sewing

sewing — noun

1. Fabric or material that someone is currently stitching — for example, a partly-f

1.nounB1
Definition

Fabric or material that someone is currently stitching — for example, a partly-finished shirt or a torn sleeve that is being mended.

Example

Kenji picked up his sewing and continued stitching the sleeve of his jacket.

possessive + 'sewing' = concrete needlework object

Grandma left her sewing on the chair when she went to answer the door.

Common collocations
  • pick up (your) sewing
  • put down (the) sewing
  • take out (her) sewing
  • set aside (the) sewing
  • work on (the) sewing
  • a piece of sewing
Synonyms
  • needlework

    broader — includes embroidery and decorative stitching; suggests a finished or artistic piece

  • stitching

    focuses on the lines of thread rather than the whole item

  • handiwork

    more general, can refer to any craft project; less specific to needle and thread

Grammar Patterns

[possessive] + sewing

piece of sewing

Usage Note

Uncountable; to refer to a specific item, use 'piece of sewing' rather than 'a sewing'.

Common Mistakes

A sewing was on the table.
A piece of sewing was on the table.
'sewing' is uncountable and cannot be used with 'a' alone.

2. The craft or job of making, mending, or adding decorative details to clothing an

2.nounB1
Definition

The craft or job of making, mending, or adding decorative details to clothing and other fabric items using stitches.

Example

Karim learned sewing from his grandmother as she showed him how to stitch a torn pocket.

learned sewing from [someone] + specific mending task = skill acquisition in context

Hugo enjoys sewing as a relaxing hobby after a long day at work.

Common collocations
  • learn sewing
  • teach sewing
  • do sewing
  • take up sewing
  • sewing machine
  • sewing class
  • sewing kit
  • sewing needle
  • sewing pattern
  • sewing project
Synonyms
  • needlework

    broader term that includes embroidery, cross-stitch, and other decorative stitching

  • dressmaking

    specifically refers to making women's clothing, not general mending or crafts

  • tailoring

    professional skill of making fitted garments such as suits; implies a higher level of precision

Grammar Patterns

learn sewing

teach sewing

do sewing

[noun] + sewing (e.g. sewing class, sewing machine)

Usage Note

Commonly used as a compound modifier before nouns: 'sewing machine', 'sewing kit', 'sewing class', 'sewing pattern'.

Common Mistakes

I am interesting in learning sewing.
I am interested in learning sewing.
'interested in' is the correct collocation; 'interesting' describes the thing, not the person's feeling.

Word family

  • sew
    verbB1
  • sewer
    nounC1
  • sewn
    adjectiveB2
  • unsewn
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

Sewing is the most general term for joining fabric with a needle and thread, covering everything from mending a torn pocket to making a dress from a pattern. Needlework is broader — it includes sewing but also refers to decorative techniques such as embroidery and cross-stitch. Stitching focuses specifically on the lines of thread that hold fabric together, not the overall craft. Dressmaking is a specialised form of sewing focused on making women's clothing from patterns. Tailoring is the highest-skill level, involving fitting garments — especially suits and coats — to a person's exact body measurements. For example: 'She learned basic sewing at school' (general skill), 'Her needlework included delicate embroidery' (decorative stitching), and 'He works as a tailor making custom suits' (professional fitting).

sewing ↗needleworkstitchingdressmaking ↗tailoring

Common collocations

Nouns

  • sewing basket
  • sewing box
  • sewing project

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Comes from the Old English verb 'siwian' meaning 'to sew, stitch, mend,' which developed from the Proto-Germanic root '*siwjaną,' tracing further back to the Proto-Indo-European root '*syū-' meaning 'to bind or sew.' The noun 'sewing' first appeared in Middle English as a name for the action of sewing, and later extended to also refer to the material being worked on.