Home Décor, Costume & Upholstery
A high-school year of sewing for real rooms and real stages: design a room and choose its fabrics with a trained eye, sew pillows, drapes, shades, quilts and slipcovers measured to fit, strip and re-upholster real furniture with webbing, padding and welting, and design and build modest historical costumes for a church play, a pageant or a history day, with the yardage math, cost sheets and construction logs of a working workroom.
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What to cover
42 of 50 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: Design for the Home
- MUST COVER 1.1 Useful or Beautiful: William Morris and the Designer's Eye · exam
- MUST COVER 1.2 The Color Wheel in Cloth · exam
- MUST COVER 1.3 Decorator Weight and the Double-Rub Test · exam
- MUST COVER 1.4 The Right Fiber for the Room · exam
- MUST COVER 1.5 The Mood Board and the Measured Plan · exam
Unit 2: Pillows and Cushions
- MUST COVER 2.1 Ticking and the Knife-Edge Pillow · exam
- MUST COVER 2.2 The Hookless Fastener: Zippers in Cushions · exam
- MUST COVER 2.3 Welting: Bias, Cord and the Zipper Foot · exam
- MUST COVER 2.4 The Box Cushion and the Morris Chair · exam
- MUST COVER 2.5 Feathers, Fiberfill and Foam · exam
Unit 3: Curtains and Drapes
- MUST COVER 3.1 Curtains of Fine Twined Linen: Windows Through History · exam
- MUST COVER 3.2 Fullness, Widths and Cut Length · exam
- MUST COVER 3.3 Pattern Repeats and the Toile of Jouy · exam
- MUST COVER 3.4 Lining, Interlining and the Warm Window · exam
- MUST COVER 3.5 Fifty Loops: Pinch Pleats and the Finished Drape · exam
Unit 4: Shades, Valances and Bed Linens
- MUST COVER 4.1 The Roman Shade and the Cord That Must Not Loop · exam
- OPTIONAL 4.2 Valances, Cornices and Lambrequins
- MUST COVER 4.3 Thread Count, Percale and Sateen · exam
- MUST COVER 4.4 The Duvet Cover · exam
- MUST COVER 4.5 Bed Skirts and the Measured Bed · exam
Unit 5: Quilting
- OPTIONAL 5.1 Quilts in American History and the Quilting Bee
- MUST COVER 5.2 Rotary Cutting and the Quarter-Inch Seam · exam
- MUST COVER 5.3 Half-Square Triangles and Block Math · exam
- MUST COVER 5.4 The Quilt Sandwich: Batting and Quilting · exam
- MUST COVER 5.5 Binding, Labeling and Giving · exam
Unit 6: Slipcovers
- MUST COVER 6.1 Case Covers: Fitting Flat Cloth to a Shape · exam
- OPTIONAL 6.2 Feed-Sack Thrift: The Cutting Plan and Yardage
- OPTIONAL 6.3 The Tailor's Toile: Pin-Fitting Inside Out
- MUST COVER 6.4 Welting, Skirts and Pleats · exam
- MUST COVER 6.5 Closures, Care and the Finished Slipcover · exam
Unit 7: Upholstery I: Seats and Stools
- OPTIONAL 7.1 The Upholder's Trade: Chippendale's Director
- MUST COVER 7.2 The Archaeology of a Chair: Stripping Safely · exam
- MUST COVER 7.3 Webbing: The Foundation · exam
- MUST COVER 7.4 Foam, Batting and the Crown · exam
- MUST COVER 7.5 The Cover and the Corners · exam
Unit 8: Upholstery II: A Chair
- MUST COVER 8.1 Inside a Traditional Chair · exam
- MUST COVER 8.2 Eight-Way Hand-Tied Springs · exam
- OPTIONAL 8.3 Burlap, Edge Roll and Padding
- MUST COVER 8.4 Pulling the Cover: Welting, Gimp and Counting the Cost · exam
- MUST COVER 8.5 Your Own Piece: A Headboard, Bench or Chair · exam
Unit 9: Costume Design
- MUST COVER 9.1 Dressing the Bible Story · exam
- MUST COVER 9.2 Rome and the Middle Ages · exam
- MUST COVER 9.3 Renaissance Dress and Shakespeare's Stage · exam
- OPTIONAL 9.4 Colonial and Pioneer America
- MUST COVER 9.5 The Designer's Process: Script, Plot, Sketch and Budget · exam
Unit 10: Costume Construction and the Capstone
- MUST COVER 10.1 Adapting Commercial Patterns · exam
- MUST COVER 10.2 Costumes That Last and Change Fast · exam
- MUST COVER 10.3 Aging and Distressing: Shepherds Don't Wear New Clothes · exam
- MUST COVER 10.4 Headwear: Mob Caps, Tricorns and Wise Men's Crowns · exam
- OPTIONAL 10.5 The Capstone: A Costume Set or a Finished Room
36-week pacing calendar
From the course’s own 33-week pacing guide, with catch-up and review weeks added to fill a 36-week (180-day) year.
