Fabrics & Sewing II
A year of real textile history and real making for grades 6–8: the gin and the mills, the polymer chemists, the patent wars of the sewing machine and Butterick’s tissue patterns, each story followed by the fiber science, the arithmetic of yardage, gauge and seam allowances, and a real project sewn, crocheted, knitted or upholstered by the student’s 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 King Cotton and the Gin · unit test
- MUST COVER 1.2 Wool Science: Scales, Crimp and Felt · unit test
- MUST COVER 1.3 Silk and the Silk Road · unit test
- MUST COVER 1.4 Polymers: Nylon, Polyester and Spandex · unit test
Unit 2: Fabric Up Close
- MUST COVER 2.1 The Mill: Arkwright, Slater and Lowell · unit test
- MUST COVER 2.2 Weaves and Grain · unit test
- MUST COVER 2.3 Thread Count, Fabric Weight and What They Mean · unit test
- MUST COVER 2.4 Finishing Edges: Hems, Zigzag, Serger and French Seams · unit test
Unit 3: Hand Stitching
- MUST COVER 3.1 Stitches That Hold: The Hemming Stitches · unit test
- MUST COVER 3.2 Closures: Buttons, Buttonholes, Snaps and Hooks · unit test
- MUST COVER 3.3 Mending and Patching · unit test
- MUST COVER 3.4 Embroidery and Crewel: The Bayeux Tapestry · unit test
Unit 4: Machine Sewing
- MUST COVER 4.1 Howe, Singer and the Patent War · unit test
- MUST COVER 4.2 Seams and Seam Allowances: Curves and Circles · unit test
- MUST COVER 4.3 Zippers: Judson’s Clasp Locker and Sundback’s Fastener · unit test
- MUST COVER 4.4 A Machine-Sewn Tote with Boxed Corners · unit test
Unit 5: Crochet
- MUST COVER 5.1 Crochet Stitches and Gauge · unit test
- MUST COVER 5.2 Working in the Round · unit test
- MUST COVER 5.3 Reading Charts: Symbols and the Granny Square · unit test
- MUST COVER 5.4 Crochet for Others: Dorcas and the Warm Hat · unit test
Unit 6: Knitting
- MUST COVER 6.1 Knit and Purl Together: Ribbing · unit test
- MUST COVER 6.2 Knitting in the Round: A Hat on Circular Needles · unit test
- MUST COVER 6.3 Gauge, Yarn Weight and Pattern Math · unit test
- MUST COVER 6.4 Lee’s Stocking Frame to the Knitting Machine · unit test
Unit 7: Home Sewing: Pillows, Drapes & Furniture Covers
- MUST COVER 7.1 Measuring a Room and a Window · unit test
- MUST COVER 7.2 Lining and Drapes · unit test
- MUST COVER 7.3 Quilting: The Pieced Block and the Rotary Cutter · unit test
- MUST COVER 7.4 Slipcovers and Upholstery · unit test
Unit 8: Design, Clothing & Costumes
- MUST COVER 8.1 Design Principles: Line, Shape, Color and Texture · unit test
- MUST COVER 8.2 Commercial Patterns: Butterick’s Tissue and Pajama Pants · unit test
- MUST COVER 8.3 Historical Costume: Colonial Williamsburg’s Tailors and Milliners · unit test
- MUST COVER 8.4 Clothing That Fits Its Purpose 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 King Cotton and the Gin: 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 Science: Scales, Crimp and Felt: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 1.2 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 3 | Session 1: Lesson 1.3 Silk and the Silk Road: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 1.3 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 4 | Session 1: Lesson 1.4 Polymers: Nylon, Polyester and Spandex: 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 The Mill: Arkwright, Slater and Lowell: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 2.1 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 6 | Session 1: Lesson 2.2 Weaves and Grain: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 2.2 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 7 | Session 1: Lesson 2.3 Thread Count, Fabric Weight and What They Mean: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 2.3 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 8 | Session 1: Lesson 2.4 Finishing Edges: Hems, Zigzag, Serger and French Seams: 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 Stitches That Hold: The Hemming Stitches: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 3.1 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 10 | Session 1: Lesson 3.2 Closures: Buttons, Buttonholes, Snaps and Hooks: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 3.2 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 11 | Session 1: Lesson 3.3 Mending and Patching: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 3.3 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 12 | Session 1: Lesson 3.4 Embroidery and Crewel: The Bayeux Tapestry: 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 Howe, Singer and the Patent War: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 4.1 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 14 | Session 1: Lesson 4.2 Seams and Seam Allowances: Curves and Circles: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 4.2 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 15 | Session 1: Lesson 4.3 Zippers: Judson’s Clasp Locker and Sundback’s Fastener: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 4.3 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 16 | Session 1: Lesson 4.4 A Machine-Sewn Tote with Boxed Corners: 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 Crochet Stitches and Gauge: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 5.1 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 19 | Session 1: Lesson 5.2 Working in the Round: 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 Charts: Symbols and the Granny Square: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 5.3 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 21 | Session 1: Lesson 5.4 Crochet for Others: Dorcas and the Warm Hat: 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 Knit and Purl Together: Ribbing: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 6.1 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 23 | Session 1: Lesson 6.2 Knitting in the Round: A Hat on Circular Needles: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 6.2 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 24 | Session 1: Lesson 6.3 Gauge, Yarn Weight and Pattern Math: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 6.3 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 25 | Session 1: Lesson 6.4 Lee’s Stocking Frame to the Knitting Machine: 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 Measuring a Room and a Window: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 7.1 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 27 | Session 1: Lesson 7.2 Lining and Drapes: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 7.2 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 28 | Session 1: Lesson 7.3 Quilting: The Pieced Block and the Rotary Cutter: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 7.3 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 29 | Session 1: Lesson 7.4 Slipcovers and Upholstery: 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 Design Principles: Line, Shape, Color and Texture: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 8.1 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 31 | Session 1: Lesson 8.2 Commercial Patterns: Butterick’s Tissue and Pajama Pants: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 8.2 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 32 | Session 1: Lesson 8.3 Historical Costume: Colonial Williamsburg’s Tailors and Milliners: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 8.3 sewing project and sewing notebook | ||
| Wk 33 | Session 1: Lesson 8.4 Clothing That Fits Its Purpose 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, accuracy of the math, neatness and the improve round) 40%, Sewing notebook (math, swatches, stitch samples, sketches, 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: redo the project or review with help until it is solid.