Applique: Shaped pieces of fabric sewn onto one another for decoration that adds dimension and texture. Designs with applique are economical because they reduce the amount of embroidery stitches needed to fill the design areas.
Backing: A woven or non-woven support material added to the back of the fabric being embroidered. It can be hooped with the item or placed between the machine throat plate and the hooped garment. It comes in various weights in three types: tear-away, cutaway and wash-away.
Bean Stitch: Three stitches placed back and forth between two points. Often used for outlining because it eliminates the need for repeatedly digitizing a single-ply running stitch outline.
Bobbin: Spool or reel that holds the bobbin thread, which forms secure stitches on the underside of the fabric.
Buckram: Coarse cotton woven fabric treated with a glue substance to stabilize fabric for stitching. It is commonly used for caps to hold the front panel in place.
Chenille: A form of embroidery in which a loop stitch is formed on the top of the fabric. Heavy yarns made of wool, cotton, or acrylics are used.
Column Stitch: A series of zig-zag stitches placed closely together to form a column. Also known as Steil Stitch or Satin Stitch.
Copy: Lettering imprinted on an item. Can be an advertiser's name, slogan or trademark.
Deboss: Machine presses a dye into the surface of the material, resulting in a depressed imprint.
Digitizing: A method of programming a design. Artwork is converted into a series of digital commands to be read by an embroidery machine's computer.
Embossing: A surface effect achieved on fabric by means of passing cloth through a series of engraved rollers that impart figures or designs to its surface. Rollers work through heat and pressure.
Emblem: Logo or design with a finished edge, commonly an insignia of identification.
Embroidery: Decoration on fabric using thread to produce designs either by hand or machinery.
Fill Stitch: A series of running stitches commonly combined to cover large areas.
Finishing: Processes performed after embroidery is complete. Included trimming loose threads, cutting or tearing away excess backing, removing topping, cleaning any stains, pressing or steaming to remove wrinkles or hoop marks, and packaging for sale or shipment.
Hoop: A round device made from wood, plastic or steel with which fabric is held in place for machine embroidering.
Monogram: Embroidered design composed of one or more letters, usually the initials in a name.
Pad Printing: Pad printing utilizes a flexible silicone rubber transfer pad that picks up a film of ink from a photo-etched printing plate and transfers it to an item. Pad printing is usually used for three-dimensional items.
Registration: This refers to the ability to line up details and parts of designs with each other.
Running Stitch: A series of single stitches forming a line.
Satin Stitch: A digitizing technique that places shorter stitches in curves and corners to avoid unnecessary bulky buildup of stitches.
Silk Screening: Also known as screen-printing, photographic process that transfers artwork onto a porous nylon screen, which allows a custom color ink to flow onto the garment.
Stock Designs: Digitized common embroidery designs that are commercially available for general use by embroidered.
Tackle Twill: Letters or numbers cut from polyester or rayon twill fabric that is commonly used for athletic teams and organizations.
Tension: The tautness of thread when forming stitches.
Trimming: The action of cutting loose thread, removing backing, from the final embroidered product.
Underlay Stitching: The stitching action that will attach the backing to the fabric being embroidered. It also supports the top embroidery for a more lofty, dimensional look.