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You should not need the right jargon before you can ask a useful question. Describe the problem, then get the term, the sentence to use, a practical next step, and the source behind it.

Try a real-world phrase

20 translations to start with

  1. 01
    Production

    If you mean: “I need a sampling plan for deciding whether to accept or reject a lot”

    Acceptance quality limit (AQL)

    Also heard as AQL · acceptance sampling · inspection level

    An index used within an acceptance-sampling system to select sample sizes and acceptance or rejection thresholds for a defined series of lots and inspection conditions.

    Why it matters
    It replaces vague spot checking with an explicit lot, sample, defect classification, and decision rule while balancing inspection effort and risk.
    Say or ask
    “Which standard edition, lot definition, inspection level, AQL, defect classes, sample size, and accept or reject numbers apply?”
    Boundary
    AQL is not a promise that the lot contains only that percentage of defects, and there is no universal garment AQL for every risk.
  2. 02
    Patterns & fit

    If you mean: “I need the plain fitted pattern used as the starting point for new styles”

    Block / sloper

    Also heard as basic block · foundation pattern · master pattern

    A fitted foundation pattern with controlled ease and minimal style detail, used as a stable base for developing garment patterns.

    Why it matters
    Style changes inherit the block's measurements, balance, and fit assumptions, so an unverified block spreads the same problem across many designs.
    Say or ask
    “Which block, sample size, body measurements, ease assumptions, and fit approval does this style use?”
    Boundary
    Block and sloper are not used identically in every school or company. Confirm whether seam allowance and wearing ease are included.
  3. 03
    Yarn crafts

    If you mean: “I need to know whether dc means U.S. double crochet or U.K. double crochet”

    Crochet terminology system

    Also heard as US crochet terms · UK crochet terms · crochet term convention

    The named vocabulary convention a crochet pattern uses to map abbreviations and stitch names to specific yarn-over, insertion, and pull-through actions.

    Why it matters
    Some U.S. and U.K. stitch names use the same abbreviation for different structures, so the wrong system changes height, count, gauge, and fabric.
    Say or ask
    “Which terminology system does this exact pattern declare, and where are its abbreviations and special stitches defined?”
    Boundary
    Do not infer the system from the designer's country, spelling, currency, or marketplace. Translated and independent patterns can use either convention.
  4. 04
    Materials

    If you mean: “The color rubs off onto my hands, a white cloth, or another garment”

    Crocking / colorfastness to rubbing

    Also heard as rub-off · color transfer · rubbing fastness

    Transfer of color from a textile surface to another surface by rubbing, commonly assessed under controlled dry and wet conditions.

    Why it matters
    Poor rubbing fastness can stain skin, upholstery, labels, light garments, or other panels during use and packing.
    Say or ask
    “Please provide dry and wet colorfastness-to-rubbing results, the method version, and the required grade.”
    Boundary
    A casual white-cloth rub is a screening check. It is not equivalent to a controlled crockmeter test and graded comparison scale.
  5. 05
    Materials

    If you mean: “My swatch became shorter, wider, or distorted after washing”

    Dimensional change

    Also heard as shrinkage · growth after wash · laundering change

    The percentage change in length or width measured between stated benchmarks before and after a controlled treatment such as laundering.

    Why it matters
    Both shrinkage and growth affect finished measurements, pattern allowance, care instructions, and whether bulk matches an approved sample.
    Say or ask
    “Please report length and width dimensional change with the wash, dry, conditioning, and measurement procedure used.”
    Boundary
    A result applies to the tested specimen and procedure. Home machines and care habits do not reproduce every laboratory condition.
  6. 06
    Patterns & fit

    If you mean: “The garment measurement is larger or smaller than the body measurement on purpose”

    Ease (wearing and design)

    Also heard as wearing ease · design ease · finished garment difference

    The difference between body and garment measurements, divided conceptually into room needed for movement and additional or reduced volume chosen for silhouette.

    Why it matters
    Ease determines fit and movement. The same body size can produce very different finished measurements across fitted, regular, and oversized styles.
    Say or ask
    “What body measurement, finished garment measurement, and intended ease apply at this point?”
    Boundary
    Negative ease may be intentional in stretch garments. A difference is not automatically a fit error without fabric and design context.
  7. 07
    Materials

    If you mean: “I need the fabric weight, not the weight of the whole roll”

    Fabric mass per unit area (GSM)

    Also heard as GSM · grams per square metre · ounces per square yard

    The mass of fabric divided by its area, commonly reported as grams per square metre or ounces per square yard.

