Hello and welcome to today's design and technology lesson.

My name is Mrs. Fletcher, and I'm really pleased that you've decided to join me today.

Today's lesson is called "Fabric pockets and slots," and it's part of the Combining fabrics: accessible textiles unit.

In this lesson, we'll get to see how we can assemble our pockets for a utility belt using paper templates and our sewing techniques.

So let's have a look at what we're learning about today.

The outcome of today's lesson is: I can shape and join fabric shapes accurately.

So we're going to be looking at how we construct the pockets for a utility belt and how we join those pieces made from pattern templates, carefully and accurately, to make the shape of the pocket that we want.

There are some keywords that we're going to see in this lesson, and we need to make sure that we know what they mean.

So let's have a look at those together.

The first word is the word adapt.

Can you repeat that after me? Adapt.

Well done.

Adapt means to make changes to a product, and that's something that we might need to do in today's lesson.

Then we've got the word empathy.

Can you repeat that? Empathy.

Well done.

And this is a really important word in today's lesson.

Empathy is when we understand other people's feelings and experiences and use that to inform our decisions about the design of a product.

The next word is the word technique.

Can you repeat that? Technique.

Well done.

And the word technique simply means a particular way of doing something.

So it's a bit like a method or way that we do a certain job.

And then the final word is the word template.

Can you repeat that? Template.

Well done.

And the template is the guide to help us draw or cut out a shape, ready to make pattern pieces.

Time to have a look at how the lesson will be broken down.

The first part of today's lesson, we will look at adapting existing products to make them accessible, and we'll be looking at why that is important.

Then we'll move on to looking at making those pocket templates for our utility belt.

And then finally, we'll look at joining those pattern pieces to create the pockets themselves.

So let's get started with adapting existing products.

Products are not always designed to suit everyone.

Some people can struggle to use them as intended.

So if you think of the example of shoe laces, quite accessible to lots of people, but there are groups of people that would find them quite inaccessible, so find them difficult to use.

So for example, very young children who have not learned the skill of fastening laces yet, or people with arthritis, which is a condition which can make it difficult to bend the fingers or the joints.

And then people who might have had a hand or an arm amputated or removed for some reason, they would find it more difficult to access that type of fastener.

Lucas here has got books and equipment that he needs to take to school just like his peers.

What problems might he have using a standard backpack? So if you think about the type of bag you might use to take to school, what kind of problems might Lucas come across with that type of bag? Pause the video, have a think or discuss it with a partner.

Welcome back.

What did you think? What kind of problems do you think Lucas might encounter? Well, Lucas is telling us that the bag is designed to go on your back, so it has two straps that go over your shoulders, and this makes it quite tricky for him to use because he can't wear it on his back because he's seated in his wheelchair.

So the intended use of that product is not accessible for Lucas.

Sometimes existing products can be changed to make them more accessible to more people.

We call these changes adaptations.

So that keyword adapt or adaptations means to take a product and make changes to it so that it performs in a different way.

What adaptations do you think we could make to the backpack to make it more accessible for a wheelchair user like Lucas? Pause the video.

Have a think or chat to your partner.

Welcome back.

What did you think? Well, you might have said something like, changes could be made to the straps so that they can be carried on the wheelchair instead of on the user's back.

So the part that Lucas said was inaccessible was the design that meant that it was intended to wear on your back, so that could be adapted to make it easier to use for a wheelchair.

Well done if you said something like that.

A quick check then before we move on.

What are adaptations? So that keyword from today's learning, what are adaptations? Are they products, are they problems, or are they changes? Pause the video and have a think.

Welcome back.

What did you think? Well done if you said they were changes.

Of course, they're small changes that can be made to a product to make it perform in a different way.

Here we have two people.

Person A has arthritis and struggles with buttons and zips on their clothing, products, and accessories.

And then person B is an amputee.

So remember, that was someone who's had a limb removed for some reason and they only have one arm.

So if you're thinking about these two people have barriers to accessing some products, what adaptations could be made to the backpack to make it more accessible to both of those users? So they don't have the same barriers as Lucas and they don't have the same barriers as each other, but what adaptations could be made, which means that all of those people could access that backpack product more easily? Pause the video, have a think.

Welcome back.

So what did you think? You might have said something like, looking at the fasteners.

So using a hook and loop fastener would be easier than struggling with a zip or a button like person A would.

They could add tags which are like fabric strips to the zip.

So don't have to change the fastener completely.

It can be adapted slightly to make it easier to grip and open.

Adapting the straps again.

So again, like we said with Lucas, adapting the straps to make them more adjustable could mean it was more accessible to person B who would need to adjust it to use on one shoulder or even across the body.

So those straps and fasteners are things that can be changed on the backpack to make it more accessible to a wider range of people.

Well done if you had similar ideas.

