What does clip mean in sewing?

Clipping is done by cutting from the edge of the seam allowance toward the stitching, and is done for concave curves, like a neckline. With the seam sewn but not pressed, slip the tip of your lower scissors blade between the two layers of fabric, and cut from the edge of the seam allowance to a few threads from the actual seam. Flip the garment over, and clip the other seam allowance as before, staggering the clips...

imagine that you're clipping at 1/2" intervals on both sides... so the top

layer gets clipped at 1/2", 1", 1.5", 2", 2.5" etc, while the bottom layer

gets clipped at 1/4", 3/4", 1.25", 1.75", 2.25", etc... When you press the seam, the clips don't line up and show through to the outside so easily.

The first couple of photos show a clipped seam allowance:

http://www.craftstylish.com/item/9902/clipping-and...

though she's clipped both seam allowances at the same time. I dislike doing it this way -- it's easier to accidentally cut your stitching line, and you can get some "show through" when things are pressed.

Fairly far down on this page: http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/t00141.asp you'll see Susan Khalje clipping a single seam allowance at a time using the staggered clip method.

An alternative to clipping that works for many purposes is to reduce the seam allowance to 3/8" from the ready to wear standard of 5/8" -- and in the case of the scalloped hem in the second URL above, I probably would have reduced the seam allowance to 1/4" and probably would have had to do no clipping.

The first URL also illustrates notching a convex seam allowance -- and the funny curve you get if you don't notch. Again, I prefer to stagger the notches between the two seam allowances.

The other thing about notches or clipping... the smaller the radius of the curve (=the tighter the curve) the closer the clips or notches should be. But 1/2" apart works well for most curves.

Sewing Definition

If it's a curved seam you need to clip(CUT)almost to the stitching. Cut slashes or v's(notches) out of the fabric.