Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you today? I hope you're feeling great.

My name is Ms. Afzal, and I'll be your art teacher for this lesson.

I'm feeling fantastic about that because I love teaching art and also because today we are exploring embroidery.

Yep, embroidery.

I wonder if it's something you've ever tried before.

Don't worry whether you have or you haven't.

We're gonna be finding out all about it.

We're gonna be learning about different kinds of stitches, and then of course we will be getting practical and having a go ourselves.

Our lesson is called Exploring embroidery and stitch, and it comes from the unit of work, Getting curious about textiles.

So if you have some curiosity, some openness, some enthusiasm, then let's begin.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can make an embroidery sampler to practise different stitches.

We have some keywords in our lesson today.

Let's go through them: embroidery, sampler, and stitch.

What do these words mean? Well, embroidery is stitching designs onto fabric or other materials.

Sampler: this is fabric or material used to practise or demonstrate stitches on.

And stitch: the basic movement of thread through fabric to make a design or join.

These are our keywords: embroidery, sampler, and stitch.

Let's look out for them, let's listen out for them.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Our lesson is called Exploring embroidery and stitch.

It has two learning cycles: Preparing a sampler and Stitching into the sampler.

Let's begin with Preparing a sampler.

And first of all, let's look at what some outcomes for today might be.

Wow.

Have a look at these.

Pause the video and share with someone, what's your impression of these outcomes? Thanks for sharing.

I think they're looking really terrific.

I like all the different stitches in the middle.

I like how the one on the right has been divided into different segments.

Enjoying the different colours and stitches and the colours and design on the left as well.

Fantastic outcomes.

So what is embroidery? Embroidery is the art of decorating fabric using a needle and thread.

It can be seen on clothing, cushions and in art pieces.

Artists and designers use embroidery to draw with thread.

Embroidery is used in the fashion industry for adding detail, texture, and decoration to garments.

And we can see a beautiful example of embroidery on screen.

Embroidery is one of the oldest textile arts, with examples found from over 2000 years ago.

For many years, people have used needle and thread to decorate clothing, textiles, and objects.

Embroidery goes beyond just being a decorative process.

It is a powerful form of art that can reflect cultural heritage.

Embroidery can also be used as a form of drawing.

Artists use stitches to create patterns, images, or words on cloth.

Stitches create marks and shapes, layering thread to build up colour, texture, and detail.

Where have you seen embroidery before? Pause the video and share with someone.

Have you seen embroidery somewhere in your home or on some clothing or elsewhere? Pause the video and share with someone.

Where have you seen embroidery? Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Let's hear some.

Here's Aisha: "In my house on the cushions of my sofa." Lovely.

Izzy: "I have a shirt that has embroidered patterns sewn on it." And Jun: "My school bag has the school logo sewn on it." Wonderful examples of embroidery.

There are a number of artists who use embroidery in their work, including: Sila Gur, who uses hand embroidery to make abstract works that explore emotion, memory, and line.

Britta Marakatt-Labba is a Sami artist who uses embroidery to tell powerful stories about nature, history and Sami culture.

Jessica So Ren Tang uses embroidery to create colourful, detailed artworks that explore Asian-American identity, culture and everyday objects.

These are just some of the artists who use embroidery in their work.

Do you know of any local artists who use embroidery techniques? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

And now let's have a check for understanding.

What is embroidery? Is it A: painting on fabric, B: stitching designs using thread, or C: printing with ink? Pause the video while you decide, what is embroidery? Well done if you selected answer B.

Indeed, embroidery is stitching designs using thread.

Blackwork embroidery uses black thread on white fabric, often in geometric patterns.

Blackwork is believed to have originated in Spain and was brought to England in the 1500s.

It became popular in Tudor England and is stitched using a special method called the Holbein Stitch.

Blackwork embroidery designs are often made up of tiny repeated patterns like flowers, lattice shapes or grids.

It was commonly used to decorate collars and cuffs.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? Blackwork embroidery is a style that uses only black thread to create detailed and often geometric patterns on white fabric.

Pause the video and decide whether this statement is true or false.

Well done if you selected true.

And now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause the video while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this: Blackwork is a traditional embroidery technique that became especially popular in Tudor England.

