Machine Embroidery GlossaryGlossary

The stitch that sews fabric down after it has been laid over the placement line, holding it securely while you trim the excess and before the finishing stitches go on top.

A patterned fill stitch commonly used to cover large embroidered areas.

A stabilizer that is torn away after embroidery, commonly used on stable woven fabrics.

The looped, textured fabric used for towels. Its raised pile swallows stitches, so towel projects usually need a water-soluble topping and often float on hooped stabilizer instead of being hooped directly.

Stitching a design on a scrap of the same fabric and stabilizer before embroidering the finished item, so size, colors, and settings can be checked first. Also called a sew-out.

An interruption caused when embroidery thread snaps during stitching.

The total number of stitches in a design is often mistakenly referred to as thread count. In embroidery, stitch count is the correct term, while thread weight refers to the thickness of the embroidery thread.

How tightly the top thread and bobbin thread are pulled as the machine stitches. Balanced tension produces smooth, even stitches, while unbalanced tension causes looping, puckering, or thread breaks.

The thickness of embroidery thread, commonly 40 wt for machine embroidery.

A water-soluble stabilizer placed on top of textured fabrics to prevent stitches from sinking.

A hidden running stitch used to move from one part of a design to another.