F
Face
The right side or the better-looking side of the fabric.
Face Fabric
The main fabric that is used for the front. Sometimes called decorator or self fabric.
Facing
A piece of fabric that is sewn to the collar, front opening, cuffs, or arms eye of a garment to create a finished look.
Facing
Fabric sewn on the raw edge of a garment piece that is turned under and serves as a finish for the edge as well.
Faille
A glossy, soft, finely-ribbed silk-like woven fabric made from cotton, silk, or manufactured fibers.
Faille
A soft, corded silk that is similar to gros grain, although finer.
Fashion Fabric
The outer fabric in a garment.
Fat quarter
Prior a quilting term, but often used for wearable art, vests, smaller garments, a fat quarter is 1/4 yard of fabric, about 18" x 22" as opposed to a regular 1/4 yard, which is 9" x 45". Fat quarters allow quick and colorful stash building.
Feed dog
The "teeth" under the plate on the sewing machine that move fabric as it is sewn.
Felt
A non-woven fabric made from wool, hair, or fur, and sometimes in combination with certain manufactured fibers, where the fibers are locked together in a process utilizing heat, moisture, and pressure to form a compact material.
Felt
Fabric made by matting and pressing wool fibers together, as opposed to weaving them.
Festoon Blind
Often confused with Austrian blinds the difference being that a Festoon blind is ruched from top to bottom.
Fiber
The basic entity, either natural or manufactured, which is twisted into yarns, and then used in the production of a fabric.
Fiberfill
Specially engineered manufactured fibers, which are used as filler material in pillows, mattresses, mattress pads, sleeping bags, comforters, quilts, and outerwear.
Fiberfill
A fluffy polyester fiber, looking similar to bulk cotton, used for stuffing pillows and soft sculpture.
Filament
A manufactured fiber of indefinite length (continuous), extruded from the spinneret during the fiber production process.
Fill Stitch
Fill stitches are series of running stitches formed closely together to form different patterns and stitch directions. Fill stitches are used to cover large areas.
Filling
In a woven fabric, the yarns that run cross the fabric from selvage to selvage, and which run perpendicular to the warp or lengthwise yarns. Also referred to as the weft.
Findings
In jewelry making, findings are the holders, the items used to make jewelry (earring wires, faux jewels, etc.). In sewing, findings are also known as notion. Findings are the little extras.
Findings
Any extra items attached to a garment during the manufacturing process. This can include trims, buttons, hooks, snaps, or embellishments.
Finger-pressing
Opening seam allowances with the thumbnail. Mostly used on fabrics that cannot be pressed.
Finger Pressing
Opening a seam with your hands and pressing or rubbing the seam open with your fingers. Sometimes used in craft projects or small areas on a garment.
Finial
Decorative ends of a curtain pole.
Finish (an edge)
Turn under 1/4" and stitch, serge the edge, or other method of finishing the edge so it doesn't ravel or cause a bulky problem.
Finished Fabric
A fabric that has gone through all the necessary finishing processes, and is ready to be used in the manufacturing of garments.
Finished Width
The actual width after the treatment is finished and all allowances have been utilised.
Flame Resistant
A term used to describe a fabric that burns very slowly, or has the ability to self-extinguish upon the removal of an external flame.
Flame Retardant
A chemical applied to a fabric, or incorporated into the fiber at the time of production, which significantly reduces a fabric's flammability.
Flannel
A medium-weight, plain or twill weave fabric that is typically made from cotton, a cotton blend, or wool. The fabric has a very soft hand, brushed on both sides to lift the fiber ends out of the base fabric and create a soft, fuzzy surface. End-uses include shirts and pajamas.
Flannel
A soft wool or wool and cotton cloth with a loose texture that varies from fine to coarse. It may or may not have a nap.
Flannelette
A medium-weight, plain weave fabric with a soft hand, usually made from cotton. The fabric is usually brushed only on one side, and is lighter weight than flannel. End-uses include shirts and pajamas.
Flat Felled Seam
A seam created by sewing fabric wrong sides together, trimming one of the seam allowances close to the seam, then turning the other seam allowance under and stitching it over the prior trimmed seam allowance. This is often used for reinforcing seams on pajamas or to reduce bulk in a seam.
Flax
The plant from which cellulosic linen fiber is obtained. Linen is used in apparel, accessories, draperies, upholstery, tablecloths, and towels.
Flocking
A type of raised decoration applied to the surface of a fabric in which an adhesive is printed on the fabric in a specific pattern, and then finely chopped fibers are applied by means of dusting, air-brushing, or electrostatic charges. The fibers adhere only to the areas where the adhesive has been applied, and the excess fibers are removed by mechanical means.
Fold Line
Many pattern pieces are placed on the fold of a piece of fabric. This is the actual fold of the fabric off the bolt or a fold of your own creation; the goal is to have a pattern piece that is cut out without a center seam.
Foot
The piece of the sewing machine that presses down on the fabric as it is moved by the feed dogs below. The foot can have special properties (zipper foot used for zippers or cording, for example) or may be an all purpose foot used for most machine stitching needs.
Foulard
A lightweight twill-weave fabric, made from filament yarns like silk, acetate, polyester, with a small all-over print pattern on a solid background. The fabric is often used in men's ties.
Foulard
Often used to make handkerchiefs, the soft, lightweight fabric of silk, or silk and cotton, has a twilled weave. It may also have a satin finish.
French Cloth
A fine-twilled wool fabric that is used for wraps.
French curve
A tool used for drafting curves when altering or creating sewing patterns or designs.
Frill
A longer length of fabric gathered or pleated onto an edge for decoration.
Fullness Ratio
This is the ratio of fabric width to the width of the window. Curtains are usually at least twice the window width.
Fusible
(webbing, interfacing, etc.) Has the characteristic of being able to be ironed on, usually permanently, with or without reinforcement by stitching, due to a heat-activated "glue" on one side.
Fusible Interfacing
A non-woven fabric with heat activated fusing on one side. Used to stiffen or strengthen fabrics.
Fusible Webbing
Has adhesive on both sides. Used to bond fabrics so that they can be sewn together.
