Free Printable Crossword Puzzles About Sewing

Print a criss-cross sewing crossword of tools, stitches and fabrics, with its answer key.

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Sewing Crossword

Read each clue and write the answer in the squares that start at its number, one letter in each square.

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Answer key: Sewing Crossword

1SEAM2SP3RIBBON4NZOEE5LACED6FELT7ZRE8ZIGZAGPYP9P10DENIMRN

Across 1 SEAM · 3 RIBBON · 5 LACE · 6 FELT · 8 ZIGZAG · 10 DENIM

Down 1 SPOOL · 2 SIZE · 4 NEEDLE · 6 FRAY · 7 ZIPPER · 9 PIN

Next step Print the clothing word searchFind sewing words in a word search

All 165 clues

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Sewing Tools 24

  • Awl Pointed tool that pokes holes in heavy material
  • Bodkin Blunt tool with a large eye that pulls a string through a fabric tunnel
  • Chalk Soft stick for drawing cutting lines that brush away later
  • Cutter Rotary ___: tool with a rolling round blade
  • Egg Darning ___: smooth oval held inside a sock while its hole is fixed
  • Gauge Short metal measuring tool with a sliding pointer
  • Ham Firm, rounded cushion for pressing curved seams
  • Hoop Pair of rings that holds fabric tight for embroidery
  • Iron Hot tool that smooths out wrinkles
  • Mannequin Body-shaped stand for fitting a garment
  • Needle Slim steel tool with a point at one end and an eye at the other
  • Pin Short, sharp wire with a head that holds layers together before sewing
  • Pincushion Small stuffed pad that keeps pins handy, often shaped like a tomato
  • Pinking Kind of cutters with sawtooth blades, used on edges that might ravel
  • Ruler Short measuring stick, often 12 inches long
  • Scissors Two-bladed hand tool that snips thread and paper
  • Seam ripper Small forked blade for picking out wrong stitches
  • Shears Large two-bladed cutters made for cutting cloth
  • Spool Small cylinder that thread is wound on
  • Tape ___ measure: soft strip marked in inches that bends around the body
  • Thimble Hard little cap that keeps a fingertip from getting pricked
  • Threader Wire-loop tool that pulls thread through a tiny hole
  • Tracing wheel Rolling tool that transfers markings from a paper template onto fabric
  • Yardstick Flat measuring stick 36 inches long

Sewing Machine Words 17

  • Bobbin Small reel of thread that feeds a machine stitch from below
  • Chain ___ stitch: looped stitch made from a single thread
  • Feed dogs Metal teeth that move fabric along under the stitches
  • Length Stitch ___: setting for how far the fabric moves from one stitch to the next
  • Lockstitch The basic machine stitch: an upper and a lower thread interlock
  • Motor Electric part that drives a modern machine
  • Oil A drop of this keeps a machine's moving parts working smoothly
  • Overlock Stitch sewn over a cut edge to stop it from fraying
  • Pedal Lever worked by the foot to control a machine
  • Plate Flat metal piece of a machine bed, with slots for the teeth that move the fabric
  • Presser foot Machine part that holds fabric flat while it is stitched
  • Serger Machine that trims an edge and wraps it in thread in one pass
  • Shuttle In early machines, it carried the lower thread through the loop of the upper
  • Straight ___ stitch: the plain forward machine stitch
  • Tension Setting for how tightly a machine pulls its thread
  • Treadle Foot-rocked board that powered sewing machines before electricity
  • Zigzag Back-and-forth machine stitch that suits stretchy fabric