| Week | Plan | Done | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | Day 1: Lesson 1.1 Useful or Beautiful: William Morris and the Designer's Eye: video, teaching and worked examples Day 2: Lesson 1.1: studio lab and notebook Day 3: Lesson 1.1: practice set and corrections Day 4: Lesson 1.2 The Color Wheel in Cloth: video, teaching and worked examples Day 5: Lesson 1.2: studio lab and notebook | ||
| Wk 2 | Day 1: Lesson 1.2: practice set and corrections Day 2: Lesson 1.3 Decorator Weight and the Double-Rub Test: video, teaching and worked examples Day 3: Lesson 1.3: studio lab and notebook Day 4: Lesson 1.3: practice set and corrections Day 5: Lesson 1.4 The Right Fiber for the Room: video, teaching and worked examples | ||
| Wk 3 | Day 1: Lesson 1.4: studio lab and notebook Day 2: Lesson 1.4: practice set and corrections Day 3: Lesson 1.5 The Mood Board and the Measured Plan: video, teaching and worked examples Day 4: Lesson 1.5: studio lab and notebook Day 5: Lesson 1.5: practice set and corrections | ||
| Wk 4 | Day 1: Unit 1 test Day 2: Lesson 2.1 Ticking and the Knife-Edge Pillow: video, teaching and worked examples Day 3: Lesson 2.1: studio lab and notebook Day 4: Lesson 2.1: practice set and corrections Day 5: Lesson 2.2 The Hookless Fastener: Zippers in Cushions: video, teaching and worked examples | ||
| Wk 5 | Day 1: Lesson 2.2: studio lab and notebook Day 2: Lesson 2.2: practice set and corrections Day 3: Lesson 2.3 Welting: Bias, Cord and the Zipper Foot: video, teaching and worked examples Day 4: Lesson 2.3: studio lab and notebook Day 5: Lesson 2.3: practice set and corrections | ||
| Wk 6 | Day 1: Lesson 2.4 The Box Cushion and the Morris Chair: video, teaching and worked examples Day 2: Lesson 2.4: studio lab and notebook Day 3: Lesson 2.4: practice set and corrections Day 4: Lesson 2.5 Feathers, Fiberfill and Foam: video, teaching and worked examples Day 5: Lesson 2.5: studio lab and notebook | ||
| Wk 7 | Day 1: Lesson 2.5: practice set and corrections Day 2: Unit 2 test Day 3: Lesson 3.1 Curtains of Fine Twined Linen: Windows Through History: video, teaching and worked examples Day 4: Lesson 3.1: studio lab and notebook Day 5: Lesson 3.1: practice set and corrections | ||
| Wk 8 | Day 1: Lesson 3.2 Fullness, Widths and Cut Length: video, teaching and worked examples Day 2: Lesson 3.2: studio lab and notebook Day 3: Lesson 3.2: practice set and corrections Day 4: Lesson 3.3 Pattern Repeats and the Toile of Jouy: video, teaching and worked examples Day 5: Lesson 3.3: studio lab and notebook | ||
| Wk 9 | Day 1: Lesson 3.3: practice set and corrections Day 2: Lesson 3.4 Lining, Interlining and the Warm Window: video, teaching and worked examples Day 3: Lesson 3.4: studio lab and notebook Day 4: Lesson 3.4: practice set and corrections Day 5: Lesson 3.5 Fifty Loops: Pinch Pleats and the Finished Drape: video, teaching and worked examples | ||
| Wk 10 | Day 1: Lesson 3.5: studio lab and notebook Day 2: Lesson 3.5: practice set and corrections Day 3: Unit 3 test Day 4: Lesson 4.1 The Roman Shade and the Cord That Must Not Loop: video, teaching and worked examples Day 5: Lesson 4.1: studio lab and notebook | ||
| Wk 11 | Day 1: Lesson 4.1: practice set and corrections Day 2: Lesson 4.2 Valances, Cornices and Lambrequins: video, teaching and worked examples Day 3: Lesson 4.2: studio lab and notebook Day 4: Lesson 4.2: practice set and corrections Day 5: Lesson 4.3 Thread Count, Percale and Sateen: video, teaching and worked examples | ||
