Fabrics & Sewing I
A year of real stories about cloth, from the cotton boll and the shepherd’s fleece to Jacquard’s punch cards and Elias Howe’s needle, each one followed by the fabric science underneath and a real project the student sews, crochets, knits or weaves with his or her own hands.
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What to cover
32 of 32 lessons are MUST COVER. They are tested on the unit tests and exams, or are skills the SAT/ACT relies on. OPTIONAL lessons are enrichment. Do them if time allows. The course is complete when the MUST COVER lessons are done.
Unit 1: Where Cloth Comes From
- MUST COVER 1.1 Cotton: From the Boll to the Bale · unit test
- MUST COVER 1.2 Wool: Shepherds and Their Sheep · unit test
- MUST COVER 1.3 Linen and Silk · unit test
- MUST COVER 1.4 Fibers Made by People · unit test
Unit 2: Fabric Up Close
- MUST COVER 2.1 Spinning: Twist Makes It Strong · unit test
- MUST COVER 2.2 Warp and Weft: Weaving on a Loom · unit test
- MUST COVER 2.3 Joseph-Marie Jacquard’s Punch Cards · unit test
- MUST COVER 2.4 Knits, Felt, Thread Count and Finished Edges · unit test
Unit 3: Hand Stitching
- MUST COVER 3.1 The Needle and the Knot · unit test
- MUST COVER 3.2 Backstitch and Whipstitch · unit test
- MUST COVER 3.3 Dorcas and the Loose Button · unit test
- MUST COVER 3.4 Samplers and the Blanket Stitch · unit test
Unit 4: Machine Sewing
- MUST COVER 4.1 Elias Howe’s Needle · unit test
- MUST COVER 4.2 Isaac Singer and the Lockstitch · unit test
- MUST COVER 4.3 Pins, Pressing and the Drawstring Bag · unit test
- MUST COVER 4.4 The Pillowcase · unit test
Unit 5: Crochet
- MUST COVER 5.1 The Hook and the Chain · unit test
- MUST COVER 5.2 Single Crochet Rows · unit test
- MUST COVER 5.3 Reading a Pattern · unit test
- MUST COVER 5.4 The Granny Square · unit test
Unit 6: Knitting
- MUST COVER 6.1 Hand Knitters and the Knitting Lesson · unit test
- MUST COVER 6.2 The Knit Stitch and the Garter Square · unit test
- MUST COVER 6.3 Knitting for Others: The Red Cross Knitters · unit test
- MUST COVER 6.4 William Lee’s Stocking Frame and the Purl Stitch · unit test
Unit 7: Home Sewing: Pillows, Drapes & Furniture Covers
- MUST COVER 7.1 The Envelope Pillow · unit test
- MUST COVER 7.2 The Curtains of the Tabernacle · unit test
- MUST COVER 7.3 Patchwork and the Quilting Bee · unit test
- MUST COVER 7.4 Covering Furniture: Cushions and Seats · unit test
Unit 8: Design, Clothing & Costumes
- MUST COVER 8.1 Measuring and the Tailor’s Tape · unit test
- MUST COVER 8.2 An Apron for the Kitchen · unit test
- MUST COVER 8.3 Costumes for a Play · unit test
- MUST COVER 8.4 Joseph’s Coat and the Sewing Fair · unit test
36-week pacing calendar
From the course’s own 32-week pacing guide, with catch-up and review weeks added to fill a 36-week (180-day) year.
