Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v3 - Senior Secondary 2
Decorative Designs: Needle Craft
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Decorative Designs: Needle Craft
Download the Lessonotes Mobile Nigeria 2025 app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
Subject: Clothing & Textiles
Class: Senior Secondary 2
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 3
Theme: Simple Decorative Processes
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List the different types of needle craft Make decorative articles using different types of needle-craft Apply the knowledge obtained in the study of decorative designs in making soft to ys
Fabric: The main fabric onto which the appliqué pieces will be sewn. Appliqué Fabric Scraps: Different coloured or patterned fabrics for the design.
Matching Thread: For sewing the appliqué pieces.
Needle (Hand or Machine): Sharp Scissors: For precise cutting.
Fabric Pencil/Chalk: For drawing designs.
Fusible Web (optional but recommended): A heat-activated adhesive sheet that temporarily holds appliqué pieces in place before stitching.
Soft Toy (for application): The item to be decorated.
Technique (for Soft Toys):
1. Design Selection: Choose a simple design suitable for a soft toy (e.g., a heart, star, flower, animal face, letter). Draw it onto paper.
2. Fabric Preparation: Trace the design onto the wrong side of the chosen appliqué fabric. If using fusible web, iron it onto the wrong side of the appliqué fabric before cutting, following manufacturer's instructions. Carefully cut out the appliqué shape from the fabric.
3. Positioning: Peel off the paper backing from the fusible web (if used). Place the appliqué piece onto the desired area of the soft toy.
4. Securing: If using fusible web, press the appliqué piece firmly with a warm iron to temporarily fuse it to the soft toy fabric. Alternatively, pin the appliqué piece securely in place.
5. Stitching: Machine Stitching: Use a zigzag stitch or a straight stitch close to the edge of the appliqué piece. A satin stitch (dense zigzag) gives a neat, finished edge.
Hand Stitching: Use a small slip stitch, whip stitch, or blanket stitch around the edge of the appliqué piece. Ensure stitches are neat and uniform.
6. Finishing: Trim any loose threads. Press the finished appliqué if necessary, taking care not to distort the soft toy's shape.
Uses:** Decorating clothing (children's wear, bags), quilts, cushions, wall hangings, soft toys, banners.
Definition of Needle Craft: Needle craft refers to a group of decorative arts and crafts that involve the use of a needle, hook, or shuttle and various types of thread, yarn, or cord to create textile designs and objects. These crafts are typically done by hand and focus on creating decorative and functional items.
Types of Needle Craft: The following are common types of needle craft:
1. Embroidery: The art of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. It often involves different stitches like running stitch, chain stitch, satin stitch, etc., to create patterns and images.
2. Quilting: The process of joining layers of fabric together with stitches to make a padded material, typically used for blankets, wall hangings, or clothing. It often involves piecing together small fabric scraps.
3. Knitting: A method by which yarn is manipulated to create a fabric or garment. It uses two knitting needles to interlock loops of yarn.
4. Crochet: (Detailed below)
5. Tatting: (Detailed below)
6. Macramé: (Detailed below)
7. Appliqué: (Detailed below)
8. Cross-Stitch: A form of embroidery where X-shaped stitches are used to form a pattern, typically on an evenweave fabric. Detailed Explanations for Specific Needle Crafts:
A. Tatting Definition: Tatting is a technique for handcrafting a durable lace from a series of knots and loops using a tatting shuttle or needle. It creates intricate, openwork lace designs, often used for edgings, doilies, and decorative motifs.
Materials: Tatting Shuttle: A small, oval-shaped tool with a point or hook, used to hold and carry the thread.
Tatting Thread: Fine, strong thread, often mercerized cotton, suitable for delicate lace work. Small sharp scissors.
Basic Technique (The Double Stitch): The foundation of tatting is the double stitch, formed by two half hitches.
1. Preparation: Wind thread onto the shuttle. Hold the shuttle in your dominant hand. Create a circle of thread with your non-dominant hand. The shuttle thread goes over your non-dominant hand fingers.
2. First Half (First Half Stitch): Pass the shuttle under the circle thread with your dominant hand. Bring the shuttle thread over the circle thread, then under it, creating a loop.
3. Second Half (Second Half Stitch): Repeat the process, but pass the shuttle over the circle thread first, then under it, and bring it over, creating another loop.
4. Tightening: Gently pull the shuttle thread to tighten both half stitches into a snug knot on the core circle thread. The stitches should "flip" from the shuttle thread to the core thread.
Picots: Small loops of thread left between double stitches, used for decorative purposes or to join rings and chains. To make a picot, leave a gap between two double stitches before tightening the second half stitch.
Uses: Edgings for handkerchiefs, collars, cuffs, doilies, earrings, bookmarks, decorative motifs for garments.
