This creative lesson is a design challenge that reaches beyond your classroom. Students are put in groups and assigned an administrator to interview and then design a tie for. This lesson focuses on the customer side of the fashion design world where customers are an integral part of choosing what they wear and what they’ll pay for. Of course a bonus is that administrators get to see what you do in your classroom!

Time Frame: 2 blocks

Objective

• Students will apply their basic sewing skills and their knowledge of design concepts and work to satisfy a client’s desires.
  

Set

• Give an introduction to the project as well as a demonstration on how to sew a basic tie. You can also show how to make a tie via a video like the one below.

Materials

• Fabric
• Scissors
• Sewing Machines
• Matching Thread
• Pins
• Rotary Cutter & Mat
• Old Ties from the consignment shop that students can use as templates

Instruction

• Instruct students to think beyond the standard ties they have seen. Questions to consider:
  • Texture?
  • Color?
  • Width? (Skinny ties, fat ties, “normal”)
  • Length?
  • Shape?
  • Embellishment?
  • Pattern?
  • Themes?

Activities

• Pair students up
  
• Have students interview their administrator
• Design ties by sketching and choosing fabrics – have them get approval to start cutting
• Students should then cut, stitch, and press ties
• When the class is finished, each group will discuss their tie design in front of the class and administrator. Students should talk about what inspired their design, why they chose the color/pattern/style, etc.
• Administrator should give feed back about what they like and dislike about the tie

Background for Teachers

• Another way to run this is to have one administrator come to your class and have the different groups interview him. Let the groups design based on their own interpretations of what he would like. When the groups are finished have him come back and decide which group’s creation he would be most likely to wear. He will wear the winning group’s necktie on a specified day.
• Have female administrators? Have students design a scarf, shawl, or handbag.

Evaluation

• Ties are graded for construction and client satisfaction.

Attachments

• Design a Tie challenge: Interview Questions (Word)
• Tie Pattern (PDF)

Links

• Bow Tie Pattern
• Tie Inspiration
• Bacon Tie

Similar Lessons

• Introduction to the elements of design and line
• Introduction to the principles of design and balance
• Personal Body Types
• Ying/Yang Characteristics in Clothing

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Want an easy sewing project that help your students and school feel good too? Nancy’s Notions, a popular sewing tools & pattern store have come up with this charitable project for African children–a Pillow case re-purposed into a little girl’s dress.

Time Frame: A few classes depending on how many you want to make and if you teach high school or middle school

Objective

• To practice basic sewing skills and finishing skills as well as help less fortunate children

Set

• Describe the project, show a sample, flip through the website (lots of galleries of pictures) with your students
  

Materials

• One new or gently used cotton pillowcase
• 2½ yd. double fold bias tape
• 12″–16″ elastic, ¼” wide, depending on size
• Coordinating all-purpose thread

• Make a Sample Dress to show the class

Instructions

• Read the pattern instructions as a class answering questions as you go.
  

Activities

• Have students bring in a pillow case
• Spend a few days making the dresses (take pictures of the projects for your local newspaper- Good FACS press!)
• Size your dresses (Small, Medium, Large, Extra large)

(Measured from the shoulder to the hem)

Small = 2, 3, and 4  (16-23 inches long)

Medium = 5, 6, and 7 (24-29 inches long)

Large = 8,9, and 10 (30-34 inches long)

X-Large - size 11 and above (anything over 35 inches long)

• Roll up dresses and place in 2gallon plastic bags by size before shipping them
• Send finished dresses to:

Nancy’s Notions
Attention: Little Dresses for Africa
PO Box 683
333 Beichl Ave.
Beaver Dam WI 53916

Links

• Little Dresses for Africa Pattern (PDF)
• Little Dresses for Africa Website
• Link To Purchase Little Dresses for Africa Kits

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Silk is made from worms that are “fattened” with mulberry leaves then they move their heads in a figure 8 motion spinning silk around themselves. In about 2-3 days the cocoon is complete and the silk cocoons are placed in boiling water to loosen the silk fibers. The fiber is then unwrapped from each cocoon. The silk thread is white and very fragile so it is dyed and three to ten strands are twisted together to produce one silk thread used in commercial manufacturing of fabrics and trim.

