New
New
Year 8

Exploring embroidery and stitch

I can make an embroidery sampler to practice different stitches.

New
New
Year 8

Exploring embroidery and stitch

I can make an embroidery sampler to practice different stitches.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Embroidery has been used throughout the centuries to produce functional and artistic outcomes.
  2. You can create designs with embroidery stitches and can also draw with stitch.
  3. Colour and colour theory is an important part of embroidery.
  4. Artists can take inspiration from many things to produce traditional or contemporary embroidery pieces.

Keywords

  • Embroidery - stitching designs onto fabric or other materials

  • Sampler - fabric or material used to practise or demonstrate stitches on

  • Stitch - the basic movement of thread through fabric to make a design or join

Common misconception

Embroidery is a simple way of decorating cloth and has no cultural context.

Embroidery goes beyond just being a decorative process, it is a powerful form of art that can reflect cultural heritage.


To help you plan your year 8 art and design lesson on: Exploring embroidery and stitch, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

If an embroidery hoop cannot be used to keep fabric taut, thicker pieces of fabric such as felt can be used instead. Thicker fabrics make it easier to have more control when sewing.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Cotton, felt, embroidery thread, needles, embroidery hoop, pencil, ruler.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is embroidery?
Drawing patterns with pencil on fabric
Correct answer: Stitching decorative designs onto fabric using thread
Painting colour onto fabric
Cutting shapes from fabric and gluing them down
Q2.
Where might you find examples of embroidery?
Correct answer: On clothing, cushions, and art pieces
Only in history books
Just on factory-made textiles
Only in museums
Q3.
thread is used in blackwork embroidery.
Correct Answer: black
Q4.
What is the purpose of a sampler in embroidery?
To clean your needle
Correct answer: To practise and show different stitches
To measure fabric
To keep thread colours tidy
Q5.
What is an embroidery hoop used for?
Measuring thread length
Cutting fabric into circles
Adding colour to thread
Correct answer: Holding fabric tightly while you stitch
Q6.
An embroidery hoop has two hoops: one on the __________ and one on the __________.
Correct answer: inside
top
Correct answer: outside
bottom
linen

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is embroidery thread usually made from?
Plastic and rubber
Correct answer: Cotton or silk
Wool and leather
Paper and glue
Q2.
Which of the art elements is most important to consider when planning your embroidery?
Correct Answer: Colour, Line, Space
Q3.
Match the technique with its description.
Correct Answer:Running stitch,Creates a dashed line

Creates a dashed line

Correct Answer:Cross stitch,Forms X-shaped stitches

Forms X-shaped stitches

Correct Answer:Satin stitch,Fills a shape with parallel stitches

Fills a shape with parallel stitches

Q4.
Blackwork embroidery uses only thread and is often geometric.
Correct Answer: black, black
Q5.
Why do artists use samplers?
To sew clothes
Correct answer: To practise and record stitches
To draw directly on fabric
Q6.
Embroidery can be used to tell and express ideas.
Correct Answer: stories

Additional material

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