B. Macramé Definition: Macramé is a form of textile produced using knotting techniques rather than weaving or knitting. It involves creating patterns and textures by tying cords or ropes in various configurations.
Materials: Cord/Rope: Various materials like cotton cord, jute, hemp, synthetic cords, or even yarn. Thickness varies based on the desired project.
Holding Bar/Dowel/Ring: To attach the cords for starting the project (e.g., wooden dowel, metal ring, curtain rod).
Measuring Tape/Ruler: For cutting cords to specific lengths. Scissors.
Pins/Clips: To hold work in place (optional).
Basic Technique (Key Knots):
1. Lark's Head Knot (Mounting Knot): Used to attach cords to a holding bar or ring. Fold a cord in half. Place the folded loop over the bar. Bring the two loose ends up through the loop. Pull tight to secure.
2. Square Knot: The most fundamental macramé knot, used to create flat patterns. It involves two working cords around two filler cords.
Step 1 (Left Half Knot): Take the leftmost working cord (Cord 1) over the two central filler cords (Cords 2 & 3) and under the rightmost working cord (Cord 4).
Step 2 (Right Half Knot): Take Cord 4 under the two central filler cords (Cords 2 & 3) and over Cord 1. bar. Bring the two loose ends up through the loop. Pull tight to secure.
2. Square Knot: The most fundamental macramé knot, used to create flat patterns. It involves two working cords around two filler cords.
Step 1 (Left Half Knot): Take the leftmost working cord (Cord 1) over the two central filler cords (Cords 2 & 3) and under the rightmost working cord (Cord 4).
Step 2 (Right Half Knot): Take Cord 4 under the two central filler cords (Cords 2 & 3) and over Cord
1. Step 3 (Complete Square Knot): Pull Cords 1 and 4 tight simultaneously, drawing the knot up firmly against the previous knot. To make a full square knot, mirror the previous steps: take the new leftmost working cord (was Cord 4) over the fillers and under the new rightmost working cord (was Cord 1), then reverse for the second half.
3. Half Hitch (Vertical, Horizontal, Diagonal): Used to create textured lines or bars. A series of half hitches forms a specific direction.
Vertical Half Hitch: A working cord ties around a filler cord twice, creating a vertical line.
Horizontal Half Hitch: A filler cord lies horizontally, and other cords tie around it with two half hitches each.
Uses: Wall hangings, plant hangers, keychains, bracelets, bags, decorative fringes for textiles, tablecloths.
C. Crochet Definition: Crochet is a process of creating fabric by interlocking loops of yarn, thread, or other materials using a crochet hook. It is distinct from knitting in that it uses a single hook to pull loops through other loops.
Materials: Crochet Hook: A slender rod with a hook at one end. Hooks come in various sizes (indicated by letters, numbers, or millimeters) to match different yarn weights.
Yarn/Thread: Available in various fibers (wool, cotton, acrylic, silk) and weights (lace, fingering, sport, worsted, bulky). Scissors.
Yarn Needle (Tapestry Needle): For weaving in ends.
Basic Technique (Fundamental Stitches):
1. Slip Knot: The starting knot that secures the yarn to the hook. Make a loop with the yarn. Insert hook into the loop, catch the working yarn, and pull it through the loop. Pull the tail and working yarn to tighten the knot around the hook.
2. Chain Stitch (ch): The foundation for most crochet projects. Yarn over (wrap yarn from back to front over the hook). Pull the hooked yarn through the loop on the hook. This creates one chain stitch. Repeat to make a chain of desired length.
3. Single Crochet (sc): A basic, dense stitch. Insert hook into the second chain from the hook (or specified stitch). Yarn over and pull a loop through the stitch (two loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook.
4. Double Crochet (dc): A taller, looser stitch than single crochet. Yarn over. Insert hook into the fourth chain from the hook (or specified stitch). Yarn over and pull a loop through the stitch (three loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through the first two loops on hook (two loops remaining). Yarn over and pull through the last two loops on hook.
Uses: Blankets, garments (sweaters, scarves, hats, baby clothes), doilies, amigurumi (stuffed toys), bags, home décor.
D. Appliqué Definition: Appliqué is a sewing technique where pieces of fabric, often cut into decorative shapes, are sewn onto a larger piece of fabric to create a design or picture. It adds texture, colour, and dimension to textiles.
Materials: Base Fabric: The main fabric onto which the appliqué pieces will be sewn. Appliqué Fabric Scraps: Different coloured or patterned fabrics for the design.
Matching Thread: For sewing the appliqué pieces.
Needle (Hand or Machine): Sharp Scissors: For precise cutting.
Fabric Pencil/Chalk: For drawing designs.
Fusible Web (optional but recommended): A heat-activated adhesive sheet that temporarily holds appliqué pieces in place before stitching.