    Why it matters
    It helps compare cloths with different widths, but it does not by itself predict drape, warmth, opacity, durability, or fiber content.
    Say or ask
    “What is the tested mass per unit area, in GSM, and which method and specimen did you use?”
    Boundary
    A small swatch may not represent an entire lot. Record the method, conditioning, specimen, and tolerance with the result.
  8. 08
    Production

    If you mean: “I need to know where delivery and transit risk transfer for sea freight”

    FOB (Free On Board)

    Also heard as FOB port · Free On Board · FOB Incoterm

    An Incoterms rule for sea or inland-waterway transport in which the named port and on-board delivery point define key seller and buyer obligations and risk transfer.

    Why it matters
    FOB addresses delivery, costs, and risk in the shipment transaction. It does not say who developed patterns or sourced the fabric.
    Say or ask
    “Is this FOB under Incoterms 2020, which named port and point apply, and which charges are included in the quoted price?”
    Boundary
    Some apparel suppliers use FOB loosely for a sourcing model. Separate the Incoterm from CMT or full-package responsibilities.
  9. 09
    Yarn crafts

    If you mean: “I need the number of stitches and rows in a measured square”

    Gauge / tension

    Also heard as stitch gauge · row gauge · tension square

    The number of stitches and rows or rounds in a stated measurement after working, treating, resting, and measuring a representative swatch.

    Why it matters
    Small gauge differences multiply across a project, changing finished size, fabric density, drape, and yarn consumption.
    Say or ask
    “What gauge should I achieve in the stated stitch pattern after washing and blocking, and over what measured span?”
    Boundary
    Needle or hook size is only a starting point. The maker, stitch pattern, yarn, and finishing determine actual gauge.
  10. 10
    Production

    If you mean: “I need a small dyed color submission before bulk fabric is approved”

    Lab dip

    Also heard as color dip · dye-lab submission · shade submission

    A small color-development submission produced to compare a proposed dyed shade with the approved color standard before bulk coloration.

    Why it matters
    It creates an approval gate for shade direction and conditions before the supplier commits a larger quantity of material.
    Say or ask
    “Please submit identified lab-dip options against the named color standard, under the required light sources, with the approval deadline.”
    Boundary
    A lab dip approves an identified color submission, not automatic bulk shade, material performance, or every later dye lot.
  11. 11
    Standards

    If you mean: “I need restrictions on chemicals intentionally used during manufacturing, not only residues in the finished product”

    Manufacturing restricted substances list (MRSL)

    Also heard as MRSL · input chemical restrictions · process chemical list

    A list restricting intentional use of specified chemical substances in formulations and processes used to make textile, leather, rubber, foam, adhesive, or trim materials.

    Why it matters
    It moves chemical control upstream toward worker, community, process, and environmental exposure rather than relying only on finished-product testing.
    Say or ask
    “Which MRSL version applies, which facility inputs are in scope, and how is formulation conformance verified and maintained?”
    Boundary
    MRSL conformance is not the same as product certification, wastewater conformance, or proof that no restricted residue exists.
  12. 12
    Production

    If you mean: “The factory allows a total order, but requires a minimum number in each color”

    Minimum color quantity (MCQ)

    Also heard as MCQ · minimum per color · colorway minimum

    The smallest quantity accepted for each colorway within an order, sometimes nested under a larger style or order MOQ.

    Why it matters
    A style MOQ of 300 with an MCQ of 100 can limit the color plan to three equal colors or require negotiation about the mix.
    Say or ask
    “What are the total MOQ and the MCQ per colorway, and may colors share fabric, trims, or dyeing minimums?”
    Boundary
    MCQ is common trade shorthand, not a universal contract term. Put the exact quantity logic into the quotation and purchase order.
  13. 13
    Production

    If you mean: “I need the smallest production quantity the supplier will accept”

    Minimum order quantity (MOQ)

    Also heard as MOQ · minimum run · order minimum

    The smallest quantity a supplier agrees to produce or sell under a stated combination of style, color, size, material, price, and delivery conditions.

    Why it matters
    A number that sounds manageable per style can multiply across colors and sizes, while upstream fabric and trim minimums may set a higher practical floor.
    Say or ask
    “Is the MOQ per style, per color, per size, per order, or per material, and what changes if I combine variants?”
    Boundary
    MOQ does not state unit price, payment terms, capacity, quality, or reorder conditions. Those still need separate confirmation.
  14. 14
    Patterns & fit

    If you mean: “I need the named place and method for measuring the garment”

    Point of measure (POM)

    Also heard as POM · measurement point · spec point

    A numbered, named measurement location with a defined start point, end point, garment position, and method used in a specification.