| Wk 12 | Day 1: Lesson 4.3: studio lab and notebook Day 2: Lesson 4.3: practice set and corrections Day 3: Lesson 4.4 The Duvet Cover: video, teaching and worked examples Day 4: Lesson 4.4: studio lab and notebook Day 5: Lesson 4.4: practice set and corrections | ||
| Wk 13 | Day 1: Lesson 4.5 Bed Skirts and the Measured Bed: video, teaching and worked examples Day 2: Lesson 4.5: studio lab and notebook Day 3: Lesson 4.5: practice set and corrections Day 4: Unit 4 test Day 5: Lesson 5.1 Quilts in American History and the Quilting Bee: video, teaching and worked examples | ||
| Wk 14 | Day 1: Lesson 5.1: studio lab and notebook Day 2: Lesson 5.1: practice set and corrections Day 3: Lesson 5.2 Rotary Cutting and the Quarter-Inch Seam: video, teaching and worked examples Day 4: Lesson 5.2: studio lab and notebook Day 5: Lesson 5.2: practice set and corrections | ||
| Wk 15 | Day 1: Lesson 5.3 Half-Square Triangles and Block Math: video, teaching and worked examples Day 2: Lesson 5.3: studio lab and notebook Day 3: Lesson 5.3: practice set and corrections Day 4: Lesson 5.4 The Quilt Sandwich: Batting and Quilting: video, teaching and worked examples Day 5: Lesson 5.4: studio lab and notebook | ||
| Wk 16 | Day 1: Lesson 5.4: practice set and corrections Day 2: Lesson 5.5 Binding, Labeling and Giving: video, teaching and worked examples Day 3: Lesson 5.5: studio lab and notebook Day 4: Lesson 5.5: practice set and corrections Day 5: Unit 5 test | ||
| Wk 17 | Catch-up and review week (no new lessons) | ||
| Wk 18 | Day 1: Review day for the midterm Day 2: Midterm exam Day 3: Lesson 6.1 Case Covers: Fitting Flat Cloth to a Shape: video, teaching and worked examples Day 4: Lesson 6.1: studio lab and notebook Day 5: Lesson 6.1: practice set and corrections | ||
| Wk 19 | Day 1: Lesson 6.2 Feed-Sack Thrift: The Cutting Plan and Yardage: video, teaching and worked examples Day 2: Lesson 6.2: studio lab and notebook Day 3: Lesson 6.2: practice set and corrections Day 4: Lesson 6.3 The Tailor's Toile: Pin-Fitting Inside Out: video, teaching and worked examples Day 5: Lesson 6.3: studio lab and notebook | ||
| Wk 20 | Day 1: Lesson 6.3: practice set and corrections Day 2: Lesson 6.4 Welting, Skirts and Pleats: video, teaching and worked examples Day 3: Lesson 6.4: studio lab and notebook Day 4: Lesson 6.4: practice set and corrections Day 5: Lesson 6.5 Closures, Care and the Finished Slipcover: video, teaching and worked examples | ||
| Wk 21 | Day 1: Lesson 6.5: studio lab and notebook Day 2: Lesson 6.5: practice set and corrections Day 3: Unit 6 test Day 4: Lesson 7.1 The Upholder's Trade: Chippendale's Director: video, teaching and worked examples Day 5: Lesson 7.1: studio lab and notebook | ||
| Wk 22 | Day 1: Lesson 7.1: practice set and corrections Day 2: Lesson 7.2 The Archaeology of a Chair: Stripping Safely: video, teaching and worked examples Day 3: Lesson 7.2: studio lab and notebook Day 4: Lesson 7.2: practice set and corrections Day 5: Lesson 7.3 Webbing: The Foundation: video, teaching and worked examples | ||
| Wk 23 | Day 1: Lesson 7.3: studio lab and notebook Day 2: Lesson 7.3: practice set and corrections Day 3: Lesson 7.4 Foam, Batting and the Crown: video, teaching and worked examples Day 4: Lesson 7.4: studio lab and notebook Day 5: Lesson 7.4: practice set and corrections | ||
| Wk 24 | Day 1: Lesson 7.5 The Cover and the Corners: video, teaching and worked examples Day 2: Lesson 7.5: studio lab and notebook Day 3: Lesson 7.5: practice set and corrections Day 4: Unit 7 test Day 5: Lesson 8.1 Inside a Traditional Chair: video, teaching and worked examples | ||
