
(Need help? Ask Rain on Facebook.)
Fast DIY Jewelry:
Milk Tab Bracelet . Pop Tab Bracelet . Make Paper Jewelry . Toothbrush Bracelet . Microchip Earrings . Hemp Necklace . Pressed Penny Bracelet
Easy Bags, Hats, Scarves and More:
4 Ways to Tie a Tie . Make Glittery Heels . 5 Placemat Purses . Cassette Tape Wallet . Duct Tape Wallet . How-To Bags . Finger Knit a Scarf . Gloves and Wristbands . Easy Zippered Change Purse
Clothes you can Make:
10 Upcycled T-shirt Tutorials . Make Pants . Skirt Tutorials . Dye Your Clothes . Recycle Your Clothes . 10 Clothing Repairs You Should Know . Beginner Sewing Projects
Please Note: Photographs, patterns and illustrations contained in this article are copyrighted ©Rain Blanken and Getty Images, and licensed to About.com, Inc. Do not redistribute these photographs or illustrations in any form.