Sewists

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Individuals who engage in the craft of sewing, often creating garments, accessories, or other textile products
2. Artists who skillfully manipulate fabric and thread to produce handmade items
3. Practitioners of sewing who may also share their expertise through teaching or professional work in fashion and textiles

Etymology: "Sewists" is simply the plural of "sewist," a person who sews, formed by adding the suffix "-ist" to "sew." The suffix "-ist" denotes a practitioner or doer, as in "artist" or "cyclist," so the word names someone who works with needle and thread as a craft. The more surprising detail is why the spelling is so unusual. The root "sew" is pronounced like "so," and it is easily confused on the page with "sewer," the waste pipe, which is spelled identically in its verb-like shape. Had the word been written with a plain "-er" ending, readers could have pictured a plumber's trade rather than a seamstress's. Adding "-ist" instead keeps the craft clearly in view.

Synonyms: sewers, tailors