P
Paisley
A wool shawl employing the pattern we call "paisley", similar to a cashmere shawl, which was originally made at Paisley, Scotland, a town near Glasgow. Popular in the antebellum and War periods.
Palmleaf
A pattern from India that looks much like the paisley pattern.
Passementerie
Flat braid trims applied to garments, the trim may be as simple as a plain soutache braid appliqued in place to a more complex pattern woven from gimp or a similar cord.
Pattern Repeat
The amount one pattern is duplicated down the length of the fabric. Pattern repeat is one full pattern.
Pattern Weights
Weights used on paper patterns instead of pinning a pattern to the fabric.
Pekin
A silk fabric originally from China, usually flowered or striped.
Pekin Satin
A heavy satin with stripes of the same color woven into the fabric.
Pelform
A double sided sticky card especially made for pelmets and tie backs, printed with various edge patterns.
Pelmet
A decorative way of concealing the top of curtains and curtain tracks. Usually a flat shaped panel which can be painted or covered with fabric.
Pelmet Board
A horizontal wooden shelf from which a pelmet or valance is hung.
Percale
Smooth, fine, soft, tightly-woven cotton fabric, much like cambric. It was used for shirting and for nursery clothing, and was often printed on one side.
Petersham Cloth
A rough, heavy, knotted wool cloth used for men's coats.
Pile
See "nap".
Pillow Form
A pre-shaped covered form.
Pillow Sham
A decorative pillow covering used during the daytime.
Pinking
The edge of unhemmed fabric that has small scalloped, or V-shaped pieces cut from it. It may also refer to the act of cutting fabric in that fashion.
Pinking Shears
Shears with a V shape along the cutting edge used to cut fabric and have it remain essentially ravel-free.
Pins
Pins are used for temporary basting of fabric. They are used to hold patterns in place while cutting and to hold fabrics together while stitching (it is not recommended to machine sew over pins as they have been known to break your sewing machine needle, jam the machine, or cause other problems). Often, large safety pins are used to baste quilt layers before the final quilting. Care should be taken to use a pin that will not leave a large hole and to not leave pins in fabric too long; they could cause stains where they touch the fabric.
Pintuck Narrow
Sewn rows of fabric that give a decorative raised look to a garment. Some bloused are made with pin tucking on the bodice for a more tailored look.
Piping
A cord covered with bias fabric, often used for decorative edging on garments or projects. This can be encased in seams for a nice effect.
Piping Cord
A fabric covered cord inserted to accentuate or decorate a seam.
Pique
A firm, ribbed or raised-figure cotton fabric that was very popular for children's clothing.
Pivot
To leave the needle in fabric, raise the presserfoot and turn the fabric at a 45 degree angle. Then lower the presserfoot and start sewing. Used to sew square seams. (Thanks to Beth!)
Pivoting
Moving the fabric around with the machine needle in it and the press foot up.
Placket
A V-shaped opening at the end of a sleeve that is finished with a bias strip before the cuff is attached.
Pleat
A fold in fabric that is either inverted or folded outward, is not sewn except on the top edge (as in a skirt or slacks waistband), and provides decorative or functional fullness.
Plush
A fine quality cotton fabric with a nap of silk; softer than velvet.
Pongee
A thin, soft, undyed silk fabric from India or China.
Poplin
A smooth, strong fabric with a plain silk warp and coarse silk weft. It may also be made of cottton.
Poplinette
A wool or linen fabric that resembles poplin.
Pre-shrinking
Shrinking done before a fabric is used.
Preshrink
It is a good idea to wash your fabric in the manner in which your garment will be washed before you cut it and sew it. If you are making a pin cushion or a craft that will not be washed, you don't necessarily need to do this. The goal is to allow the fabric to shrink to whatever degree it is going to shrink before you use it; i.e., preshrinking it. If you do not do this, sewing your fabric without washing and drying it first, you may have puckers, uneven lines, buttonholes askew, etc. Do not preshrink dry clean only fabrics.
Press
Using an iron in a press/pick up/move/press/... pattern. Pressing is not moving back and forth on fabric with the iron. Pressing is done "as you go" while creating a garment.
Presser Foot
The part of the sewing machine that holds the fabric in place as it is being sewn and fed through by the feed dogs. Specialty feet such as zig zag, buttonhole, cording, blind hem, and others are often included with a sewing machine upon purchase and are best learned by consulting the sewing machine manual.
Prick Stitch
You use prick stitching on fabrics such as velvet where everything shows. Take a small backstitch sewn on the right side of the fabric and do the remaining backstitching on the wrong side.
Print
A plain fabric, often made from cotton, that has a figure stamped on one or both sides. It is commonly referred to as "calico".
Puddled Curtains
Curtains made longer than necessary to allow them to puddle onto the floor.