It uses black thread, usually silk on white or light fabric.

What is the purpose of an embroidery sampler? Pause the video and share with someone.

And perhaps seeing this example of an embroidery sampler on the screen might support you with your answer.

So what answers did you come up with, I wonder? Maybe something like this.

A sampler is a piece of fabric where artists practise different stitches and patterns.

Historically, they were used to demonstrate skills and record stitch types, like a stitched sketchbook.

Today, artists use them to experiment creatively before they start their artwork.

Samplers can be simple practise pieces or creative artworks in their own right.

Samplers help artists explore new techniques and develop their own style.

Some artists use an embroidery hoop when creating a sampler.

This keeps the fabric tight and flat, making it easier to stitch neatly and accurately.

And there we can see an embroidery hoop.

I wonder if you've ever seen one of these before.

The first time I saw one of these was my cousin using one in Pakistan as she was creating some beautiful embroidered designs.

Andeep and Aisha are discussing how to use the embroidery hoop.

"The hoop came apart easily by unscrewing the screw on the side.

I haven't used one before though." And Andeep: "You place the fabric over one hoop, press the second hoop on top and then tighten the screw to hold the fabric tight like a drum." Check for understanding.

Why do artists use samplers? Is it A: to sew clothes, B: to practise and record stitches, or C: to draw on fabric? Pause the video while you decide why artists use samplers.

Well done if you selected answer B.

Indeed, artists use samplers to practise and record stitches.

And now it's time for your first task.

I would like you to prepare a sampler.

So first of all, prepare an embroidery hoop or select and cut thick fabric if a hoop is not available.

Place your fabric over the inner ring of the hoop, if you have one.

Press the outer ring on top and tighten the screw.

Gently pull the fabric until it feels tight like a drum.

Pause the video while you do this.

And now we're onto the next stage.

I'd like you to use a pencil or fabric pen to divide your fabric into sections.

Organise your sampler ready for the next stage.

Use a ruler.

Divide the fabric into equal sections.

Pause here while you continue preparing your sampler.

Okay, it's good to be back with you.

How did you get on preparing your sampler? There are many possible outcomes, but you may have created something wonderful-looking, like this and responded in this way.

Here's Andeep: "I cut my fabric slightly larger than the hoop." Good idea.

"I realised it's important to screw the screw tightly and pull the fabric all the way round to make it taut." That sounds like you're all set to go now.

Now that we've prepared our sampler, it's time for us to get stitching into the sampler.

Embroidery thread is usually made from cotton or silk and comes in many colours.

Choosing colours from the colour wheel, like complimentary or contrasting shades can help your embroidery stand out and feel more balanced.

Pause the video and share with someone, what might be some complimentary or contrasting shades that you would like to use in your embroidery? Thanks for sharing your choices.

I wonder if you went for complimentary or contrasting shades.

This embroidery shows how thread can be used to draw.

The artist used stitches like satin stitch, chain stitch and French knots to create a colourful butterfly with bold lines, texture and detail.

Pause the video and share with someone, which part of this butterfly are you most drawn to or you're appreciating most? Thanks for sharing.

I'm really liking the pink on the wings.

This embroidery looks like blackwork, using just thread and simple stitches.

The artist has drawn with thread, using lines and marks like a pencil sketch to build up texture, shading and shape.

It is almost hard to tell that this is an embroidery.

It looks just like a drawing.

Contemporary artists and designers can use embroidery to create abstract and patterned pieces.

Jordan Nassar uses hand embroidery to explore identity, heritage, and place, often blending traditional Palestinian patterns with contemporary designs.

Richard McVetis uses fine hand embroidery, especially blackwork, to explore time, repetition, and a rhythm of stitched marks.

And Sarah-Joy Ford uses embroidery to create detailed decorative artworks that often include text and symbols, combining traditional stitching with contemporary themes.

We can see there are a number of contemporary artists and designers using embroidery.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? Embroidery thread only comes in black and is used for blackwork designs.

Pause the video and decide if this statement is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

And now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause the video while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this: Thread comes in many colours.

Blackwork is one traditional style, but embroidery can be as colourful as you like.

There are different ways to use a sampler.

Which do you prefer? Pause the video and share with someone.