| Week | Plan | Done | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | Session 1: Lesson 1.1 Cotton: From the Boll to the Bale: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 1.1 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 2 | Session 1: Lesson 1.2 Wool: Shepherds and Their Sheep: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 1.2 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 3 | Session 1: Lesson 1.3 Linen and Silk: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 1.3 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 4 | Session 1: Lesson 1.4 Fibers Made by People: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 1.4 sewing project and sewing notebook Session 3: Unit 1 review and unit challenge | ||
| Wk 5 | Session 1: Lesson 2.1 Spinning: Twist Makes It Strong: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 2.1 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 6 | Session 1: Lesson 2.2 Warp and Weft: Weaving on a Loom: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 2.2 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 7 | Session 1: Lesson 2.3 Joseph-Marie Jacquard’s Punch Cards: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 2.3 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 8 | Session 1: Lesson 2.4 Knits, Felt, Thread Count and Finished Edges: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 2.4 sewing project and sewing notebook Session 3: Unit 2 review and unit challenge | ||
| Wk 9 | Session 1: Lesson 3.1 The Needle and the Knot: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 3.1 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 10 | Session 1: Lesson 3.2 Backstitch and Whipstitch: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 3.2 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 11 | Session 1: Lesson 3.3 Dorcas and the Loose Button: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 3.3 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 12 | Session 1: Lesson 3.4 Samplers and the Blanket Stitch: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 3.4 sewing project and sewing notebook Session 3: Unit 3 review and unit challenge | ||
| Wk 13 | Session 1: Lesson 4.1 Elias Howe’s Needle: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 4.1 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 14 | Session 1: Lesson 4.2 Isaac Singer and the Lockstitch: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 4.2 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 15 | Session 1: Lesson 4.3 Pins, Pressing and the Drawstring Bag: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 4.3 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 16 | Session 1: Lesson 4.4 The Pillowcase: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 4.4 sewing project and sewing notebook Session 3: Unit 4 review and unit challenge | ||
| Wk 17 | Catch-up and review week (no new lessons) | ||
| Wk 18 | Session 1: Lesson 5.1 The Hook and the Chain: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 5.1 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 19 | Session 1: Lesson 5.2 Single Crochet Rows: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 5.2 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 20 | Session 1: Lesson 5.3 Reading a Pattern: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 5.3 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 21 | Session 1: Lesson 5.4 The Granny Square: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 5.4 sewing project and sewing notebook Session 3: Unit 5 review and unit challenge | ||
| Wk 22 | Session 1: Lesson 6.1 Hand Knitters and the Knitting Lesson: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 6.1 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 23 | Session 1: Lesson 6.2 The Knit Stitch and the Garter Square: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 6.2 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 24 | Session 1: Lesson 6.3 Knitting for Others: The Red Cross Knitters: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 6.3 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 25 | Session 1: Lesson 6.4 William Lee’s Stocking Frame and the Purl Stitch: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 6.4 sewing project and sewing notebook Session 3: Unit 6 review and unit challenge | ||
| Wk 26 | Session 1: Lesson 7.1 The Envelope Pillow: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 7.1 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 27 | Session 1: Lesson 7.2 The Curtains of the Tabernacle: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 7.2 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 28 | Session 1: Lesson 7.3 Patchwork and the Quilting Bee: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 7.3 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 29 | Session 1: Lesson 7.4 Covering Furniture: Cushions and Seats: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 7.4 sewing project and sewing notebook Session 3: Unit 7 review and unit challenge | ||
| Wk 30 | Session 1: Lesson 8.1 Measuring and the Tailor’s Tape: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 8.1 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 31 | Session 1: Lesson 8.2 An Apron for the Kitchen: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 8.2 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 32 | Session 1: Lesson 8.3 Costumes for a Play: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 8.3 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 33 | Session 1: Lesson 8.4 Joseph’s Coat and the Sewing Fair: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 8.4 sewing project and sewing notebook Session 3: Unit 8 review and unit challenge | ||
| Wk 34 | Catch-up week: finish any MUST COVER lesson not yet done | ||
| Wk 35 | Catch-up week: finish any MUST COVER lesson not yet done | ||
| Wk 36 | Year-end review, portfolio and records |
Grading: Sewing projects (effort, safety, neatness and the improve round) 40%, Sewing notebook (swatches, stitch samples, sketches, measurements, next-time notes) 20%, Unit reviews 15%, Unit challenges 25%. Scale: A 90–100, B 80–89, C 70–79, D 60–69. Below 60: make the project or redo the review again with help.