Stitches and Techniques 51

  • Allowance Margin of fabric from the stitching line out to the cut edge
  • Alter Change a finished garment so it fits better
  • Appliqué Shape of fabric stitched on top of a larger piece
  • Backstitch Hand stitch in which each stitch doubles back on the last
  • Baste Sew long, loose stitches that will be pulled out later
  • Bias The diagonal of a woven fabric; true ___ runs at 45 degrees to the threads
  • Binding Strip of fabric that wraps and finishes a raw edge
  • Blanket ___ stitch: looped hand stitch that finishes a thick edge
  • Casing Stitched tunnel that a waist string or a stretchy band runs through
  • Crease Sharp line pressed into fabric
  • Cross-stitch Embroidery made of small X shapes
  • Darn Close up a hole in a sock with a woven web of thread
  • Dart Stitched, tapering fold that shapes flat fabric to a curve of the body
  • Ease Room a garment allows beyond the body's own measurements
  • Embroider Decorate fabric with stitched designs
  • Facing Hidden piece that finishes a garment edge from the underside
  • Fray Unravel at a cut edge
  • Gather Pull a line of stitches so fabric bunches into soft folds
  • Grain Which way the lengthwise and crosswise threads of cloth run
  • Grainline Long arrow printed on a paper piece to show which way to lay it on fabric
  • Hem Folded and stitched bottom edge of a garment
  • Interfacing Hidden layer added to stiffen and strengthen part of a garment
  • Knot Tied lump at the end of a thread that keeps a stitch from pulling out
  • Layout Arrangement of paper pieces on fabric before cutting
  • Lining Smooth inner layer of a coat or a bag
  • Mend Repair a rip or a worn spot
  • Nap Fuzzy surface that looks lighter or darker from different directions
  • Notch Small V-shaped cut or mark in the edge of a paper piece
  • Notions Small sewing supplies such as buttons, zippers and thread
  • Overcast Stitch that wraps a raw edge to keep it from unraveling
  • Patchwork Small pieces of fabric sewn together into a larger design
  • Pattern Paper template and directions for making a garment
  • Piping Narrow fabric-covered rope sewn into an edge for decoration
  • Pleat Fold of fabric doubled back on itself and held in place
  • Press Flatten with heat by lifting and setting down, not sliding
  • Quilt Bed cover made of a top, a padded middle and a backing stitched together
  • Ruffle Strip of fabric bunched along one edge and sewn on as a frill
  • Running ___ stitch: the simplest hand stitch, in and out in a dashed line
  • Seam Where two pieces of fabric are held together by stitches
  • Seamstress A woman whose job is sewing
  • Selvage Tightly woven factory edge of a fabric that will not ravel
  • Smocking Decorative stitching over tiny folds that lets fabric stretch
  • Staystitch Line of stitching near an edge that keeps the fabric from stretching
  • Tack Loose, temporary stitching that holds pieces in place
  • Tailor Professional who cuts and fits suits
  • Tissue Thin paper that store-bought sewing templates are printed on
  • Topstitch Sew a visible line on the right side, close to an edge
  • Trim Cut away extra fabric; also a decorative edging
  • Tuck Narrow stitched fold, used for fit or decoration
  • Whipstitch Stitch that passes diagonally over an edge to join two pieces
  • Yardage An amount of fabric counted in yards

Fabrics and Fasteners 52

  • Batting Fluffy padding layer inside a bed cover
  • Bolt A full roll of fabric as a store sells it
  • Buckle Fastener that holds the two ends of a strap together
  • Burlap Rough sack cloth made from jute
  • Button Fastener pushed through a stitched hole
  • Calico In the United States, cloth with a printed design; elsewhere, plain and unbleached
  • Canvas Heavy plain cloth of sails, tents and backpacks
  • Chiffon Sheer, lightweight fabric
  • Cord Thick string or thin rope
  • Corduroy Fabric with raised ridges called wales
  • Cotton Plant fiber that grows as a fluffy white boll
  • Denim The cloth of blue jeans
  • Drawstring String pulled to close the top of a bag
  • Elastic Stretchy band sewn into a waist
  • Eyelet Small edged hole that a shoestring passes through
  • Felt Cloth that is not woven: its fibers are matted together
  • Flannel Soft fabric of cozy shirts and pajamas
  • Fleece A sheep's woolly coat; also a soft fabric named after it
  • Fringe Edging of loose hanging threads on a scarf or a rug
  • Gingham Checked cloth, most often white and one bright color
  • Grommet Metal ring that reinforces a hole in fabric
  • Hook Tiny metal fastener that catches a loop called an eye
  • Jersey Soft, stretchy fabric that T-shirts are made of
  • Knit Fabric made of interlocking loops, so it stretches
  • Lace Delicate fabric of open, web-like designs
  • Leather Material made from tanned animal hide
  • Linen Cloth made from flax
  • Muslin Plain, inexpensive fabric often used to sew a test version of a garment
  • Nylon Strong synthetic fiber first sold in toothbrush bristles, then in stockings
  • Patch Small piece sewn on to cover a tear or a worn knee
  • Polyester Common synthetic fiber made from a kind of plastic
  • Remnant Leftover end of a roll of fabric
  • Ribbon Narrow woven strip tied into bows
  • Rickrack Flat braid that bends back and forth, sewn on for decoration
  • Safety pin Bent wire fastener whose point locks inside a guard
  • Satin Weave with a shiny top surface and a dull back
  • Scrap Small leftover piece of fabric
  • Sequin Tiny shiny disk sewn on for sparkle
  • Silk Smooth fiber spun by a caterpillar for its cocoon
  • Snap Pair of small disks that click together to fasten
  • Stuffing Soft filling for a pillow or a toy
  • Swatch Small sample piece of fabric
  • Tassel Hanging bunch of threads tied at the top
  • Terry Looped cloth that bath towels are made of
  • Toggle Rod-shaped fastener pushed through a loop on a heavy coat
  • Tulle Fine netting of veils and tutus
  • Tweed Rough, closely woven woolen cloth
  • Twill Weave with diagonal ribs
  • Velvet Fabric whose dense pile gives it a soft feel
  • Wool Fiber sheared from sheep
  • Yarn Spun strand used for knitting and weaving
  • Zipper Slider that locks two rows of teeth together

