Practical and decorative stitches – KS2

Mia: Hello, I’m Mia. I’m in my textile studio with Caiden and Emma. We’re comparing these objects and we’ve found something they all have in common.

Caiden: They are all decorated with stitching.

Mia: Stitches hold pieces of fabric together, but they can also be decorative.

Decorative stitches are clearly visible on the final product.

They can help to add some special details and finish off the design.

These are cross stitches. Small crosses create the design.

Emma: There must be hundreds of cross stitches on this!

Caiden: We could use cross stitches to finish the bags we’ve been making.

Emma: Maybe not hundreds of cross stitches?

Mia: Even just a few would look great!

First, draw the design using fabric chalk. This will be your guide for sewing.

Starting on the wrong side, which is the side we won’t see, we’re going to push our needle up through the back of the fabric, being careful of our fingers.

Now make a diagonal stitch.

Now move the needle directly below your last stitch. Make sure that it’s also in line with where your first stitch came through the fabric.

Push the needle up through the back of the fabric again and make a stitch that crosses over the first.

Caiden: Making an X.

Mia: That’s right! Now your turn!

These are looking great! Now let’s tie a knot to stop the stitch from coming apart and cut the extra thread.

Don’t forget to keep your scissor blades pointing downwards.

Caiden: Maybe we could add some decoration to the edge of the bag?

Mia: I love that idea. We could do a chain stitch along the hem. A hem is the finished edge of a product or a piece of clothing.

These are chain stitches, shall we give them a try?

Emma and Caiden: Yes!

Mia: First, draw the guiding line using fabric chalk.

Being careful of your fingers, start your stitch by pushing your needle up through the back of the fabric, which is the side you don’t want to see.

Then put the needle back down through that same hole, but don’t pull the thread through completely. This will create a loop.

Then you’re going to push the needle through the back of the fabric again a short distance away and have your thread come up through the loop.

Pull the needle and we have the start of our chain.

You’ll then push your needle back through the hole your needle has just come out of to make your next loop.

Then push your needle up through the back of the fabric a short distance away and bring it through your loop again.

Emma: It makes a chain.

Mia: That’s right – why don’t you have a try?

Caiden: I like this stitch. It makes a nice colourful edge on the bag.

Mia: Yes! Great job! These bags look fantastic! Now we just need to stitch up the edge and it’s finished!

Emma: Looks great!

Caiden: Brilliant!