How to Read a Sewing Pattern with Abbreviations
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Have you ever opened a sewing pattern and felt confused by all the capital letters?
You see things like RST, WOF, SA, and RS, and suddenly the instructions feel harder than they should be.
Sewing abbreviations are short forms of common sewing instructions used in patterns to save space. They tell you how to place fabric, how to stitch, and how to finish seams. Learning these abbreviations helps you read sewing patterns faster and avoid mistakes.
Friend, you are not bad at sewing.
You are simply learning a new language.
Sewing patterns use abbreviations to save space. They shorten common phrases so the instructions fit on one page. Once you learn these shortcuts, patterns become much easier to read.
In this guide, I will walk you through the most common sewing abbreviations in simple words. I will explain what they mean, when you will see them, and how to use them in real projects.
If you are still learning the foundations, begin with my complete Beginner Sewing guide. It organizes the essential lessons, sewing terms, machine basics, and first projects into a clear learning path.
Keep my Sewing Terms Glossary (A–Z) open while you read. When one abbreviation leads to a new word, you can look it up and come right back.
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Table of contents
- Most Important Abbreviations for Beginners
- Abbreviations Used When Cutting Fabric
- Abbreviations Used While Sewing
- Finishing and Construction Abbreviations
- Frequently Asked Questions About Sewing Abbreviations
- Helpful Sewing Accessories for Beginners
- Beginner Projects to Practice Without Complicated Abbreviations
- Final encouragement
Most Important Abbreviations for Beginners
RST — Right Sides Together
Place the pretty sides of the fabric facing each other before sewing. This hides the seam on the inside of the project.
RS — Right Side
The outside or “pretty” side of the fabric that shows on the finished project.
WS — Wrong Side
The inside or back side of the fabric that usually does not show.
SA — Seam Allowance
The space between your stitch line and the raw edge of the fabric.
WOF — Width of Fabric
The usable width from selvedge to selvedge.
CF — Center Front
The middle line of the front of a garment or pattern piece.
CB — Center Back
The middle line of the back of a garment or pattern piece.
Abbreviations Used When Cutting Fabric
CUT 1 / CUT 2
Tells you how many pieces to cut.
ON FOLD
Place the pattern edge on the fold. Do not cut along the folded edge.
SELV — Selvedge
The finished edge of fabric that does not fray.
GL — Grainline
The long arrow on a pattern piece. Keep it parallel to the selvedge.
Abbreviations Used While Sewing
BACKST — Backstitch
Locks stitches so seams do not come undone.
P — Press
Lift and set the iron down instead of sliding it.
TS — Topstitch
A visible line of stitching on the outside.
TR — Trim
Cut away extra fabric to reduce bulk.
CL — Clip
Small cuts into seam allowance so curves lay flat.
Finishing and Construction Abbreviations
BASTE — Baste
Temporary long stitches used to hold pieces in place.
GATH — Gather
Pull stitches to create fullness or ruffles.
HEM
Finish the bottom edge of a garment or project.
FIN — Finish
Finish raw edges using zigzag stitching, serger, French seams, bias tape, or self-binding seam allowance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sewing Abbreviations
RST means right sides together. Place the finished or patterned sides of the fabric so they face each other before sewing. After the project is opened or turned, the seam allowance will be hidden inside.
WOF means width of fabric. It refers to the measurement across the fabric from one selvage edge to the other. When instructions tell you to cut a strip across the WOF, cut across the full usable width of the fabric.
SA means seam allowance. It is the distance between the stitching line and the raw edge of the fabric. Common seam allowances include 1/4 inch for quilting and 5/8 inch for many garment patterns, but always use the measurement specified in your instructions.
No. Keep an abbreviation guide or sewing glossary nearby and look up unfamiliar terms as you work. The most common abbreviations will become familiar naturally as you complete more sewing projects.
Many abbreviations, including RST, RS, WS, SA, WOF, CF, and CB, are widely used. However, pattern companies may use slightly different abbreviations or symbols. Always check the abbreviation key or legend included with the specific pattern before cutting or sewing.
Helpful Sewing Accessories for Beginners
- Fabric scissors
- Quilting clip
- Rotary cutter kit
- Plastic snap kit
- Beginner sewing machine
- Soft measuring tapes
- Pins with holder
Beginner Projects to Practice Without Complicated Abbreviations
Final encouragement
You do not have to memorize this. Just look up one abbreviation at a time and keep sewing. Confidence comes from finishing projects.
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➡️ Next Projects to Try
- New to sewing? Try the Basic Square Hot Pad Tutorial first.
- Or make a full Housewarming Gift Set with hot pads, an apron, cloth napkins, and more.
- Create a bakers gift basket with a sourdough starter jar cover, a bowl cover, a sourdough starter cozy, a bread bag, and a hot pad.
