Final SSCE Preparation – SS3 Fashion and Garment Making Lesson Note (Third Term)

Final SSCE preparation in Fashion and Garment Making means revising the skills the examiner tests: reading questions correctly, managing time, constructing seams, darts, gathers and necklines, costing and pricing, caring for the machine and working safely, and following a fixed order of work in the practical hall. Neatness and good use of time earn marks.

Behavioural objectives

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

• respond correctly to action words such as “list”, “state”, “describe” and “explain”;
• name the plain, French and flat-felled seams and state where each is used;
• work out the final price of a garment using the costing formula;
• state the likely causes of common machine faults;
• list safety rules for the workshop;
• follow the correct order of work in the practical examination.

What attitude do you need for the SSCE?

Before you touch a needle or a pen, you need the right attitude. The SSCE tests what you know and also how you show it.

Reading the question (the hidden marks)

Many students lose marks because they do not follow the “action words”:

• “List” or “State”: Give short points. Do not waste time writing stories.
• “Describe” or “Explain”: You must tell the examiner the how and the why.
• “With the aid of a diagram”: If you do not draw, you will lose marks.

Time is your boss

• In the Theory paper, do not spend 30 minutes on a 2-mark question.
• In the Practical, if your machine is acting up, do not panic. Take a breath, re-thread it, and continue.

Your tools are your friends

Make sure your shears are sharp, your chalk is thin, and your tape measure is not stretched out. A professional is only as good as their tools.

Construction revision: what should you remember?

Construction is how we turn flat cloth into a 3D shape that fits a human body. This is where the biggest marks are.

The three main seams

• Plain seam: The foundation. Always press it open to avoid bulk.
• French seam: The “classy” seam. Used for thin, see-through fabrics. It hides the raw edges inside.
• Flat-felled seam: The “rugged” seam. Used for jeans and men’s shirts for strength.

Managing fullness

• Darts: These provide shape. Always sew from the wide end to a tiny “vanishing” point. Never backstitch at the point; tie a knot instead.
• Gathers: Use two rows of long stitches. Two rows make the gathers more even than one row.

Neckline finishes

• Facings: Always “clip” (snip) your curves. If you do not, the neckline will “jump up” and look tight.
• Understitching: This is the secret row of stitches that keeps the facing from peeping out to the front.

The business of fashion: how do you price and sell?

The new SSCE syllabus also looks at how you will make money after school. You must think like a business owner.

Costing and pricing

Do not guess a price. Use this formula:

• Cost of materials (fabric, zip, thread).
• Labour (your time and energy).
• Overheads (electricity or fuel, shop rent, transport).

Final price = Materials + Labour + Overheads + Profit.

Customer relations

• The order book: Always write down the customer’s name, their measurements, the style sketch, and the delivery date.
• Handling complaints: If a customer is unhappy, listen first. Do not argue. Offer to fix the mistake for free if it is your fault.

Branding

Your brand includes your logo and also your reputation for delivering on time and having neat finishing.

Machine care and safety: what should you know?

If your machine breaks down during the practical, you are in trouble. You must know how to troubleshoot.

Common machine faults

• Skipped stitches: Usually a blunt needle, or a needle put in the wrong way (the flat side must face the right direction).
• Looping thread: This usually means your tension is too loose or the bobbin is wound wrongly.
• Thread breaking: Check for a burr on the needle or poor quality thread.

Safety in the workshop

• Posture: Sit straight so you do not get back pain.
• Tidiness: Leave no scraps of cloth on the floor, because people can slip.
• Pins: Never put pins in your mouth. Use a pincushion or a magnetic tray.

Final checklist for the practical hall

When you walk into the hall for the practical exam, follow this order of work to stay calm and organised.

The layout (30 minutes)

• Fold your fabric with right sides together.
• Align your pattern with the grainline (the direction of the lengthwise threads, parallel to the selvedge).
• Pin carefully and cut with long, smooth strokes.

The sewing (2 hours)

• Sew your darts first.
• Join the shoulders and side seams.
• Finish the neckline before you put on the sleeves.
• Press as you sew. Do not wait until the end to iron everything.

The finishing (30 minutes)

• Clip every loose thread. “Whiskers” on a garment lose you marks.
• Do a final check: Is the zip smooth? Is the hem even?
• Attach your examination number securely.

Final words: You have practised this for three years. Your hands know what to do. Take your time, stay neat, and remember that quality is more important than speed.

Evaluation

1. What should you do when a question says “list” or “state”? How does this differ from “describe” or “explain”?
2. Name the three main seams and state one use of each.
3. Write the formula for the final price of a garment and give two examples of overheads.
4. State the likely causes of skipped stitches and thread breaking.
5. List the order of work in the practical hall, with the time given to each stage.

Assignment

1. List the four pieces of information you must write in the order book for each customer.
2. Explain how to sew a dart and how to finish a neckline facing so that it lies flat.
3. State three safety rules for the workshop.