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Acid-free tissue paper - A type of paper that is used for safely storing quilts.  Acid-free paper is made without the chemicals that can destroy the fabric over time.  This tissue paper is placed between the folds in the quilt.  Every couple of months the quilt should be refolded to ensure the fold lines are not set into the fabric.

Acrylic ruler - Acrylic rulers are used for rotary cutting.  They come in many sizes and shapes.  Probably the most popular size for beginners is the 6 inches x12 inches ( or 6 1/2 x 12 1/2).  When purchasing a rotary ruler, make sure the grid is correct.  Use other rulers to check its accuracy.  Most of the major brands (Omnigrid, Fiskars) are OK.

Album quilts - An Album Quilt is a type of friendship quilt.  Individual blocks are signed by friends and assembled into a quilt.  Album Quilts are then given to friends, relatives, pastors, or other public officials often commemorating a special event in their lives. 

Alternate set - Placing a different square between pieced squares is referred to as an alternate set.

Amish - This describes a style of quilt particular to the Amish people.  The Amish often produce quilts made from traditional patterns with stunning solid colored fabric.  These quilts are sewn by hand and are usually heavily quilted.

Applique - Applique refers to the process by which one piece of fabric is applied to another.  There are many different applique techniques.  The type of stitching and the application technique is up to the individual quilter.  This decision is often based on how talented they are and the 'look' of the finished project.  Some will try to hide stitches while others use contrasting thread and stitch on the top of the applique to make the stitches stand out.  See: motifs, bias strips, reverse, curves, decorative stitches, fusible, and freezer paper.

Backing - The backing of the quilt is the fabric that  goes on the back of the  quilt - easy!  This can be one large piece of fabric or it can be made  from several different fabrics.  It's up to the quilter to decide what goes here.  This big decision is often based on what the quilt will be used for, how much time (and money) the quilter wants to spend piecing the back, and (in my case) what fabric is available at 3 o'clock in the morning!  Most of the time a quilter will use 100% cotton for the  back of their quilt.  Some people prefer to use flannel for warmth and  comfort.

The backing needs to be larger than the top of the quilt.  This allows  for the extra fabric that is 'eaten-up' once you start quilting.  I usually add at least 4 to 5 inches to each side on a lap size quilt.  Of course, the more dense the quilting, the more extra fabric is needed  around the four sides.  The same is true for a larger quilt; the bigger the quilt, the more extra fabric is needed around the four sides.

For example, if I was quilting a king size quilt in a 1/2 inch cross hatch I would need to add at least 6 inches to each side of the backing.  If I was tying the quilt (not much quilting) then I could  probably get away with adding only one inch to each side of the  backing.

Today, many quilters are hiring professionals to quilt their pieces.   Make sure you ask for their fabric specifications before you send out the quilt.  Often they will only quilt on 100% cotton and they require 6  to 10 inches extra on each side for the backing.  (They must have this extra fabric to attach to the machine's quilting frame.)

Background - The background fabric is the fabric that is in the background of the quilt block.  Often this fabric is solid, tone-on-tone or has little pattern.

Baltimore Album - A Baltimore Album quilt is a type of quilt that was originally made in Baltimore in the 1800's.

Baste - Basting is the process of temporarily sewing or pinning fabric together.  This can be done by hand or by machine.  Quilters use basting to temporarily position applique pieces.  They also baste the top, batting, and backing together before quilting.

Basting Spray - The marvels of the 21st century!  Basting spray is now available. Warning: if you use this spray make sure the windows are open and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Some quilters complain that the spray eventually clogs up on their needles when quilting. A possible solution is to use this spray only on small pieces.

Basting Stitches - Long running stitches are basting stitches; nothing fancy here.  These stitches should go in fast and they should be able to be removed quickly.  BEWARE!  Try to use white thread for basting.  Some colored thread will bleed into the fabric; especially if those basting stitches stay put for a while.

Batt - Batt is short for batting.

Batting - This is the stuff that goes in the middle of the quilt 'sandwich'.  Just as there are many different choices for batting so are there many different types of batting.  You may choose from 100% cotton, polyester, cotton/polyester blend, wool, silk, etc.  The quilter decides which batting to use based on many factors - hand vs. machine, wall hanging vs. bedding, type of quilting design, expense.....

Bearding - When pilling occurs on a quilt the quilt is said to beard.  Actually the synthetic batting is working its way through the fabric to the top of the quilt.  No one knows exactly why this happens to certain quilts.  Sometimes bearding is more noticable on dark quilts that have light battings.  That is why it is sometimes better to use a colored batting (dark grey) when working with a dark quilt.

Beeswax - Thread is pulled through beeswax for strength and to allow it to glide easily through the fabric.

Betweens - Between what?  I never did understand why they are called betweens.  Betweens are needles that quilters use for quilting the 'sandwhich' together.  The shaft of the needle is shorter than most needles. Betweens come in different sizes based on the eye of the needle..  The higher the number the smaller the eye.  Beginners might start with a size 8.  Experts may use a 12. 

Bias - The quilter's four letter word.  The bias of a piece of fabric is any diagonal across the fabric.  The true bias is the diagonal that is at a 45 degree angle to the selvage.

Bias applique - Bias applique is usually used when making leaf stems or vines.  Any long thin curved appliqueed line can be made from bias strips. 

