CLOTHING AND SEWING

MODULE 4

Introduction

Clothing is not just a piece of fabric wrapped around a body. Clothing has details
that make the fabric fit and compliment your body. Learn to perfect the details
and the garment will come together.

If you are intimidated, start with a simple garment such as pajama pants and
work your way to more elaborate garments. Take the time to practice the parts of
a garment and make a notebook of your practice sample to refer back to when
you feel stumped.

Sewing is the craft of fastening or attaching objects using stitches made with a
needle and thread. Sewing is one of the oldest of the textile arts, arising in the
Paleolithic era. Before the invention of spinning yarn or weaving fabric,
archaeologists believe Stone Age people across Europe and Asia sewed fur and
skin clothing using bone, antler or ivory needles and "thread" made of various
animal body parts including sinew, catgut, and veins.

For thousands of years, all sewing was done by hand. The invention of the
sewing machine in the 19th century and the rise of computerization in the 20th
century led to mass production and export of sewn objects, but hand sewing is
still practiced around the world. Fine hand sewing is a characteristic of high-
quality tailoring, haute couture fashion, and custom dressmaking, and is pursued
by both textile artists and hobbyists as a means of creative expression.

Sewing Tools and Materials

Sewing is made easy and fast when good quality tools are on hand. High
quality tools will ensure a more professional look to the sewn projects and will
make the job easier and more pleasant.

Sewing tools and materials are classified according to their functions such
as sewing tools, sewing equipment, and materials and supplies.

Sewing Tools
These tools are grouped according to their uses and should be used only for their
intended purposes.

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1. Measuring Tools. The measuring tools are the tape measure, yardstick or
meter stick, and ruler. The length of fabrics and sizes of stuff are accurately
chosen with.

Tape measure

Meter stick

Ruler

2. Marking Tools. Tracing wheel, tailors’ chalk, carbon paper, and marking pencils are
needed to transfer pattern marks to the fabrics.

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 tracing wheel

tailor’s chalk

marking pencils

3. Cutting Devices. Shears and scissors come in different sizes. Shears have
their handles shaped differently while scissors have the same handle sizes.
Shears have longer blades ideal for cutting fabrics while scissors are used for
cutting threads. Un-picker or ripper is used for picking and cutting unwanted
stiches.

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 Shear Scissors

Sewing Equipment

Sewing equipment refers to the different types of sewing machines. These

are as follows:

1. Treadle sewing machine – a sewing machine that is manually operated by

treadling and hand dial control.

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2. Electric sewing machine – a sewing machine mechanically operated through
an electronic foot control and push button dials.

3. Industrial sewing machine – a highly technical, electrically operated machines used by

skilled sewers. Examples of these are embroidery and straight edge, over locker,
overedger, and computerized sewing machine.

embroidery and straight

edge

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 overlocker

overedger

computerized sewing machine

Materials and Supplies

Sewing materials and supplies include the following:

1 .sewing threads, needles for hand and machine sewing, pins, pincushions, and
emery bags.

2. fabrics or clothing, and textiles or products made from fabrics such as cotton,
linen, silk nylon, rayon.

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 Identifying the sewing tools, equipment, supplies, and materials, and being
familiar with how these are used in sewing household linens is the first step to
gaining skills in your sewing projects.

Hand stitching is an essential part of home projects. Remember the quality

of the product will depend on how stitches are done. The cost of the finished
products will depend on the quality of the materials and stitches applied.

● The stitches are classified into two, plain and decorative. Plain stitches
are used to join two pieces of fabrics while decorative stitches are applied
for ornamentation. Decorative stitches are use in embroidery work.
● Embroidery is the craft of decorating fabric or other materials using a
needle to apply thread or yarn. Running stitch, back, stitch, basting are
examples of plain stitches, but they can be also use as decorative stitch.
Cross stitch, satin stitch, chain stitch and French knot are some examples
of decorative stitches.

● BASIC HAND STITCHES

● Running stitch ▪ Used to hold a seam and the edge of the fabric. It
looks like a broken line. It has even spaces and length.
● How to do it - Hold the needle and let it pass over and under the fabric.
Make the upper stitches of equal length. The under stitches are half the
length of the upper stitches

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 ● Back stitch -Used as a substitute for machine stitching. One of the most
durable hand stitches . It has no spaces in between.
● How to do it -Hold the needle, bring thread, through the fabric, taking a
regular stitch. Then take a small backward stitch through along the line.
Bring the needle through again, a little in front of the first stitch. Take
another stitch inserting the needle at the point, where it came through.
●

Blanket stitch -Used as an edge stitch or applique or decorative trim.

How to do it -
Bring needle out over the thread loop, pulling it to the right from a loop at the hem
edge.

Basting – is sewing cloth together it is considered as a temporary stitch.

Let’s TRY it!

Submit a 2 minute video on how to make the 4 plain stitches discussed in our
lesson – the running stitch, back stitch, blanket stitch and basting.
Rubrics - appearance of the stitches - 10 points
appearance of the output - 10 points
Punctuality in submission - 5 points