To make an article of clothing you have to translate the pattern. What is selvage, grainline, facing, darts, notches, basting, right side, wrong side, seam allowance, and interfacing? I have been sewing since I was a young girl and I grew up with these terms. When I started teaching adults and kids camp I learned that they had never heard these words. I needed to explain and show them what they meant. Another way to say, “Put right sides together” is “Put the pretty sides together.” I enjoy translating the language of sewing for others. How wonderful it is to take paper and fabric to make a garment that you can say, “I made it myself!”
