Plain-English dictionary
Glossary
16 everyday terms explained simply, no jargon.
A
- Adhesive
- Any substance such as glue, paste, or tape used to stick craft materials together.
B
- Bias
- The diagonal direction across a piece of fabric, which stretches more and helps the fabric curve smoothly.
C
- Cross-stitch
- A style of embroidery that builds pictures from small X-shaped stitches worked on a grid-like fabric.
- Cure
- The time and conditions needed for glue, clay, or paint to fully harden and reach its final strength.
D
- Decoupage
- The craft of decorating an object by gluing on paper cutouts and sealing them under layers of finish.
E
- Embossing
- Creating a raised design on paper, metal, or leather by pressing or stamping it into the surface.
F
- Findings
- The small hardware pieces, such as clasps and hooks, used to finish and assemble handmade jewelry.
G
- Gauge
- The number of stitches and rows in a set measure of knitting or crochet, used to match a pattern's size.
- Grain
- The direction in which the fibers of paper or wood run, which affects how they fold, tear, or cut.
P
- Palette
- The range of colors an artist chooses to work with, or the surface used to hold and mix paints.
Q
- Quilling
- The craft of rolling and shaping thin strips of paper into coiled designs to decorate a surface.
S
- Skein
- A loosely coiled length of yarn or thread as it is commonly sold before being wound into a ball.
T
- Tack
- To temporarily fasten materials with a few loose stitches, pins, or dabs of glue before finishing.
- Template
- A pre-made shape or pattern traced or cut around to reproduce a design accurately.
V
- Varnish
- A clear protective coating brushed over finished work to seal it and add a matte or glossy shine.
W
- Warp and weft
- The two sets of threads in weaving, where the warp runs lengthwise and the weft crosses over and under it.
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