The following video shows how the silk is unwrapped from the cocoons in a Chinese factory.

Once the silk is dyed or to get the gold and silver colors it was painted or dipped in gold or silver, it is ready to be made into fabric or trim. Lyon, France was famous for its production of silk trims and fabric. Most people don’t think of trim but it was used extensively in the decorations of many nations soldier’s uniforms. Trim was also used extensively by the catholic church to adorn the priest’s clothing.

How it’s Made: Silk Trim (PPT)

 
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Fabric flowers look so challenging to make but they really are quite simple. Inspire your students to embellish and accessorize their clothing projects with fabric flowers!

Objective

• Inspire students to be creative and make lovely accessories to accompany an outfit.

Set

• Show & Tell:  have a collection of samples that you’ve made as well as some garments that are embellished with fabric flowers. If you don’t have lots of samples you can show them some of examples from books like those shown below.

Materials

Instruction

• Demonstrate how to make several different types of flowers. The best directions can be found in books like those above.

Activities

• Have your students make flowers to use as embellishments or accessories.
  

Attachments

• Fantastic Fabric Flowers Templates (PDF)
• Zipper Pansy Pin (Pdf)

Websites

• Pictures of Fabric Flowers
  
• Collection of Fabric Flowers
  

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Time: Multiple classes

Objective

• The student will create a number of different seams and finishes with accuracy, consistency, and precision.

Set

• Bring in some clothing with different seams and have the students try to identify the different seam finishes. Discuss the pros and cons of each of the seam finishes.

Materials

• Scrap Material
• Colored Thread (that will contrast with scrap material’s color)
• Sewing Machines
• Scissors
• Colored Paper
• Stapler

Instruction

• I suggest that you demonstrate each seam finish then send the students off to complete it.
  • Bias Taped Edges
  • Flat Felled Seams Tutorial
  • French Seams Tutorial
  • Machine Stitched Hems
  • Rolled Hems

• For a more advanced group, you can have them read how to make each seam sample and complete it on their own.

Activities

• Have the students make all the machine seams finishes.
• Have the students make all the hand sewing samples.
• Have the students compile their seam finishes describing how to make each one in a book format with a table of contents.

Pictures

• Grade the student’s seam finish book.
• Sewing Notebook Rubric

Worksheets

• Seam Finish Definitions (Word)
• Seam Finish Definitions 2 (Word)
• Directions for Constructing Seam Finishes (Word)
• Directions for Constructing Seams (Word)
• Seam Sample Book Table of Contents (Word)
  

Web Resources

• Before you choose a seam finish

Similar Lesson Plans

• Clothing 1 Sample Book
• Clothing 2 Sample Book
• Sample Packet
• Pressing & Seam Finishes

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Course Documents

• Sewing Rules

Curriculum

• Grade 8 Sewing Curriculum

Extra Credit

• Sewing Project Extra Credit Form (Word)

Handouts

• Textile Terms (Pdf)

Lesson Plans

• Human Sewing Machine (Word)

• Clothing 1 Sample Notebook

• Clothing 2 Sample Notebook

• Equipment Bag

• Equipment Identification

• Fabric Construction Chart

• Measuring Up!

• Natural Fiber Chart

• Pattern Layout

• Polar Fleece Socks

• Pressing and Seam Finishes

• Sample Packet

• Sewing Equipment Bingo

• Sewing Foundations

• Sewing Machine Parts

• Symbol Syntax

• Symbol Syntax Matching Game

• Synthetic Fiber Chart

• Threading the Sewing Machine

PowerPoints

• Parts of the Sewing Machine (PPT)
• Sewing Machine Basics (PPT)

Worksheets

• The Basics of Sewing (PDF)
• Pattern Markings Scramble
• Seam Finish Match
• Sewing Drivers Test (PDF)
• Sewing Measurements Worksheet (PDF)
• Sewing Supplies Crossword Puzzle
• Stitching Maze

Project Directions

• Football
• Make a Sewing Machine Cover
• Make a Set of Placemats
• Make a Roll-up Sewing Supply Case
• Pillowcase
• Pinwheel Picture Pillow

Rubrics

• Pajama Pants Rubric

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Do you remember when you first learned how to sew on the sewing machine? For me it was when I was a little girl. I had to prove myself by sewing on paper before I was allowed to use thread. (Thread meant the challenging task of threading the sewing machine properly). So this lesson is designed for students completely new to sewing…starting with the basics.

