Production of Clothing and Household Articles/Crafts – JSS1 Home Economics Lesson Note (Third Term)

Household articles and crafts are items that people make for personal use or for the home, such as aprons, table mats and handkerchiefs.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. state the uses of household articles and crafts;
2. list at least eight simple household articles and crafts;
3. list the materials, tools and equipment needed to produce them;
4. name the types of stitches used in making them;
5. make a simple household article with the guidance of the teacher.

What are household articles and crafts?

Household articles and crafts are handmade items used personally or at home, usually made from fabric.

• Household article: a useful item for the home or the body, such as a table cover or an apron.
• Craft: an item made by hand with skill, often neat and decorative.
• Home economics: the subject that teaches students to make these items.

Why do students learn to make household articles and crafts?

Students learn to make them to gain useful skills and to meet needs at home.

• Saving money: homemade items cost less than shop-bought ones.
• Earning money: students can sell some items to earn pocket money.
• Skill building: students learn measuring, cutting, stitching and neat finishing.
• Using leftover cloth: small pieces of fabric are turned into useful items.
• Home comfort: items such as table covers and arm-rests make the home neat and attractive.

Which simple household articles and crafts can students make?

Students can make at least fourteen simple articles, each with its own use.

What materials, tools and equipment are needed for making household articles and crafts?

Materials are what the article is made from, while tools and equipment are what you use to make it.

Materials

• Plain or patterned cotton fabric: the main cloth for most articles.
• Calico or baft cloth: plain cheap cloth for practice pieces, lining and bags.
• Matching thread: thread with the same colour as the fabric, so stitches do not show.

Tools and equipment

• Needle: carries the thread through the cloth when sewing by hand.
• Scissors: cut the fabric and thread.
• Sewing kit: a box or bag holding needles, pins, thimble, tape measure and thread.

What are the types of stitches used in making household articles?

There are three types of stitches: permanent, temporary and decorative.

Permanent stitches

• Meaning: stitches that stay in the cloth to hold it together for good.
• Running stitch: small, even stitches in a straight line, used for simple seams.
• Back stitch: strong stitches made by going back into the previous stitch, used for seams.
• Hemming stitch: slanting stitches that hold a folded edge in place.

Temporary stitches

• Meaning: long stitches that hold cloth in place for a short time and are removed later.
• Tacking: long, loose stitches that hold two pieces together before final sewing.

Decorative stitches

• Meaning: stitches that make an article look beautiful.
• Chain stitch: loops linked like a chain, used for lines and borders.
• Cross stitch: small stitches crossed to form an X, used for patterns.
• Blanket stitch: stitches along an edge, used for borders on mats and covers.

How do you make a simple household article such as a table mat?

A table mat is made by measuring, cutting, folding, stitching and finishing a piece of fabric.

1. Collect the fabric, matching thread, needle, scissors and sewing kit.
2. Measure the size you want and mark it on the fabric.
3. Cut out the fabric, leaving a small extra edge on every side for folding.
4. Fold the edges inwards and press them flat.
5. Tack the folded edges with temporary stitches.
6. Sew the edges with a permanent stitch such as hemming.
7. Remove the tacking thread.
8. Add a decorative stitch on the border if you wish.
9. Press the finished mat and check that it is neat.

What safety rules should students follow when sewing?

Safety rules protect students from injury when using sharp tools.

• Needles and pins: keep them in a pin cushion or sewing kit, never in the mouth.
• Scissors: pass them with the handle first and keep them closed when not in use.
• Light: sew where there is enough light so the stitches can be seen.
• Tidiness: pick up loose pins and cut threads after work.

Evaluation

1. Give two reasons why students learn to make household articles and crafts.
2. List five household articles or crafts that students can make.
3. List four materials, tools or equipment needed to produce household articles.
4. Name one permanent stitch, one temporary stitch and one decorative stitch.
5. Produce different types of permanent, temporary and decorative stitches, with the guidance of the teacher.

Assignment

Make one simple household article from the list above, with the guidance of your teacher. Bring it to the next class.