To make a product more accessible, we need to empathise.

That's a keyword that we need to think about today.

So that word empathy means to think about other people's thoughts, other people's feelings and their experiences when we consider what's best for a product or a product design.

So we need to empathise with the struggles that different users might have, and then come up with design solutions for the problems and the barriers that they may come across in accessing standard products.

Empathic design, so that design where we're considering other people's thoughts and feelings makes a product accessible to as many people as possible, and that's what we want to make an accessible product.

A quick check before we move on then.

True or false? A different product would need to be made for each accessibility issue and would only meet one of those needs.

Is that true or false? Pause the video and have a think.

Welcome back.

What did you think? Well, that's false.

A different product would not need to be made for each of those different accessibility issues.

Empathic design should mean that one product is accessible to lots of different people with a range of accessibility issues and it should meet different types of needs.

So if we think carefully about the design, that can be achieved in one product.

Well done if you got that right.

So time for a task in this first part of the lesson then.

So task number one, I want you to discuss with your partner or your group possible accessibility issues, so that's possible barriers to using this product properly with this product.

So we've got a belt product here.

So I want you to think about who might struggle to use a belt, why might they struggle, and how might they struggle? So thinking about accessibility issues with that product.

Once you've done that, I want you to discuss any possible adaptation, so those small changes that could be made to that product to make it more accessible to more people.

So make it open to be used by more people.

Pause the video while you have that discussion and come back when you're done.

Welcome back.

How did you get on? Well, Alex and Lucas have been discussing the accessibility issues with that belt product, and this is what they had to say.

So they consider the main issue with that belt product is the type of fastener that's used.

So the standard type of fastener that's used on a belt, that belt buckle they think might be a little bit too fiddly for some people to access.

And in particular when you're thinking about who might struggle to access it, they were thinking about people who might have reduced movement in their arms or their hands or their fingers or might have even a missing arm or hand, an amputee.

So when they're thinking about the adaptations that could be made to that product in order to make it more accessible to those people, they were thinking along the lines of changing that fastener to make it easier to use.

So they were thinking that hook and loop fastener, which is one that sticks together when pressed, or a snap buckle, which is one that's threaded through and snaps shut, would be a bit easier to use if you had that kind of condition that limited the movement in your arms and hands.

So they are considering the adaptations that could be made to that belt.

You might have had your own ideas about the accessibility issues and how that could be improved.

Well done if you managed to discuss that in your group.

So it's time to move on to the second part of the lesson now.

So in this part of the lesson, we're going to be looking at making the pocket templates for our own utility belt product.

The pockets on a utility belt can be made in lots of different shapes and sizes to suit the different needs and uses that they would have.

Here we can see an example of a flat pouch design, which is very flat against the body and might be used to store coins or something like that.

And then we can see some more types of products here where we've got a 3D pouch, which is a bit larger, a bit deeper.

So you'll be able to fit more into that.

And an open access pouch which is open at the top so it can be tightened and loosened, but the access is through the top of that pocket.

So they would be used for different reasons and they'll be selected for different reasons as well.

The needs of the user should be considered when choosing the style of pocket to make for your utility belt.

So we need to consider, think about how and where the belt will be worn.

So how are they going to wear it? Is it round the waist, round the shoulder, over the arm? What it will be used for? So what are they going to want to store in that belt and use it for? How the user will access it.

So how are they going to get into those pockets and pouches? And you can have more than one style of pocket on a belt, so you don't need to be restricted to one type of pocket.

If there's multiple uses or different range of uses that it's going to be used for, then you might choose more than one type of pocket.

Each pocket style will require a different pattern template.

So remember those templates are the paper pieces which will help us cut out the fabric pieces that we need to join to make the pockets, and you'll need a different one for every type of pocket you make.

So if we were making that flat pouch type of pocket with a flap closure, then these are the pattern pieces we would need.

We would need a large back piece with a flap added on the top and we'd need that front part of the pocket.

So that would make that flat pouch style.

If we were choosing to do an open access pocket with a gusset, and the gusset is a piece of fabric that's added between the front and back of the pocket to make it deeper, then we would need some different types of templates.

So here you can see we would need a front pocket piece and a back pocket piece, and we would need that long strip of gusset which will be sewn between the front and back piece.

There's no flap on this template because it's an open access pocket.

So when it's loosened and tightened, it's open at the top of the pocket.

And Alex is just telling us there that a gusset is extra fabric that allows the pocket to expand.

So it gives it that extra depth that we were talking about.

So if we wanted to make a 3D style pocket, so that's a much deeper type of pocket with a flap closure and the gusset which gives it that extra depth, then we would need different template types again.

So here you can see for this type of pocket, we would need that gusset piece, that long gusset piece that makes that expanded section around the outside.

