Practical Project I – JSS1 Fashion and Garment Making Lesson Note (Third Term)

A simple blouse or shirt project is a first complete garment made by cutting front and back pieces, joining them with plain seams, finishing the neck and hems, and fitting it to the body.

Behavioural objectives

1. List the materials and tools needed to sew a simple blouse or shirt.
2. Cut out fabric pieces correctly, with seam allowance.
3. Join shoulders and side seams with plain seams and neaten them.
4. Finish a neckline and hem the bottom and sleeve openings.
5. Check a finished garment for neatness, accuracy, cleanliness and fit.

What is the Practical Project I?

It is the project where you combine stitches, seams and patterns to make one wearable garment.

• Kimono style: a blouse whose sleeves are cut in one piece with the body, so there is no separate sleeve to attach.
• Boxy shirt: a straight, loose shirt with simple shapes and no complicated collar.
• Why these styles: they avoid difficult sleeves and collars, so they suit a first big project.
• What changes: flat scraps of fabric become a 3D object that fits the human body.

What materials and tools do you need?

You need fabric, thread, fasteners and basic marking, cutting and pinning tools.

• Fabric: 1.5 to 2 yards of soft cotton. Ankara is a good choice.
• Matching thread: a reel of thread in the same colour as the fabric.
• Buttons or press-studs: to close the front or back.
• Tailor’s chalk and tape measure: for marking and measuring.
• Sharp fabric shears: to cut the fabric cleanly.
• Pins and pincushion: to hold the pieces together before sewing.
• Iron: to press the fabric and the seams.

What are the key terms in this project?

How do you sew a simple blouse or shirt?

There are five construction steps: prepare and cut, join the shoulders, finish the neckline, sew the side seams, and hem.

Step 1: How do you prepare and cut the fabric?

1. Iron the fabric: never cut rumpled fabric. A flat fabric gives accurate measurements.
2. Fold the fabric: fold it in half with right sides together.
3. Place the pattern: lay the front and back patterns on the fabric and pin them down.
4. Cut: cut around the pattern, leaving about 1 inch (2.5 cm) as seam allowance.

Step 2: How do you join the shoulders?

1. Place the front and back pieces together with right sides facing each other.
2. Pin the shoulders together.
3. Sew a plain seam across both shoulders.
4. Neaten the edges with zigzag stitch or overcasting.
5. Press the seam open with an iron.

Step 3: How do you finish the neckline?

The neckline is finished with a facing or a binding, because the neck is a curve and the raw edge must be covered.

1. Choose a facing or a binding (a thin strip of fabric).
2. Sew the strip around the neck opening.
3. Fold the strip to the inside.
4. Sew it down neatly with a hemming stitch.
5. Check that the neck lies smooth and is not puckered.

Step 4: How do you sew the side seams?

1. Match the sides of the blouse from the underarm down to the bottom.
2. Pin with right sides together.
3. Sew a straight plain seam on both sides.
4. Neaten the seam edges and press them.
5. Try the blouse on. This is the fitting stage.

Step 5: How do you hem the bottom and sleeves?

1. Fold the bottom edge twice to make a double fold hem.
2. Pin it, then sew it down carefully.
3. Do the same for the sleeve openings.

What are the finishing touches?

Finishing touches are the last jobs that make a school project look like a fashion piece.

• Fasteners: sew buttons or press-studs on the front or back opening. Make sure they line up.
• Trimming: cut off all hanging threads.
• Final press: iron the whole blouse so the seams lie flat and the fabric looks new.

What safety rules should you follow?

• Shears: pass them with the handle first and keep them closed when not in use.
• Pins: keep them in the pincushion, never in your mouth.
• Iron: switch it off when you finish and keep the hot plate away from others.

How will the project be graded?

Your teacher grades the finished blouse on neatness, accuracy, cleanliness and fit.

What is the student checklist?

• [ ] I have neatened all my inside seams.
• [ ] My neckline is smooth and not puckered.
• [ ] I have ironed the blouse after sewing.
• [ ] I have written my name on a small piece of tape and stuck it inside.

Evaluation

1. Why do we sew a blouse with the right sides facing each other?
2. What is the purpose of the fitting stage during sewing?
3. List three things that make a garment look professional.
4. Why is it important to neaten the side seams?
5. State the difference between a facing and a binding.

Assignment

Complete your blouse or shirt, tick every item on the student checklist, and submit it with your name inside for grading.