Descriptive Terms

All alterations have some type of descriptive term in them. These are just a few of the terms used when creating an alteration. As the need arises, the listing will be updated.

A past problem that has caused alterations to be changed is the incorrect use of some of these terms. For example, you could not have a rose etched into a leather shirt but you could have a rose etched into a ring or other metallic object.

Appliqué
A decoration cut from one material and applied to the surface of another.

Carve
To make or form by or as if by cutting. To cut with care or precision. To cut into pieces or slices.

Embellish
To make beautiful with ornamentation; decorate. To heighten the attractiveness of by adding ornamental details; enhance.

Emboss
To mold or carve in relief. To decorate with a raised design. A calendaring process in which fabrics are engraved with the use of heated rollers under pressure to produce a raised design on the fabric surface.

Embroider
To ornate with needlework. To add embellishment or fanciful details. An embellishment of a fabric or garment in which colored threads are sewn on to the fabric to create a design. Embroidery may be done either by hand or by machine.

Engrave
To carve, etch, or cut into a material. To impress deeply.

Etch
To make (a pattern) on a surface with acid. To impress, delineate, or imprint clearly.

Impress
To mark or stamp with or as if with pressure. A mark or pattern produced by or as if by pressure. To produce a vivid impression of.

Imprint
To produce (a mark or pattern) on a surface. A mark or depression made by pressure.

Inlaid
Set into a surface in a decorative design. Decorated with a design or material set into a surface.

Inset
To set in; insert as an inset. A piece of cloth set into a garment for decoration.

Ornamentation
Decoration.

Ornate
Elaborately, often excessively ornamented.

Plate
To cover with a thin layer of metal.

Stamp
To shape or cut out with a mold, form, or die. To imprint or impress with a design, mark, or seal. To mark; characterize.