Seam allowance
Seam allowance (sometimes called inlays) is the area between the edge and the stitching line on two (or more) pieces of material being stitched together. Seam allowances can range from ⁄4 inch (6.4 mm) wide to as much as several inches. Commercial patterns for home sewers have seam allowances ranging from ⁄4 to ⁄8 inch (6.4 to 15.9 mm).