Garment Parts and Projects 21

  • Apron Tie-on cover worn over clothes in a kitchen
  • Armhole Opening in a vest that the arm passes through
  • Bodice Upper part of a dress, from the neck down to the waist
  • Buttonhole Stitched slit that a shirt fastener slips through
  • Collar Band of fabric around the neck of a shirt
  • Costume Outfit sewn for a play or a dress-up day
  • Cuff Band at the wrist end of a shirt
  • Gusset Small extra piece of fabric let in to add room, as at an underarm
  • Hood Head covering attached at the neck of a jacket
  • Inseam Measurement down the inside of a pant leg
  • Label Small tag sewn inside a garment
  • Lapel Folded-back flap on the front of a jacket
  • Neckline The shape of a garment's top opening
  • Pillowcase Fabric cover for a bed pillow
  • Placket Finished opening in a garment, such as the strip where shirt buttons sit
  • Pocket Small pouch sewn into a garment
  • Size Number or letter that tells how big a garment is
  • Sleeve The arm of a shirt or a coat
  • Tote Big carryall bag
  • Waistband Strip of fabric that finishes the top of a pair of pants
  • Yoke Shaped piece that fits around the neck and shoulders of a garment

How this list was compiled: Clues written for this site for a sewing or family and consumer science class. Every answer but two is an entry in Wiktionary (en.wiktionary.org); Seam ripper and Tracing wheel, and each fact about a tool, a stitch, a machine part or a fabric, were checked against English Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org, CC BY-SA 4.0) in October 2026. No brand is named. The clues describe; they are not sewing instructions. Licence: own work

How it works

These free printable crossword puzzles about sewing are vocabulary crosswords for a sewing or family and consumer science class, from a first hand-sewing lesson to machine work.

Read the full guide

Five sewing sets and an easy one

Easy Sewing Words is the set with Needle, Hem, Bobbin and Zipper. Sewing Tools has Thimble, Bodkin and Seam ripper. Sewing Machine Words has Presser foot, Feed dogs and Treadle. Stitches and Techniques has Baste, Staystitch and Selvage. Fabrics and Fasteners has Gingham, Corduroy and Grommet. Garment Parts and Projects has Placket, Gusset and Yoke.

Clued by description

A Dart is the tapering fold that shapes flat fabric to a curve, and the Selvage is the factory edge that will not ravel. Fabric clues follow American usage, so Muslin is the plain fabric of a test garment and Calico has a printed design.

  • Before a first machine lesson, print Sewing Machine Words so the part names are familiar when students sit down.

Questions and answers

Is there a sewing tools crossword puzzle I can print?

Yes. Choose Sewing Tools under Clue set, then Print. Its answers run from Pin, Chalk and Thimble to Bodkin, Awl and Tracing wheel.

Are the sewing crossword puzzles free?

Yes. There is no sign-up, and you may print a class set. Sheets fit Letter and A4.

What level are the sewing crosswords for?

Middle school and up, in our judgment, which is not a published standard. Easy Sewing Words suits beginners of any age; Interfacing, Staystitch and Placket come from a first garment course.

Where are the answers to the sewing crossword?

On the last printed sheet, as a filled grid. Every clue and answer is also listed on this page under Show all clues and answers.

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