| Wk 25 | Day 1: Lesson 8.1: studio lab and notebook Day 2: Lesson 8.1: practice set and corrections Day 3: Lesson 8.2 Eight-Way Hand-Tied Springs: video, teaching and worked examples Day 4: Lesson 8.2: studio lab and notebook Day 5: Lesson 8.2: practice set and corrections | ||
| Wk 26 | Day 1: Lesson 8.3 Burlap, Edge Roll and Padding: video, teaching and worked examples Day 2: Lesson 8.3: studio lab and notebook Day 3: Lesson 8.3: practice set and corrections Day 4: Lesson 8.4 Pulling the Cover: Welting, Gimp and Counting the Cost: video, teaching and worked examples Day 5: Lesson 8.4: studio lab and notebook | ||
| Wk 27 | Day 1: Lesson 8.4: practice set and corrections Day 2: Lesson 8.5 Your Own Piece: A Headboard, Bench or Chair: video, teaching and worked examples Day 3: Lesson 8.5: studio lab and notebook Day 4: Lesson 8.5: practice set and corrections Day 5: Unit 8 test | ||
| Wk 28 | Day 1: Lesson 9.1 Dressing the Bible Story: video, teaching and worked examples Day 2: Lesson 9.1: studio lab and notebook Day 3: Lesson 9.1: practice set and corrections Day 4: Lesson 9.2 Rome and the Middle Ages: video, teaching and worked examples Day 5: Lesson 9.2: studio lab and notebook | ||
| Wk 29 | Day 1: Lesson 9.2: practice set and corrections Day 2: Lesson 9.3 Renaissance Dress and Shakespeare's Stage: video, teaching and worked examples Day 3: Lesson 9.3: studio lab and notebook Day 4: Lesson 9.3: practice set and corrections Day 5: Lesson 9.4 Colonial and Pioneer America: video, teaching and worked examples | ||
| Wk 30 | Day 1: Lesson 9.4: studio lab and notebook Day 2: Lesson 9.4: practice set and corrections Day 3: Lesson 9.5 The Designer's Process: Script, Plot, Sketch and Budget: video, teaching and worked examples Day 4: Lesson 9.5: studio lab and notebook Day 5: Lesson 9.5: practice set and corrections | ||
| Wk 31 | Day 1: Unit 9 test Day 2: Lesson 10.1 Adapting Commercial Patterns: video, teaching and worked examples Day 3: Lesson 10.1: studio lab and notebook Day 4: Lesson 10.1: practice set and corrections Day 5: Lesson 10.2 Costumes That Last and Change Fast: video, teaching and worked examples | ||
| Wk 32 | Day 1: Lesson 10.2: studio lab and notebook Day 2: Lesson 10.2: practice set and corrections Day 3: Lesson 10.3 Aging and Distressing: Shepherds Don't Wear New Clothes: video, teaching and worked examples Day 4: Lesson 10.3: studio lab and notebook Day 5: Lesson 10.3: practice set and corrections | ||
| Wk 33 | Day 1: Lesson 10.4 Headwear: Mob Caps, Tricorns and Wise Men's Crowns: video, teaching and worked examples Day 2: Lesson 10.4: studio lab and notebook Day 3: Lesson 10.4: practice set and corrections Day 4: Lesson 10.5 The Capstone: A Costume Set or a Finished Room: video, teaching and worked examples Day 5: Lesson 10.5: studio lab and notebook | ||
| Wk 34 | Day 1: Lesson 10.5: practice set and corrections Day 2: Unit 10 test Day 3: Review day for the final Day 4: Final exam | ||
| Wk 35 | Catch-up week: finish any MUST COVER lesson not yet done | ||
| Wk 36 | Year-end review, portfolio and records |
Grading: Practice sets (completed and corrected) 15%, Studio labs (safety, technique, measurement, honest records) 25%, Lab notebook (swatches, math, data tables, cost sheets, improvement notes) 10%, Unit tests 30%, Midterm exam (Units 1–5) 10%, Final exam (Units 1–10) 10%. Scale: A 90–100, B 80–89, C 70–79, D 60–69. Below 60: rework the unit's labs and retake the test after review.