Design and Craftwork Option 38

Chapter 38

Design and Craftwork Option

 Design and Craftwork Option 38

By the end of this section of the course you will have

researched a range of needlework-based crafts. You will
have selected one craft and produced a craft item using
this craft. You will also have put together a design and
craftwork folder supporting your craft piece.

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Craft industry in Ireland

• Craft has a long, rich history in Ireland. In the past, craft
items such as knitted jumpers, baskets, woven fabrics,
lace and embroidery would have been made in every
household.
• Many such crafts were made firstly as functional items and
only secondly as items of beauty.
• The major sectors within the Irish craft industry today are
pottery, glass, jewellery, textiles (particularly knitwear) and
furniture.
• While Irish craft businesses are usually small in scale and
spread all over the country, the industry does employ a
significant number of people, particularly in isolated rural
communities unsuited to large-scale manufacturing.

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Irish crafts

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The Irish Craft Council

The Irish Craft Council, which was formed in 1971, is the

national agency for the development of the craft industry in
Ireland. The main aims of the council are to:
• Research and market Irish crafts at home and abroad.
• Encourage excellence in the Irish crafts industry.
• Provide training courses in various Irish crafts.
• Provide information to those interested in the craft industry.
• Run exhibitions to promote Irish crafts, e.g. in the RDS.
• Provide a directory of Irish crafts where Craft Council
members have their own webpage.

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Design and craftwork project

• You will not be asked questions on the Home Economics
written paper about the design and craftwork option.
Instead, the design and craftwork option, like each of the
other two options, is assessed through project work.

• Your project is worth 15% of your final Junior Certificate

mark at both Ordinary and Higher Levels.

Brief
For this project, you must design and make
a simple, cost-effective craftwork item from
a textile.

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The design and craftwork folder

Together with the craft item, you must present a written folder, which must
contain the following.
1. A table of contents
2. A statement of what you have been asked to do
3. A list of the most important things you have to consider
4. Evidence that you investigated a number of different crafts before
deciding on one
5. Background information on the craft you have chosen
6. A plan of work
7. A list of all materials and equipment you used for making the craft
item, with costings
8. A description with diagrams, sample designs, patterns, etc. of exactly
how you made your craft item
9. An evaluation of the craft item
10. Proposed modifications

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The craft item itself

Stage 1: Research and choose a craft. You will have to
consult with your teacher and carry out research in books,
magazines, craft shops, etc. You cannot use craft kits.
Some possibilities are:

• Appliqué • Lace making

• Crochet • Patchwork
• Cross-stitch • Quilting
• Embroidery • Rug making
• Knitting • Weaving

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What can and cannot be

considered a craft

• Tie-dying, batik, stencilling or painting fabric can be

used but only in addition to a stitch-based craft,
which must make up the main part of your work.
• For example, if you decided to create an underwater
sea scene, you could paint parts of the background
undersea colours before using textured embroidery
and beading to create the scene.

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The craft item itself (continued)

Stage 2: Decide what to make that would
best suit your craft.
Some possibilities are:
• Cushion covers
• Lampshade
• Peg bag
• Picture
• Rug
• Table wear
• Wall hanging

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The craft item itself (continued)

Stage 3: Practise your craft. You should

practise on old scraps of material. Keep
these and present them in your design
folder.
Stage 4: Finalise your design on paper.
Stage 5: Make your craftwork item.

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Sample craft items

Knitted cushions are now very fashionable.
You could add unusual buttons, a little
beading or embroidery to make yours unique.

A peg bag decorated with

appliqué

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