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Quilter Speak: 55 Acronyms and Lingo You Might Not Know

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

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Posted by The Grace Company

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For over 25 years the Grace Company has been the leading manufacturer of high quality quilting frames and quilting accessories. What truly sets The Grace Company apart from other competitors is its level of quality, value, and experience toward all their endeavours. From products to external and internal customer experience, the Grace Company responds to market and customer needs and continues to lead the quilting industry. Grace Company frames and hoops are designed to be easy to build and compatible with most major quilting machines. They'll have the quilting product you need.

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