Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - JHS 1

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Identify compliant and resistant materials.
• Demonstrate basic sewing skills to create a simple artefact.
• Use food ingredients to create a simple edible artefact.
• Explain the importance of artefact making in Ghana.

Lesson summary

This lesson introduces the fundamental skills of hand sewing. Sewing is a very useful skill in our daily lives in Ghana. It allows us to repair our clothes when they tear, saving our parents money. It helps us create new things for ourselves and our homes, like handkerchiefs, bags, or pillowcases. For some, sewing can even become a profession, like becoming a tailor or a fashion designer, which are very respected jobs in our communities. Today, we will learn the basic tools and stitches needed to start this exciting journey of creating with fabric.

Lesson notes

A. What is Sewing? Sewing is the craft of joining or attaching objects using stitches made with a needle and thread. When we sew, we are working with compliant materials. A compliant material is one that is flexible and can be easily bent or folded, like fabric. Examples of fabrics commonly used in Ghana include cotton print (Ankara), calico, linen, and kente. B. Essential Hand-Sewing Tools and Materials To sew effectively, we need the right tools. Here are the basic ones: Hand-Sewing Needles: These are small, slender tools with a pointed tip at one end and a hole (or eye) at the other. The thread goes through the eye. They come in different sizes; smaller numbers mean bigger needles. Thread: A long, thin strand of cotton, polyester, or other fibre used for sewing. It should be strong. The colour of the thread is often chosen to match the fabric. Scissors: We need sharp scissors for cutting fabric. It is very important to have a pair of Fabric Shears used ONLY for fabric to keep them sharp. Using them on paper will make them blunt. A smaller pair, called Thread Snips, is useful for cutting thread. Tape Measure: A flexible ruler used for taking measurements on fabric and the body. It has markings in inches and centimetres. Pins and Pincushion: Pins are used to hold pieces of fabric together temporarily before sewing. A pincushion (often a small, stuffed pillow) is used to store pins safely. Thimble: A small cap worn on the finger (usually the middle finger) that you use to push the needle through the fabric. It protects your finger from being pricked. Tailor's Chalk or Fabric Marker: A special chalk or pen used to draw temporary lines on fabric for cutting or sewing. The marks can be brushed or washed off easily. C. Basic Sewing Techniques How to Thread a Needle and Tie a Knot This is the first step in any sewing project. Step 1: Cut the Thread. Cut a length of thread about the length of your arm (from your fingertips to your shoulder). If it's too long, it will get tangled. Step 2: Thread the Needle. Moisten the tip of the thread slightly with your lips or water to make it stiff. Carefully push the tip of the thread through the eye of the needle. Pull a few inches of thread through. Step 3: Tie a Knot. Take the long end of the thread (not the short one near the needle). Loop it around your index finger once or twice. Use your thumb to roll the loop off your finger, creating a small, twisted bunch. Pull the end of the thread to tighten this bunch into a secure knot. Basic Hand Stitches Stitches are the building blocks of sewing. Let's learn two important ones. The Running Stitch: Use: This is the simplest and quickest stitch. It is used for gathering fabric, temporarily holding pieces together (basting), or for simple decoration. How to do it: Push the needle through the fabric from the back (wrong side) to the front (right side). Move the needle forward a short distance (e.g., half a centimetre). Push the needle down through the fabric to the back again. Move the needle forward the same distance at the back and bring it up to the front. Repeat this in-and-out motion to create a dashed line of stitches: `– – – – –`. The Backstitch: Use: This is a very strong and durable stitch that looks like machine sewing. It is excellent for repairing seams and joining fabric pieces permanently. How to do it: Bring the needle up through the fabric from the back, a short distance from where you want the seam to start. Take one stitch backward, pushing the needle down at the starting point of the seam. Bring the needle up again, one stitch length in front of the first stitch. Push the needle down into the same hole at the end of the previous stitch. Repeat this process: always moving forward underneath and stitching backward on top. This creates a solid, unbroken line of stitches. D. Project: Making a Simple Handkerchief Let's apply these skills to make a useful artefact. Materials: A square piece of cotton fabric (about 25cm x 25cm), needle, thread, scissors, pins, tape measure. Procedure: Prepare the Edge: Lay your fabric square flat. On one side, fold the raw edge over by about 1cm towards the wrong side of the fabric. Press it flat with your fingers. Double Fold: Fold that same edge over one more time, by another 1cm. This is called a double-fold hem, and it hides the raw edge completely so it won't fray. Pin the Hem: Use pins to hold this folded hem in place. Place the pins perpendicular (at a right angle) to the edge. Sew the Hem: Thread your needle and tie a knot. Starting from one corner, use a running stitch or a hemming stitch (a small, slanted, almost invisible stitch) to sew the hem down. Keep your stitches small and neat. Repeat for all sides: Do the same for the other three sides of the fabric square. Finish Off: When you are done, make a few small stitches in one place on the back of the fabric and pass your needle through the loop of thread before pulling it tight to create a secure knot. Snip the excess thread. You now have a simple, handmade handkerchief!

Guided Practice (With Solutions)

Question 1: Your younger brother wants to sew a button back onto his school shirt, but he can't get the thread ready. In three clear steps, explain to him how to thread the needle and tie a proper knot. Solution & Commentary: Step 1: Cut the Thread: Tell him to take the spool of thread and pull out a piece about the length of his arm, then cut it with scissors. This length is easy to manage without tangling. Step 2: Wet and Thread: Instruct him to slightly wet the very tip of the thread and pinch it tight. Then, he should carefully push that stiff tip through the small hole (eye) in the needle. Step 3: Make the Knot: He should take the long end of the thread, wrap it around his pointer finger, roll the loop off with his thumb to twist it, and then pull the end tight to form a small, secure knot. This knot will stop the thread from pulling through the fabric.

Question 2: You are given two small pieces of Ankara fabric to join together for a patchwork project. You decide to use the backstitch. Demonstrate or describe the first three movements you would make to start the seam. Solution & Commentary: Movement 1 (Come Up): First, push the needle from the back of the aligned fabrics to the front, about one stitch length (e.g., 3mm) away from the starting edge. Movement 2 (Go Backward): Next, take the needle and push it back down through the fabric at the very beginning of the line you want to sew. You have now made one stitch backward. Movement 3 (Move Forward Underneath): Finally, from the back, move the needle forward past the first stitch, and bring it up through the fabric one stitch length ahead of where your thread currently is. You are now in position to make the second backward stitch. This method creates a strong, linked seam.