Soft Toy (for application): The item to be decorated.
Technique (for Soft Toys):
1. Design Selection: Choose a simple design suitable for Teacher Activities: Introduction (10 minutes): Introduce the topic "Decorative Designs: Needle Craft" and its relevance. Engage students by asking if they have seen or own any handmade items (e.g., crocheted baby blankets, macramé plant hangers, embroidered clothes) and discuss their appeal. Briefly outline the performance objectives for the lesson. Explanation and Demonstration (40 minutes): Define needle craft and list various types, providing brief descriptions for each.
For Tatting: Explain the definition, materials (shuttle, thread). Demonstrate how to wind thread onto a shuttle. Demonstrate the basic double stitch and forming a simple picot. Use a large, contrasting thread for visibility. For Macramé: Explain the definition, materials (cord, holding bar). Demonstrate the Lark's Head knot to mount cords. Demonstrate the Square Knot using two working cords and two filler cords.
For Crochet: Explain the definition, materials (hook, yarn). Demonstrate how to make a slip knot. Demonstrate the chain stitch, single crochet, and double crochet. For Appliqué: Explain the definition, materials (base fabric, appliqué fabric, thread, needle, fusible web).
Demonstrate the steps: drawing a simple design, cutting, using fusible web (if available), positioning on a soft toy, and hand-stitching (e.g., whip stitch) the edges. Display samples of finished articles made using each technique.
Supervised Practice (50 minutes): Distribute materials for each craft. Circulate among students, providing individual guidance, correction, and encouragement. Reinforce correct posture and handling of tools. Application and Consolidation (15 minutes): Guide students to consider how these crafts can be combined or used for entrepreneurial ventures. Facilitate a brief discussion on challenges encountered and solutions found during the practical session.
Evaluation and Assignment (5 minutes): Pose questions related to the performance objectives. Assign tasks for independent practice.
Student Activities: Observation and Participation: Actively observe teacher demonstrations and ask clarifying questions.
Listing and Note-taking: List the different types of needle craft and take notes on the materials and basic steps for each demonstrated technique.
Hands-on Practice: Tatting: Practice winding thread and making several double stitches and a small picot. Macramé: Practice mounting cords with Lark's Head knots and creating a series of square knots.
Crochet: Practice making a slip knot, a chain of at least 10-15 stitches, and a row of single crochet or double crochet. Appliqué: Practice cutting out a simple shape and hand-stitching it onto a small scrap of fabric (or the provided soft toy).
Article Creation: Attempt to make a small decorative article using at least one of the learned techniques (e.g., a simple macramé keychain, a small crocheted coaster, an appliqué patch for a soft toy).
Discussion: Share experiences, challenges, and successes during the practical session. Materials for Practical Session (for a class of 30 students): Tatting: 15-20 tatting shuttles, several spools of tatting thread (fine cotton). Macramé: Assorted cords (e.g., cotton, jute, nylon) in various thicknesses, 10-15 wooden dowels or rings (approx. 15-20cm), masking tape, measuring tapes, scissors.
Crochet: 15-20 crochet hooks (various sizes, e.g., 3.0mm, 4.0mm, 5.0mm), assorted yarns (acrylic, cotton) in different colours and weights. Appliqué: Fabric scraps of various colours and patterns, base fabric scraps, needles (hand sewing), sewing threads, scissors, fabric markers/chalk, a few soft toys (pre-made or student-brought), fusible web (optional), iron (if using fusible web).
Visual Aids: Charts illustrating different stitches, finished samples of tatting, macramé, crochet items, and soft toys with appliqué.
Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment: Students can leverage the skills acquired in needle crafts to start small businesses. Crocheted baby booties, hats, and blankets are popular items for sale, especially in urban markets and online. Macramé plant hangers, wall décor, and keychains are fashionable and can be sold at craft fairs or to interior designers. Appliqué can be used to customize plain garments or bags, adding value and appeal for local fashion markets. This directly ties into Nigeria's push for youth entrepreneurship and skill development beyond formal employment.
Home Decor and Interior Design: The ability to create decorative articles using needle craft allows students to personalize and beautify their living spaces or offer services to others. For instance, crocheted doilies can protect wooden furniture, macramé pieces can add bohemian charm to living rooms, and appliquéd cushions can inject colour and character into a room. This provides practical skills for home management and aesthetic improvement, which is culturally valued in Nigeria.
Gift Making and Personalisation: Learning needle craft enables students to create unique, heartfelt gifts for family and friends. A handmade crocheted scarf, an appliquéd baby bib, or a tatted bookmark carries significant personal value compared to mass-produced items. This fosters a sense of generosity, creativity, and the appreciation of handmade goods within the community, common during celebrations and festive seasons in Nigeria.