    Why it matters
    A number is not reproducible when two people measure different paths, tensions, curves, or garment states.
    Say or ask
    “Which POM number, measurement method, target, unit, and tolerance does this comment refer to?”
    Boundary
    POM names are not perfectly universal across companies. The diagram and written method control the interpretation.
  15. 15
    Production

    If you mean: “I need the production-ready sample checked before bulk starts”

    Pre-production sample (PP sample)

    Also heard as PP sample · pre-pro sample · production approval sample

    A late-stage sample intended to verify the production-ready specification, approved materials, construction, trims, labels, finishing, and declared manufacturing setup before bulk.

    Why it matters
    It is a final controlled gate for known inputs and methods before the cost of a correction spreads across the production lot.
    Say or ask
    “Was this PP sample made with approved bulk materials, at the declared facility and line, under the final tech-pack revision?”
    Boundary
    A PP sample cannot prove every bulk unit will conform. Lot inspection, process control, and shipment release remain separate decisions.
  16. 16
    Standards

    If you mean: “I need to know whether this company is qualified to offer certain certified products and processes”

    Scope certificate (SC)

    Also heard as SC · certificate of compliance · certified company scope

    A certification document showing that an organization has been assessed and is qualified for named standards, products, facilities, and processing stages within a stated validity period.

    Why it matters
    It helps verify supplier capability and scope, but the product being offered must appear within that scope and the certificate must still be valid.
    Say or ask
    “Please provide the current scope certificate and show the exact facility, process, product category, standard, and validity covering this offer.”
    Boundary
    A scope certificate does not by itself prove that a specific shipment is certified. Transaction evidence may also be required.
  17. 17
    Patterns & fit

    If you mean: “The number on the sewing pattern does not match the size I buy in a shop”

    Sewing-pattern size

    Also heard as pattern size · sewing size · publisher size code

    A publisher-specific label connecting a pattern option to its body-measurement chart and, where stated, figure, cup, height, or shape assumptions.

    Why it matters
    Treating the code as a body measurement or cross-brand conversion can select the wrong pattern line before material behavior and finished dimensions are considered.
    Say or ask
    “Which publisher, pattern version, body-measurement method, size chart, finished dimensions, and fit evidence define this size?”
    Boundary
    A ready-to-wear label, another pattern brand, or a regional number does not prove equivalence. Use the exact pattern's chart and method.
  18. 18
    Production

    If you mean: “I need the document set that tells the factory how to build the garment”

    Tech pack

    Also heard as technical package · garment specification · factory pack

    A controlled document set covering design views, measurements, tolerances, materials, construction, colorways, labels, packaging, and revision history for a product.

    Why it matters
    It turns visual intent into repeatable instructions and provides the reference for sampling comments, costing, approvals, and production conformance.
    Say or ask
    “Which dated tech-pack revision controls this sample, quotation, and production order?”
    Boundary
    A template is not automatically factory ready. Values must come from an approved product, material, pattern, and decision process.
  19. 19
    Materials

    If you mean: “I need to know how much of the roll I can actually cut”

    Usable width

    Also heard as cuttable width · effective width · width excluding unusable edges

    The width available for the intended use after excluding selvages, edge damage, distortion, or any area the buyer and supplier agree is not usable.

    Why it matters
    Nominal roll width can overstate cutting yield. A small difference across every ply can change yardage, marker efficiency, and unit cost.
    Say or ask
    “Please confirm nominal width, usable width, the measurement method, and whether selvages are included.”
    Boundary
    Usable width depends on the agreed purpose and method. A number without those details is not a complete specification.
  20. 20
    Yarn crafts

    If you mean: “The yarn label says a number, but it is not the ball's physical weight”

    Yarn weight category

    Also heard as 0 to 7 yarn weight · yarn thickness class · lace to jumbo

    A voluntary Craft Yarn Council category describing a useful range of yarn thicknesses, from lace through jumbo, with indicative gauge and tool ranges.

    Why it matters
    It narrows substitutions and tool choices, but yarns in the same category can still differ in exact diameter, structure, fiber, and behavior.
    Say or ask
    “What is the yarn weight category, recommended gauge, fiber, construction, and metres per 100 grams?”
    Boundary
    Category names and familiar labels overlap. Match the finished gauge and fabric, not the category number alone.
How to use this responsibly

A translation is a better question, not automatic proof.

Many textile terms have a formal test-method meaning and a looser workshop meaning. The source link shows the reference used here; the boundary note shows what the term cannot establish by itself.

For a purchase, approval, claim, or inspection, name the method, version, unit, sample or lot, target, tolerance, and who has authority to accept it.

Read the directory evidence standard →

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