We'd need the front of the pocket and we'd need the back piece of the pocket with that flap included on there as well.

And that all needs to be made in one piece so that it works as a flap when we join it together.

A quick check then before we move on.

Which type of pocket would this template make? Would it make that flat pouch? Would it make that open access pocket? Or would it make the 3D pouch with the flap? Pause the video and have a think.

Welcome back.

What did you think? Well done if you could see that it was the open access pocket.

That front and back with no flap means that it will have an open top on that pocket, giving open access to the contents.

Well done if you got that right.

Each of our pattern pieces will need a 15-millimeter seam allowance.

So that's the extra fabric that we leave in order to join the pieces together, the place where we sew.

And that will need to be added onto the sides that will be sewn together.

So you can see here on this pocket piece, the seam allowance has been added to each side and to the bottom of the pocket.

It doesn't need to be added to the top because we will not be sewing at the top of the pocket.

That's the bit where we will be accessing the inside of the pocket.

So we need that to be open, and Alex is reminding us there that the seam allowance is the extra space to sew when we come to join those pieces.

A quick check then.

What does the extra fabric, that we called a gusset, sewn between the front and back pocket pieces do? What's the purpose of that piece? Is it to allow it to close? Is it to allow it to stay open? Or is it to allow it to expand? Pause the video and have a think.

Welcome back.

What did you think? Well done if you said it was to allow it to expand.

So that extra piece of fabric between the front and back allows the pocket to expand when you are using it.

Well done if you got that correct.

Time for a task in this part of the lesson then.

So in this part of the lesson, we're going to think about choosing the type of pocket that you are going to make for your utility belt that suits the needs of your user.

So you need to think about who's going to be using your utility belt, the barriers they might have to accessing different types of pockets and fasteners, and choosing one that suits them that they will be able to access.

Once you've made that selection, and you can choose from the three types of pocket that we've looked at in today's lesson, you need to draw and cut out the pattern pieces that you need to make that pocket.

So the size will depend on the style that you want to use and how big you want them to be, depending on how they're going to be used.

Don't forget, when you make your pattern pieces that you need to use a ruler to make sure we've got those straight edges where they need to be, that you add a 15-millimeter seam allowance to each of those pocket pieces in the places where it will be sewn, and you label each piece so you know whether it's the front or the back or it's the flap or it's the gusset, so you know where you're going to position each piece before you join them together.

Once you've got those pieces cut out and ready in front of you, then I want you to pin each of those pieces to the piece of fabric that you've chosen to use for your utility belt product and cut out very, very carefully those fabric pieces so you're left with all the pieces you need to join to make your pockets.

So there's quite a lot to do there in that task.

So pause the video while you do that, and come back when you've got your fabric pieces ready to join.

Welcome back.

How did you get on? Well, just like you, Alex has been selecting the type of pocket he wants to include on his utility belt, and he's chosen to do the open access style pocket and he chose that to allow easy access for people with arthritis.

So he is thinking about the user of his utility belt there.

He made the pattern template pieces.

You can see there, he's got the front and back pocket pieces and that gusset piece allowing it to expand.

And then he cut out the fabric pieces in his chosen fabric, so he was left with the pieces that are needed to be joined to make that final pocket product.

Well done if you are at that stage, and we're ready to move on to looking at joining techniques.

So in this last part of the lesson, we're going to look at joining those fabric pieces to complete the pocket that is going to go onto our utility belt.

Fabric pattern pieces should be joined using a suitable sewing technique.

Flat pockets can be sewn in the final position with the stitching visible on the outside.

So it will look like this when you're finished.

You'll be able to see the stitching that you've done.

This is the same type of pocket, but it's used the reverse type of stitching, which means the stitching is hidden inside.

So you sew it in the position as in the first image, but then you reverse or turn inside out the pocket so that stitching is hidden inside.

So these are two different methods you can use.

You can choose to have your stitching visible or you can choose to have it hidden on the inside by using that reverse method.

A running stitch, which is a simple in and out stitch, a back stitch where we fill in the gaps of the running stitch, or a blanket stitch could be used for joining your fabric pieces.

So if you've chosen a curved pocket, they will have a rectangular gusset piece made from your pattern pieces, and you will need to use a curved seam to join those two pattern pieces together.

So you can join a straight rectangular fabric piece to a curved fabric piece by using a curved seam.

So that means you need to pin it into place first following the edge of the rectangular gusset piece along the edge of the curved fabric piece so that it's in the right position.

And then you can start to sew along that seam to make that curved join between those two pieces.

So true or false then? Straight edges, like on the rectangular gusset, can be joined by sowing to a curved edge.

Is that true or false? Pause the video.

Have a think.

Welcome back.

What did you think? It is true.

