Resources

The partial placket, also known as a button placket, is basically an opening in clothes that allows you to easily put and remove your clothes and is a great design feature. As its name suggests, the partial placket will only go down a short distance instead of the full length of the garment.

Patch pockets are shaped pieces of fabric that are finished on all sides and then attached on the right side of the garment.

Peter Pan collar is a flat collar with rounded ends that meet at the front.

Pintucks are a decorative element that can be added to your garments: tops, dresses, skirts etc. They are formed by folding and stitching the fabric on the right side (much like a pleat) and are typically created in a group and are parallel to each other. This succession of folds creates sublime volume and gives decorative effect.

Piping (sometimes referred to as cording or welting) is a strip of bias-cut fabric folded over a cord.  It is found in all sorts of projects and is often applied to trim the seams of upholstery projects and tailored garments.

Pleats are folds of fabric that are made to add volume, take in fullness and add interest to the silhouette of a garment. They can be used as decorative features on sleeves and blouses as well as in home decor. However, pleats are most commonly seen on skirts and dresses to take in a full skirt to fit at the waist.

There are different types of pleats, including box pleats, knife pleats, inverted pleats, accordion pleats and kick pleats, which are formed using different methods but sewn in the same manner.

Press is a common synonym for iron in sewing. “Press seam open” means to iron both pieces of fabric of the seam allowance to their own side. “Press seam together toward the front” means to iron both pieces of fabric of the seam allowance toward the front of the garment.

The presser foot is the part of the sewing machine that lowers on to your fabric and keeps it pressed firmly against the machines’s feed dogs. In addition to keeping the fabric pressed against the feed dogs, the presser foot also helps the fabric stay in place for a clean entrance and exit of the needle.