Sewing Terms

verb to moisten (meat) with drippings or seasoned liquid while cooking to add flavor and prevent drying out

• The chef demonstrated the proper technique to baste the turkey with pan juices.
• Make sure to baste the chicken with the marinade every 30 minutes for extra flavor.
• I always baste my ribs with BBQ sauce to keep them juicy on the grill.
• The speaker continued to baste his opponent with insults during the debate.

verb the action of squeezing or gripping something with one's fingers or thumb

• She winced in pain as the doctor began pinching her arm to test her reflexes.
• Stop pinching me, it's annoying!
• I saw him pinching some snacks from the pantry when no one was looking.
• The rising cost of living is really pinching our budget this month.

noun a line where two pieces of fabric are sewn together in a garment or other article

verb to join or attach by sewing along a seam

• The seam of the dress was expertly stitched by the tailor.
• I noticed a small rip along the seam of my jeans.
• She's always on point with her outfit, never a seam out of place.
• The team worked together seamlessly, as if each member was a perfect seam in the fabric of their project.

noun the act of sewing or a sewing project

verb to join or attach by stitches

• She learned how to sew at a young age and became quite skilled at it.
• I need to sew a button back on this shirt before I can wear it again.
• I'll just sew this patch on real quick and it'll be good as new.
• His words were like threads that sewed together the fabric of their friendship.

noun a decorative pattern of gathering and stitching in fabric

verb to gather and stitch fabric in a decorative pattern

• The chef demonstrated how to shirr an egg by gently poaching it in simmering water.
• I tried to shirr the eggs for breakfast but ended up scrambling them instead.
• I've never been able to shirr eggs properly, they always end up a mess.
• The artist used a unique technique to shirr the fabric, creating a beautiful draped effect.

noun a small, sharp-pointed nail

verb to fasten or attach with a tack

• She used a tack to secure the papers to the bulletin board.
• Can you pass me a tack so I can hang this picture?
• I need to tack up this poster before the party starts.
• He had to tack his argument with strong evidence to convince the jury.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• The designer referred to the book of patterns to create the new collection.
• I found some cool ideas in the book of patterns for my next sewing project.
• I snagged a copy of the book of patterns from the library for some DIY inspiration.
• The book of patterns in nature never ceases to amaze me with its intricate designs.