sewing

American  

[soh-ing] / ˈsoʊ ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or work of one who sews.

2. something sewn or to be sewn.

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sewing British  

/ ˈsəʊɪŋ /

noun

1. 1. a piece of cloth, etc, that is sewn or to be sewn

   2. ( as modifier )

      sewing basket

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Etymology

Origin of sewing

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at sew ¹, -ing ¹

Explanation

Sewing is the craft of stitching things using a needle and thread. If you enjoy sewing, your elaborate, hand-stitched Halloween costumes might be the envy of all your friends. Before the invention of the sewing machine in the 1800s, sewing was done by hand. This kind of sewing involves threading a needle and taking repeated stitches through fabric, to attach several pieces to each other. The sewing that goes into a modern, mass-produced piece of clothing requires speedy, electric-powered sewing machines doing all the stitching. You can also use this word for a stitching project: "Have you seen my sewing? I thought I left it on the coffee table."

Example Sentences

That logic propagated from muskets to sewing machines and farm equipment, eroding craft economics and laying the groundwork for the modern assembly line.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Singers were sewing costumes and painting sets right up to opening night.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

Howe dedicated himself to inventing a sewing machine, a painstaking effort, even with support from a family friend.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

Howe returned to the U.S., broke and unemployed, only to discover that copycat lock-stitch sewing machines had become extremely popular.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

One glance at Betsie’s pallid face and fragile form, and the matron waved her contemptuously back inside the barracks where the elderly and infirm spent the day sewing prison uniforms.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• tailoring