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Safety pins - If you are a machine quilter then you must use safety pins to baste together the layers of your quilt. Safety pins should be pinned about 3 inches apart all over the quilt top to ensure that the layers will not shift. You will need a couple hundred safety pins when basting a lap quilt.

Do not baste your quilt with a needle and thread and then try to machine quilt it. This will only result in heartache. The basting thread will get caught on every protruding part on your machine. You will end up having to baste the quilt top again. (Safety pins will also hang up on protruding parts but will not come out when you pull.)

Sampler - A sampler is a quilt made from a sample of blocks. These quilts are quite popular for beginning quilting classes. Often the instructor will plan the sampler so that each block will allow the students to learn a new quilting skill while working on that particular block.

Sandpaper - Sandpaper for quilts? Whatever for? A fine sandpaper makes an excellent platform for tracing templates on to the fabric. The sandpaper grips the bottom of the fabric and makes it easier to draw on the surface of the fabric.

Sashing - Blocks are separated by sashing in some quilts. The sashing is often cut from a solid color or tone-on-tone fabric so its pattern does not interfere with the design of the quilt blocks. There are no written rules concerning the width of sashing. The choice is up to the individual. Usually sashing is less than one fourth of the width of the block that it will be sewn to.

Satin stitch - The satin stitch is a decorative stitch that often is used to border appliqueed pieces.

Scale - This refers to the size of the design on the fabric. Solid colored fabric has no scale because there is no design on it. Calico fabric usually has a small scale pattern. Most decorator prints are larger in scale.

Seam - Most quilts are sewn with a 1/4 inch seam.

Seam allowance - Most quilters use a 1/4inch seam allowance. Some miniature quilters use 1/8 inch seam allowance. Whatever seam allowance you use it is most important that you remain consistent throughout your quilt.

Seam ripper - A seam ripper is a handy tool that makes it easy to rip out a seam gone bad. Keep this tool handy!

Selvage - The two parallel finished edges of the fabric are called the selvage. This edge will not ravel and has a tighter weave. It is running in the same direction as the lengthwise grain. Using this edge in your quilt squares can cause problems. Some quilters cut off the selvage as soon as they come home from the fabric shop.

Seminole patchwork - Beginning in the 19th century, members of the Seminole tribe sewed long strips of fabric together and then cut these into smaller pieces and then sewed these into a pattern.

Set on point - When square blocks in a quilt are rotated 45 degrees (turned to a diamond shape) they are said to be set on point.

Setting - When you finish your blocks for your quilt, you will have to decide how to arrange them in your quilt. This arrangement is called the setting.

Sew and flip - Sew and flip refers to a technique that uses a foundation for its construction. Fabric is sewn (right sides together) to the foundation and then flipped over. This method is often used to make crazy quilts.

Sew order - Sew order refers to the sewing order that needs to be followed in order to best put the block together.

Shade - A shade is a color that has been blended with black or a darker color. Navy is a shade of blue.

Sharps - Sharps are a type of needle that is used in applique. The shaft is usually longer than betweens (used for hand quilting). Sharps come in different sizes. These sizes refer to the eye of the needle. The larger the number, the smaller the eye.

Sizing - Sizing is like spray starch but not as stiff. You can buy it at the grocery store in the laundry detergent aisle. Some people call it 'Magic in a Can'. If your block is not the proper size or if it is distorted often a squirt of sizing can magically fix it.

Sleeve - A sleeve is sewn on the back of a quilt to make it easy to hang. The sleeve is a tube shape that is about 3 inches wide and is long enough to go across the back of the quilt.

Stabilizer - A stabilizer 'stabilizes your sewing piece'. It can be made from paper (I prefer tissue paper or typing paper) or fabric. After using the stabilizer (stitching through it), Some stabilizers will disappear when sprayed with water. Other stabilizers must be torn away. If your project requires a stabilizer, try out some of the different kinds available on the market. Ask the experts at your neighborhood quilt shop what they recommend.

Stilleto - A stiletto is handy tool for quilters. It can help to hold layers of fabric together when sewing on the machine.

Stippling - Stippling is a quilting technique that can give texture to your quilt. It can be machine quilted or hand quilted.

Stitches - Depending on your project the stitches used will vary. Generally speaking a quilter will use a regular stitch length of 2.3 for machine piecing. When machine quilting a longer stitch length (3) can be used.

Stitch in the Ditch - See In the ditch for more info.

Straight of Grain - Straight of grain refers to the weave of the fabric.

Straight pins - see pins.

Straight stitch foot - This foot can be used for machine piecing.

String piecing - String piecing refers to a sewing technique where scraps of fabrics are sewn together into sections. Shapes are then cut out of these sections. The shapes are then sewn together in a traditional pattern.

Strip piecing - Strip piecing is a quick sewing and rotary cutting technique. Long strips of fabric are cut using a rotary cutter. They are sewn together and then cut into smaller units. These smaller units are then sewn together again to form traditional quilts.

Templates - Templates are patterns that you use to cut out your fabric for piecing. They can be made from cardboard or thick plastic.

Thimbles - Thimbles protect the fingertips from repeated needle jabbing (ouch!).

Thread - Most quilters use cotton fabric and therefore use cotton thread. To be truthful, I will use cotton covered polyester thread if I can't find a particular color in cotton. 100% polyester tends to knot and may break easier than cotton thread. Spools marked "quilting thread" do not go in your sewing machine. This type of thread is used for hand quilting.

Tint - A hue that is blended with light or white colors is called a tint. Pink is a tint of red.

Tissue paper - Tissue paper makes a great stabilizer. I also use it for paper piecing. I prefer this to other papers because it is easier to tear off after stitching and it is CHEAP!

Tone-on-tone - Tone-on-tone fabric is a two colored patterned fabric . From a distance it reads as a solid. Up close it adds 'interest' to a quilt. Jinny Beyer has one of the largest collections of tone-on-tone fabric.

Trapunto - The ancient Italian technique for producing texture in quilt tops. In trapunto a design on the quilt top is stuffed with batting to provide relief design.

Triangles - The triangle is a popular basic shape used in quilts. Unlike a square, the triangle's sides and angles are not always equal. Care must be taken when laying out triangles and when sewing them together.

For more information see half square triangle, quarter square triangle, and isosceles triangle.

Turkey Red - This is the name of a dye color that was quite popular in the 1800's.

Twin size - A twin size mattress measures 39 inches by 94 inches.

Tying - A quilt's layer can be secured together by tying. Yarn or embroidery floss is threaded on a needle and stitched down and then up through all layers of the quilt 'sandwich'. The yarn or floss is then tied in a knot (I prefer to double knot) and clipped.