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AMANN ThreadLex: Textile terminology explained

Explore textile terminology from A to Z. Find clear definitions, synonyms and translations of technical terms related to sewing threads, embroidery, materials and textile manufacturing.

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Category English Term Synonyms Short definition (EN) DE
Seam quality and testing Bobbin thread Lower thread; shuttle thread The thread supplied from the bobbin in a lockstitch system. Unterfaden
Translations
DE Unterfaden
FR Fil de canette
ES Hilo de bobina
IT Filo della bobina
CN 梭芯线
VN Chỉ suốt
Not to be confused with Do not call a chainstitch looper thread a bobbin thread.
Seam quality and testing Cover thread Top cover thread An additional thread laid across the top surface in certain coverstitch formations. Deckfaden
Translations
DE Deckfaden
FR Fil de recouvrement
ES Hilo de recubrimiento
IT Filo di copertura
CN 覆盖线
VN Chỉ phủ
Not to be confused with Not a generic term for upper thread.
Seam quality and testing Interlacing Thread interlacing A stitch connection in which one thread passes around another thread system, typical of lockstitch. Fadenverschlingung
Translations
DE Fadenverschlingung
FR Entrelacement
ES Entrelazado
IT Intreccio
CN 交织
VN Đan chéo sợi
Not to be confused with Distinguish from interlooping.
Seam quality and testing Interlooping Thread interlooping A stitch connection formed by passing a thread loop through another loop. Fadenverkettung
Translations
DE Fadenverkettung
FR Bouclage
ES Entrelazado de bucles
IT Concatenazione
CN 成环互套
VN Lồng vòng
Not to be confused with Typical of chainstitch systems, not lockstitch interlacing.
Seam quality and testing Looper thread Lower looper thread; upper looper thread A thread carried by a looper in chainstitch, overlock or coverstitch formation. Greiferfaden
Translations
DE Greiferfaden
FR Fil de boucleur
ES Hilo del áncora
IT Filo del crochet
CN 弯针线
VN Chỉ móc
Not to be confused with State upper or lower looper where relevant.
Seam quality and testing Seam abrasion resistance Seam wear resistance The resistance of a seam to repeated rubbing and surface wear. Nahtscheuerbeständigkeit
Translations
DE Nahtscheuerbeständigkeit
FR Résistance de la couture à l’abrasion
ES Resistencia de la costura a la abrasión
IT Resistenza della cucitura all’abrasione
CN 缝线耐磨性
VN Khả năng chống mài mòn của đường may
Not to be confused with Thread and stitch exposure strongly influence the result.
Seam quality and testing Seam breaking strength Seam breaking force The maximum force measured when a seam specimen is loaded until failure. Nahtbruchkraft
Translations
DE Nahtbruchkraft
FR Résistance à la rupture de la couture
ES Resistencia a la rotura de la costura
IT Resistenza a rottura della cucitura
CN 缝线断裂强力
VN Độ bền đứt của đường may
Not to be confused with Not identical to thread breaking force.
Seam quality and testing Seam durability Seam service life The ability of a seam to retain function and appearance throughout use and care cycles. Nahtbeständigkeit
Translations
DE Nahtbeständigkeit
FR Durabilité de la couture
ES Durabilidad de la costura
IT Durabilità della cucitura
CN 缝线耐久性
VN Độ bền lâu của đường may
Not to be confused with Durability may include several different resistance properties.
Seam quality and testing Seam elasticity Elastic seam recovery The ability of a seam to stretch and recover without permanent damage. Nahtelastizität
Translations
DE Nahtelastizität
FR Élasticité de la couture
ES Elasticidad de la costura
IT Elasticità della cucitura
CN 缝线弹性
VN Độ đàn hồi của đường may
Not to be confused with Not every highly extensible seam has good recovery.
Seam quality and testing Seam elongation Seam extension The increase in seam length under load. Nahtdehnung
Translations
DE Nahtdehnung
FR Allongement de la couture
ES Alargamiento de la costura
IT Allungamento della cucitura
CN 缝线伸长率
VN Độ giãn của đường may
Not to be confused with Depends on stitch, thread, material and construction.
Seam quality and testing Seam haptics Seam hand; seam feel The tactile perception of a seam, including softness, bulk and stiffness. Nahthaptik
Translations
DE Nahthaptik
FR Haptique de la couture
ES Tacto de la costura
IT Tatto della cucitura
CN 缝线手感
VN Cảm giác bề mặt đường may
Not to be confused with Do not reduce haptics to softness alone.
Seam quality and testing Seam quality Quality of a seam The degree to which a seam meets its defined functional, processing and visual requirements. Nahtqualität
Translations
DE Nahtqualität
FR Qualité de couture
ES Calidad de la costura
IT Qualità della cucitura
CN 缝线质量
VN Chất lượng đường may
Not to be confused with Seam quality is more than seam strength.
Seam quality and testing Seam softness Soft seam A seam characteristic describing low stiffness and a pleasant feel against the skin. Nahtweichheit
Translations
DE Nahtweichheit
FR Souplesse de la couture
ES Suavidad de la costura
IT Morbidezza della cucitura
CN 缝线柔软度
VN Độ mềm của đường may
Not to be confused with Softness depends on thread, stitch, density and material.
Seam quality and testing Seam stability Seam structural stability The ability of a seam to remain secure under the loads expected in its application. Nahtstabilität
Translations
DE Nahtstabilität
FR Stabilité de la couture
ES Estabilidad de la costura
IT Stabilità della cucitura
CN 缝线稳定性
VN Độ ổn định của đường may
Not to be confused with Not a synonym for rigidity.
Seam quality and testing Seam strength Seam load capacity The ability of a seam to withstand mechanical load without unacceptable failure. Nahtfestigkeit
Translations
DE Nahtfestigkeit
FR Résistance de la couture
ES Resistencia de la costura
IT Resistenza della cucitura
CN 缝线强度
VN Độ bền đường may
Not to be confused with State whether failure occurs in thread, material or at the seam.
Seam quality and testing Stitch formation Stitch-forming process The mechanical sequence by which needle, hook or looper threads form a stitch. Stichbildung
Translations
DE Stichbildung
FR Formation du point
ES Formación de la puntada
IT Formazione del punto
CN 线迹形成
VN Hình thành mũi may
Not to be confused with Different stitch classes use interlacing or interlooping.
Seam quality and testing Thread balance Stitch balance The relative distribution and tension of the thread systems within a stitch or seam. Fadenbalance / Fadenverteilung
Translations
DE Fadenbalance / Fadenverteilung
FR Équilibre des fils
ES Equilibrio del hilo
IT Bilanciamento dei fili
CN 线迹平衡
VN Cân bằng chỉ
Not to be confused with Not the same as total thread consumption.
Seam quality and testing Upper thread Top thread The thread system supplied from above the material in a sewing or embroidery process. Oberfaden
Translations
DE Oberfaden
FR Fil supérieur
ES Hilo superior
IT Filo superiore
CN 面线
VN Chỉ trên
Not to be confused with Depending on the machine, the more precise term may be needle thread.