Bias bars- Bias bars are used to make bias applique.  These bars are often made from metal or a heat tolerant plastic.

Binding - Binding is the edging around most quilts.  It is a long strip of fabric that is sometimes cut on the bias.  Not all quilts have binding.  Quilts that have binding will last longer (or at least the edges will) than quilts without binding.  See our Free Tutorial on Creating and Applying the Binding to the Quilt. 

Blanket stitch - A blanket stitch is often used as a decorative edging around applique.

Blocks - A unit of design often in the square shape.  There are thousands of block patterns that can be put together to build a quilt.  A quilt's design can be made up of one block that is repeated or from a combination of blocks.

Borders - Borders do exactly as they say - border the quilt.  Borders may be made of one fabric or they may be pieced. 

A mitered border meets in the corners at 45 degree angles as opposed to a simple border.

Calico - A calico fabric is made from cotton and has a tiny print on it.  In the 60's and 70's this was quite popular.  Often it was the only printed cotton available to quilters at that time.

Chain piecing - You can save time by 'stringing  together' a number of quilting pieces on your sewing machine.  Place the first quilt to be sewn in your machine and start sewing.  Do not back stitch.  Do not cut the thread.  Put the second piece right behind the first and continue sewing.  Then add the third, and so (sew) on....  This may feel awkward at first but it will become second nature after a few run throughs.  You will save a lot of time using this method and often your piecing will become more accurate.  (Each time you start in on a new piece you usually have the tendency to veer to the left or right.  With chain piecing we continue sewing in one continuous straight line.)

Chalk - Chalk is used at times to mark the quilt top for quilting.  Most chalk will wipe off of the fabric but it is important to run a check on a scrap of fabric before using it on your quilt.  I have used chalk (that was made for easily washing out of fabrics) that did not rub or wash out of the fabric, much to my dismay.

Charm quilt - A charm quilt is made up of many pieces of fabric.  No one fabric is repeated.  Often charm quilts are also classified as one patch quilts.

Chintz - Chintz refers to a type of cotton fabric that is patterned and glazed.

Challenge - A challenge refers to making sense of this definition - ha, ha!  A challenge refers to a 'contest' that quilters enter.  Sometimes there are prizes for the winners and sometimes there aren't.  Each challenge has different rules. Sometimes the challenge involves using a particular fabric or groups of fabric in your quilts.  Often the fabric companies will use a challenge to introduce a new line of fabrics.  Other challenges revolve around a theme or a particular block.

Clamshell - The clamshell is a traditional pattern used for quilting.

Colorfast fabrics - You  want to use fabrics that are colorfast in your quilt.  If the dye in a fabric runs when you wash it, your whole quilt could be ruined.  I recommend washing all your fabrics before you begin (or at least soaking them in warm water to see if they run).  If you notice color in the washing/soaking water then the fabric dye is not colorfast.  Sometimes you can correct this by placing the fabric and 2 cupfuls of white vinegar into a sink full of hot water.  After about 30 minutes rinse the fabric.  Place the fabric into a sink of warm water and see if any dye is released.  If the fabric continues to 'bleed' (release dye) then don't use it in your project.

Colorway - A colorway refers to the color of the pattern in fabrics.

Color wheel - The color wheel is used in many fields other than quilting. It shows the primary colors, the secondary colors and often different shades and hues. Some people like to use this when selecting fabric for their quilts.

Comforter - A comforter is a type of quilt  that has a high loft batting inside.  It is  almost impossible to machine quilt these on our home sewing machines (they can be commercially quilted), so these quilts are often tied.

Complimentary color - A complimentary color is the color opposite the color you are using on the color wheel.  Orange is the compliment of blue.  Green is the compliment of red.  Purple is the compliment of yellow. 

Using complimentary colors can give your quilt pizazz.

Corner triangle - A corner triangle refers to a triangle that is placed in one of the four corners on a quilt.  The bias should be placed on the hypotenuse and the straight of grain should be on the edges in the corner.  It is cut differently than a side triangle because of the bias placement. Another name for a corner triangle is 'half square triangle".

Coverlet - A coverlet refers to a small cover.

Crosshatch - Crosshatch is a traditional quilting pattern.  Vertical and horizontal lines cross to form a grid on the quilt top.  These lines may be spaced close together (heavy quilting) or further apart (moderately quilted). 

Crazy quilt- Crazy quilts are ..... crazy!  They have no set pattern.  Fabric is sewn where ever it fits.  Crazy quilts were popular in the late 1800's.

Crib size - A crib size quilt is made for a crib.  The standard measurement is 40 inches by 56 inches.

Crosswise grain (cross grain) - The grain that runs crosswise (at a right angle) to the selvage.

Cutting board - In order to use a rotary cutter properly, you need to have a self-healing cutting mat. See Cutting mat.

Cutting lines - Often a pattern piece will have the sewing lines marked along with the cutting lines.

Cutting mat  - A cutting mat must be used with your rotary cutter.  Cutting mats are available in a number of sizes from key chain size (used as a decoration) all the way to table-size mats.  Most mats come with an inch grid silkscreened over the top.  These mats are 'self-healing' meaning that after you cut on the mat the cut line will disappear.

Make sure to store your cutting mat flat.  I have had students drive to class with their mats in the trunk of their cars on hot days.  The mat curls and you can not get it to lie flat again.