Preparing for BECE – JSS3 Fashion and Garment Making Lesson Note (Third Term)

BECE preparation in Fashion Design and Garment Making means knowing the key terms, tools, stitches, seams, fibres and exam-day habits that examiners test.

Behavioural objectives

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

1. Define fashion, style, wardrobe and accessories.
2. Identify common sewing tools and state the use of each.
3. Name the types of stitches and describe the three important seams.
4. Classify fibres as natural or synthetic and read fabric care symbols.
5. Read basic pattern markings and apply workshop safety and time management in the practical exam.

What are the key terms in fashion?

Fashion is the style of clothing or accessories that is popular at a particular time.

Style is a person’s own way of dressing.

• Wardrobe: the collection of all the clothes and accessories a person owns.
• Accessories: items worn to complete an outfit, such as hats, belts and jewellery.

What are the common sewing tools and their uses?

Sewing tools are the items used to measure, mark, cut, join and press fabric. The exam may ask you to identify them from a drawing.

What are the safety rules in the sewing workshop?

Workshop safety rules protect you and your classmates from cuts, pricks and burns.

• Pins: never put pins in your mouth.
• Floor: keep it clear of fabric scraps so nobody slips.
• Iron: switch it off immediately after use.
• Scissors: pass them handle first and keep the points down when carrying them.

What are the types of stitches?

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

Temporary stitches

• Basting or tacking: long, loose stitches that hold fabric together before final sewing. They are removed later.

Permanent stitches

• Running stitch: small, even stitches that go in and out of the fabric.
• Backstitch: a very strong stitch used for seams.
• Hemming stitch: a small slanting stitch that fixes a folded hem in place.

Decorative stitches

• Chain stitch: stitches looped together like links in a chain.
• Stem stitch: overlapping stitches that make a twisted line, good for stems and outlines.
• Satin stitch: close stitches that fill a shape with smooth colour.

What are the three important seams?

A seam is a line of stitching that joins two or more pieces of fabric.

Plain seam

The plain seam is the basic way to join two pieces of fabric.

1. Place the two pieces with right sides together.
2. Pin along the seam line.
3. Stitch on the seam line and backstitch at both ends.
4. Press the seam open.

French seam

The French seam is a clean seam that hides the raw edges inside. It suits thin or delicate fabrics.

1. Place the pieces with wrong sides together.
2. Stitch a narrow seam (about 6 mm) from the edge.
3. Trim the seam allowance close to the stitching.
4. Fold the fabric so right sides are together, with the first stitch line on the fold.
5. Stitch again a narrow distance from the fold, enclosing the raw edges.
6. Press the seam to one side.

Run-and-fell seam

The run-and-fell seam is a strong, flat seam often used on jeans and men’s shirts.

1. Join the pieces with a plain seam, wrong sides together.
2. Trim one seam allowance to about half its width.
3. Fold the wider allowance over the trimmed one and turn its edge under.
4. Stitch it flat to the garment.

Why do we clip or notch curved seams?

• Reason: cutting small snips or V-shapes into the seam allowance lets a curve lie flat when turned.
• Example: a curved neckline is clipped or notched before it is turned inside out.
• Care: cut close to the stitching but never through it.

How do you fix openings and fasteners?

Fasteners are devices that close an opening in a garment.

• Zipper: tack it into the opening first, then stitch it in place.
• Buttonhole: a stitched slit that lets a button pass through. Make it to fit the size of the button.
• Hooks and eyes: the hook goes on the overlapping edge and the eye on the edge beneath it.

What is the difference between natural and synthetic fibres?

A fibre is a thin, hair-like strand that is spun into yarn to make fabric.

A natural fibre comes from plants or animals. A synthetic fibre is made from chemicals.

What do fabric care symbols mean?

Fabric care symbols are small pictures on a garment label that show how to look after it.

• Tub with water: the garment can be washed.
• Triangle: bleach may be used.
• Iron: the garment is safe to iron. One dot means a cool iron and three dots mean a hot iron.
• Cross over a symbol: do not do that action.

How do you read pattern markings?

Pattern markings are symbols that tell you how to place and join pattern pieces.

• Grain line (a double-headed arrow, ↔): place it parallel to the selvedge of the fabric.
• Fold line: place this edge exactly on the folded edge of the fabric.
• Notches (V-shapes): match them with the notches on the piece you are joining.

How do you manage the practical exam?

Good time management and neat work earn marks in the BECE practical.

• Read first: spend about 5 minutes reading the whole question before you touch the scissors.
• Work quickly and neatly: you may be asked to show a specific stitch or seam.
• Iron as you go: a well-pressed project gets higher marks even if the sewing is not perfect.
• Clean your area: leave your table tidy when the bell rings, because marks are given for organisation.

Evaluation

1. Define fashion and state how it differs from style.
2. Name the stitch you would use to hold two pieces of fabric together temporarily.
3. State two differences between a natural fibre and a synthetic fibre, with one example of each.
4. Why should you clip or notch a curved neckline before turning it inside out?
5. What does a grain line on a pattern tell you to do?

Assignment

Make a one-page revision sheet. List four sewing tools with their uses, the three important seams with one feature each, and one example of each type of stitch.