4.1 Sewing Skills: Constructing Household Items

• Household items constructed using seams: lap bag, work bag, pillow case, cushion cover
• Sewing tools, materials and safety with needles and scissors
• Meaning of a seam
• Open seam
• Plain seam
• Making samples of open and plain seams by hand sewing
• Constructing a household item using open or plain seams
• Displaying household items and appreciating the use of seams

• identify types of seams used in making household items
• make samples of seams on a piece of cloth
• construct a household item using seams
• appreciate the use of seam in making household items

“How can a household item be made using seams?”

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1. Household items made with seams
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Grade 8 sewing constructs a useful household item — lap bag, work bag, pillow case or cushion cover — by joining cloth with seams.
2. Sewing tools and safety
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Hand-sewing uses needle, thread, pins, scissors, tape and chalk. Points down, scissors closed, count pins home.
3. What a seam is
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   A seam is the stitched join. Seam allowance is the fabric left beyond the stitch line. Most household seams start with right sides together.
4. The open seam
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   An open seam is stitched, then the allowances are pressed apart, each neatened. It sits flatter on thicker cloth and bags.
5. The plain seam
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   A plain seam is stitched, then both allowances are pressed to one side and neatened together. Common on light cotton cases and covers.
6. Compare open and plain seams
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Identify both seam types. Choose open for bags that take weight; plain for light pillow cases and cushion covers.
7. Measure, cut and pin
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Mark seam lines, include allowance, cut on the line away from fingers, pin right sides together across the seam.
8. Sample of an open seam
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Hand-sew a labelled open-seam sample: back stitch, press allowances apart, neaten each edge.
9. Sample of a plain seam
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Hand-sew a labelled plain-seam sample: same stitch line, allowances pressed to one side and neatened together.
10. Plan a household article
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Choose one finishable article, lock seam type, measurements and fabric source. Integrity: cloth you own or were given.
11. Cut and pin the article
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Cut the real pieces including allowances, pin right sides together, and cut handles or hem strips now.
12. Construct the item with seams
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Stitch the planned open or plain seams, press, neaten, leave the mouth open, then turn through to the right side.
13. Hem and finish the article
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Double-fold hem the mouth, attach bag handles securely, trim threads, and count every needle home.
14. Display and appreciate sewn items
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Display the articles and samples, name open or plain seams, and embrace using the item at home or in 4K.