Lingo, jargon, slang, all the quilters are using it these days (And we think it’s so fun). Quilters are a clever bunch with humor that packs a punch. So, inspired by some of the recent abbreviations we learned, we decided to create this glossary of quilter speak. 

 

AOD - All Over Design

Bias - The bias grain of the fabric, often referred to as “the bias,” runs at a 45-degree angle 

BOM - Block Of the Month

 

Charm Pack - Package of pre-cut squares or hexagons (usually 5” x 5”)

Design Wall - A blank wall (usually felt) where you can plan your blocks before you sew 

Dog Ears - The little points of fabric that stick out at the ends of joins 

DSM - Domestic Sewing Machine

 

English Paper Piecing - fabric wrapped around paper shapes for patchwork piecing

 

FART - Fabric Acquisition Road Trip

FLIMSY - A completed quilt top, not quilted

FMQ - Free Motion Quilting

FQ -  Fat Quarter

FROG  STITCHING - (rip it, rip it) Ripping out stitched seams 

Fusible Web - Non-woven fabric infused with glue to hold other layers together when ironed 

Fussy Cutting - Cutting fabric to showcase a particular feature or motif from the textile design 

 

GCSS - Monthly Grace Co Shopping Show

 

HBQ - Home-Based Quilter by Grace Company

HST - Half-Square Triangle

 

Jelly roll - 2 ½”  x 42” fabric strips sold in a rolled-up set 

 

LAQ - Long Arm Quilter

Layer Cake - A stack of 10” X 10” pieces of fabric sold as a pack.

LQS - Local Quilt Shop

 

MAQ - Mid-Arm Quilter

MGBTQ - Must Get Back To Quilting

Mitered Borders - Quilt borders that meet at a 45-degree angle

Mug Rug - A quilted coaster

 

Nesting Seams - Pressing quilt block seams in a direction before piecing to reduce the bulk Notions - Tools and accessories used in quilting like needles, thread, pins, seam rippers, etc.

 

OOAK - One Of A Kind

 

PHD - Project Half-Done

PIT - Project in Tote

PIGS - Projects in Grocery Sacks

PIW - Project In Waiting (soon to be a WIP!)

 

QCT - Quilter’s Creative Touch quilting automation software

QST - Quarter-Square Triangle

Quilt Sandwich - The three stacked layers of a quilt: quilt top, batting, and backing

 

Rotary Cutter - Pizza cutter for fabric with ergonomic handle for happy joints

RST - Right Sides Together

Running Stitch - Used to baste quilt layers together temporarily

 

Sampler Quilt - No two blocks are the same. Great way to use up extra blocks.

SaS - Steam a Seam

SEX - Stash Enhancing eXcursion

SID - Stitch In the Ditch

Squishy - Envelope filled with fabric gifts

TBQ - To Be Quilted

TWG - Tuesdays With Grace – weekly quilt show

 

UFO - UnFinished Object

 

VIP - Very Important Project

 

WISP - Work In Slow Progress

Wonky - A style of imperfect patchwork in with awkward angles sewn with no rhyme or reason. 

WOMBAT - Waste Of Money, Batting, And Time

WIWMI - Wish It Would Make Itself

WIP - Work in Progress

WOF - Width Of Fabric

WST - Wrong Sides Together

 

We hope you had as much fun as we did with this list. Send us a message on our social channels if we missed a quilting term or abbreviation so we can make a part two to this series! 

Happy Quilting,

The Grace Family