I wonder which was your favourite.

I love the simplicity of the one in the centre, but I'm all about the words.

So I love the one on the right hand side with the stitched lettering and the beautiful stitched drawings.

Starting your sampler can look like this.

Running stitch is a simple embroidery stitch made by passing the needle in and out of the fabric at even spaces, creating a dashed line.

So that's as simple as it gets, and as you can see, effective, a really great stitch to begin with.

So if we're running stitch, you bring your needle up through the fabric and then down in a straight line, repeating evenly to create a dashed line.

Something very satisfying about the simplicity of that, I think.

Pause the video and share with someone.

Do you know what this next stitch is called? Well done if you knew that it was cross stitch.

Cross stitch is a decorative embroidery stitch made by forming X or cross-shaped stitches on the fabric, often used to create patterns or images.

There we can see those cross stitches.

So how do we make a cross stitch? Well, come up at the bottom left and then go down at the top right.

Come up at the bottom right and go down at the top left.

And that makes our cross shape for cross stitch, and repeat to make more crosses.

Starting your sampler can also look like this.

Next is satin stitch.

This is a smooth, solid embroidery stitch made by placing long parallel stitches closely together to fill a shape with colour.

So it's almost like colouring in with thread.

So how do we create satin stitch? First, you draw the shape you want to fill.

Then you bring your needle up at one side of the shape.

Go down on the opposite side to make a straight line.

Bring the needle up right next to your first stitch, and then keep stitching side by side until the shape is filled.

And now it's time for your next task.

I would like you to decide which embroidery stitches you would like to include in your sampler.

Use your prepared sampler from Task A.

Use a pencil to draw out the basic lines of the stitches within the individual segments.

Draw very lightly on the fabric.

If using satin stitch, draw the outline of a basic shape to fill.

Remember, satin stitch is like we're colouring in using the thread.

So pause here while you have a go at this part of your task, deciding which embroidery stitches you would like to include in your sampler and then drawing them onto the fabric.

Okay, great to be back with you.

And now it's time for you to practise your chosen stitches.

On a separate piece of fabric practise your stitches.

If you make a mistake, unpick the thread and start again.

So pause here while you have a go at this part of your task, practising your chosen stitches.

Okay, it's good to be back with you.

And now it's time to stitch into your sampler.

Complete your sampler with your chosen stitches.

And we can see an example there on the left, which is an embroidery hoop sampler.

And on the right, a sampler on felt.

However you have prepared your sampler, it's time now to stitch into it.

Pause here while you have a go at this part of your task.

Enjoy stitching.

Okay, so how did you get on? Well, when you were deciding which embroidery stitches you would like to include in your sampler.

You might have created something like this.

Here's Aisha.

"I used the embroidery hoop as I like the circular shape.

I want to try out a lot of stitches, so I've drawn them out very lightly on my fabric to stitch over in coloured thread." And for your final outcome of stitching into your sampler, there are many possibilities and you may have created something wonderful like this.

Here's Izzy: "I liked using the embroidery hoop because it kept my fabric tight and made stitching easier.

I really enjoyed using colour and used the colour wheel to help me create a rainbow effect." I think you've done a fantastic job, Izzy.

Pause here and share with someone your impressions of Izzy's sampler.

Thanks for sharing your responses.

I'm really loving all those different colours that Izzy has chosen and the different stitches, there's such a variety there, and the way that they've been carefully spaced out into each section.

And again, there are many possible outcomes, but you may have created something like this, you stitched into your sampler.

How wonderful.

Here's Jun: "Using felt help keep my stitches neat because it's thick and strong.

I enjoyed stitching freely without planning." I love the contrast between the colours that Jun has used there and the colour of that felt.

In our lesson, Exploring embroidery and stitch, we've covered the following: Embroidery is the art of decorating fabric using a needle and thread.

Artists use stitches to create patterns, images, or words on cloth.

A sampler is a piece of fabric used to practise different stitches and layouts.

Samplers can be simple practise pieces or creative artworks in their own right.

Well done, everyone for joining in with this lesson.

It was great to explore embroidery and stitching together with you, preparing your sampler, trying out all the different stitches and then stitching into your sampler.

I look forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

Until then, stay creative.