Textile Glossary

Notch

Definition

A notch is a small cut mark made at the edge of a fabric piece during cutting.

Use in the textile industry

In the textile industry, notches serve as alignment marks when joining cut pieces — for example, to accurately align seam beginnings, center points, or curved seam lines. They are used in both industrial garment manufacturing and craft tailoring to prevent misalignment of individual pieces during sewing. Notches are especially useful at curved seams, such as at sleeves or body contours, where they help correctly match corresponding layers.

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Frequently asked question

A notch is a small cut at the edge of a pattern piece and is later hidden within the seam allowance, provided it falls within the seam width. A drill hole mark, by contrast, is a small punched or sewn hole placed in the interior of a pattern piece to indicate points such as pocket placements or button positions that are not located at an edge. Both methods serve a similar orientation function but differ in their placement and method of execution.

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