Objectives

1. To learn how to use the sewing machine (turn it on, press the petal, petal sensitivity)
2. To stitch carefully following a line
3. To learn how to pivot corners by picking up the presser foot and turning the fabric or in this case paper
4. To learn how to sew curved lines

Set

• Review the names of different pieces of equipment, sewing machine parts, and types of fabrics.
  

Materials

Instruction

• Demonstrate how to sew on paper especially techniques like pivoting and sewing curves.
  

Activities

• Have students sew the different paper templates then hold them up to the light to see where they went off the line. If they are unacceptable have students continue to try until they can follow the lines with very little error.
• Once students have mastered the paper templates show them how to thread the machine. Take out the thread and have each student thread his/her machine. Students should thread and un-thread the machine several times before continuing.
• After the student shows mastery of threading the sewing machine have him/her stitch more paper templates but this time with the machine threaded.

Assessment

• Once students can successfully make it through the steps of threading the machine and stitching paper lines, it’s time for a quiz on the sewing machine parts, fabric choices, and equipment identification.

Attachments

• Stitch Me Quick Beginner Straight Lines
• Circular Stitch Templates
• Curve Me Wild Paper Sewing Template
• Swirl Stitching Challenge
• Summer Stitch Theme

Websites

• Teach Yourself to Sew Videos by Threads Magazine
  

Similar Lesson Plans

• Beginning Sewing Projects
• Sewing Introduction
• Threading a Sewing Machine
• Clothing 1 Sample Notebook
• Human Sewing Machine

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Objective

• Students will analyze and evaluate clothing’s cost per wear, a garment’s construction, and perceived value.

Set

• Put the students in groups and give them piles of clothing to look at. Have them determine the clothes have the highest quality and the clothing that has the least quality. Have them make a list of the characteristics that determine quality.

Materials

• Several types of clothing so that students can analyze the quality by looking at the seams, button holes, and quality of fabric.

Instruction:

• Class discussion

• What is a high quality garment?
• Do brand names necessarily mean that an item is high quality?
• Which do they use more in evaluating apparel quality price or their knowledge about quality?
• How much does the price of a garment tell them about the quality of the apparel they buy?

• Tailoring PowerPoint: history of tailoring, definition of tailoring, types of tailoring, tailoring terms, garment life expectancy, price and perceived quality.

Activity:

• Have the students think of two similar items in their wardrobes and estimate the cost per wear of each. Have them determine which is the better value from a cost-to-wear standard.
  • Ex. Black dress worn 4 times for $25 = $6.25 each wear
  • Or  Prom dress worn 2 times for $250= $125 each wear
• As a class establish performance criteria for different types of garments. For example, what are the typical expectations for attractiveness, utility, and durability for each garment?
  • Wedding gowns
  • Basketball uniforms
  • Tailored suits
  • Jeans
  • Infant sleepers
  • Swimsuits
  • Carhart Jackets

Closure

• Why do you think clothing is sold so cheaply today?
• Why don’t people make their own clothes as frequently as they have in the past?
• In what ways is tailoring coming back into “style”?

Assessment:

• Fashion Spree Assignment: students are given a hypothetical $1000 to spend on a wardrobe and they have to justify each purchase. This can be started in class.

Attachments

• Tailoring PowerPoint
• Fashion Spree Assignment

Websites

• Tailoring Tips
• Shopping Lesson Plan

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Integrate technology into your Family Consumer Science classroom with an easy to use software program that helps students design quilt squares and quilt tops. Program comes with a very large selection of fabrics and patterns. Students can even create their own blocks. Quilt blocks patterns are printable on paper or fabric. Check out the videos to see how it works:

The program sells for $30 a copy.  To get all the details check out their website by clicking here.

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