Garment construction

Understand seams, closures, and assembly methods that build wearable structure.

Garment construction describes how fabric panels join, finish, and hold shape—not the silhouette outline but the seam and assembly methods behind durable dress. Each Style Library construction entry is a sourced article: how to recognize the joinery, where the name comes from, where it has been used, what is still in use, and the references behind those claims.

How to choose

Start with whether raw edges are enclosed, bound, or serged, then note stitch visibility on the right and wrong sides. Compare gold anchors flat-felled, French, bound, Hong Kong, overlock, and serged when product copy blurs seam names. For batch-33 construction, compare understitching topstitching edge stitching blind hem stitch hand hem machine hem narrow hem rolled hem horsehair braid hem crinoline hem support horsehair hem lettuce hem faced hem bias-bound hem against batch-32 anchors. Stitch type separates understitch, topstitch, and edge stitch; hem method separates hand, machine, blind, narrow, rolled, and lettuce; hem support separates horsehair braid, crinoline, and horsehair canvas; hem finish separates faced and bias-bound.

  • Accordion pleat

    A garment pleat folded in alternating directions like accordion bellows—the accordion pleat form on dress assembly, distinct from [[knife...

  • All-in-one facing

    A garment facing with a single piece finishing neckline and armhole together—the all-in-one facing form on dress assembly, distinct from ...

  • Armhole facing

    A garment facing finishing the armscye edge on sleeveless or set-in sleeve bodice—the armhole facing form on dress assembly, distinct fro...

  • Armhole seam

    A garment seam attaching sleeve to bodice at the armscye curve—the armhole form on dress assembly, distinct from [[shoulder-seam|Shoulder...