You can join fabric pieces with straight edges, such as those rectangular gussets, to a curved piece of fabric by pinning them along the curve of that piece of fabric and then following that curve when you sew your seam by rotating the fabric and sewing along that curved seam, not just following a straight line.

Well done if you got that right.

Completed pockets can be joined or attached to the belt using different techniques.

So once we've made our pockets, we can attach them to our utility belt in a couple of different ways.

You can use a fabric loop, which is an additional piece of material that's sewn into a loop sewn to the pocket, and then the belt passes through that loop so it kind of hangs onto the belt.

Or we could use a flat loop, which is similar to the first type of loop, but it sits flat against the back of the pocket and the belt runs through it to keep it in place.

Or we could use slots.

So slots don't require any additional fabric.

They are simply cut into the back piece of your pocket once it's been assembled.

So you'll have two slots that are cut out and the belt passes in and out of those slots in order to keep the pocket in place.

So what you can see there is the back view of the pocket where those slots would be cut into the fabric.

So those are the three methods that we can use, the three techniques we can use to attach our pockets to the belt once they've been assembled.

Quick check then before we move on.

Which method of joining a pocket to a belt requires no extra sewing and no extra fasteners? Was it the fabric loop? Was it the slots? Or was it the flat loop? Pause the video and have a think.

Welcome back.

What did you think? Well done if you said it was the slots.

So the slots are simply cut into the fabric of the pocket.

We don't need to add any additional material or sew on any additional parts.

Well done if you got that correct.

So let's just recap those three types of joining methods for joining the completed pocket to the belt.

So those fabric loops can be sewn into place so they become fixed onto the belt, or they can be fastened with a fastener like a hook and loop or a snap button, which is removable.

So this is a type of pocket that we can take off the belt even when it's being worn.

So that could be something you want to consider when you're choosing how to attach your pocket.

The flat loops are typically sewn into place on the back of the pocket, and the belt passes through that loop.

So this would mean that you would have to take the belt off in order to remove that pocket.

So if that's something that's going to cause an accessibility issue, then you need to consider that before you choose this type of joining method.

The same with the slot.

So the slots are cut into the back of the pocket and the belt passes through those slots in order to hold the pocket in place.

That means the belt would have to be removed in order to take that pocket off the belt.

So that's something to consider when we are thinking about how we want to join our pockets to our belt.

Time for your final task then now.

So this is where we are going to attach those pocket pieces together and then attach the completed pocket to our belt.

So first of all, you're going to join your pocket fabric pieces using a suitable technique.

So you've got to consider whether you want to use the visible stitching or the reverse method to hide your stitching and whether you're going to need to use a curved seam.

So if you've got curved fabric pieces, particularly if you're going to be attaching the gusset, which has a straight edge, then you need to think about how you're going to attach and sew a curved seam for that.

And you also need to think about whether you're going to use a running stitch, a back stitch, or a blanket stitch, and that's up to you and the type of finish you want to have on your pocket.

Once you've completed that, then I want you to think about how you're going to attach that completed pocket to your belt and what type of technique you're going to use.

So you could use the fabric loop, which means you'll have to sew an additional piece of fabric to your pocket.

You can use the flat loop, which means you're going to sew an additional piece to the back of your pocket.

Or you can use those cutout slots, which means you don't need to do any more sewing, but you will need to cut those slots into the back panel of your pocket pieces.

So again, quite a lot to do.

Pause the video while you get that job done and come back when you've finished.

Welcome back.

How did you get on? So you should have completed those two tasks and you should have joined the fabric pieces of your pocket.

Or if you've done more than one pocket, then you should have done that for each of your pockets using a suitable stitching technique.

And then you should have attached those pockets to your belt, again, using one of those joining techniques that we talked about, the loop, the flat loop, or those slots in the back.

If you've managed to do that, then you should have your finished completed pockets attached to your utility belt product.

Well done if you've managed to get to that stage.

We've come to the end of today's lesson where we've managed to assemble our pocket pieces to create a completed pocket shape and to look at how they can be attached onto our belt to form our utility belt product.

Now the key learning in today's lesson was about that empathic design and making adaptations to existing products, which can make them more accessible to as many people as possible.

So considering the user and their needs and the barriers they may have to accessing a product is key to making a product accessible.

We've also learned that creating those fabric templates is the key to making our pockets accurate.

So making the size and shape accurate is supported by making those pocket templates in the first steps in order to make them work.

We've learned that different sewing techniques may need to be used in order to join our fabric pieces.

So you may have needed a straight seam, you may have needed a curved seam, you may have chosen different types of stitches depending on whether you had visible or invisible stitching, and you may have also had to think about that when you were attaching your pockets to your belt as well.

I've enjoyed today's lesson.

Hopefully I'll see you again, you'll join me for another lesson, but for now, it's goodbye from me.

Goodbye.