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Lesson 7 of 9
  • Year 10

Hand stitching

I can design a repeated motif and use hand stitching to create a decorative piece on fabric.

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View unit
Lesson 7 of 9
New
New
  • Year 10

Hand stitching

I can design a repeated motif and use hand stitching to create a decorative piece on fabric.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Hand stitch techniques are a creative way to decorate fabric by designing unique motifs.
  2. Running stitch is a versatile stitch that allows you to create a lot of detail in your work.
  3. Hand stitching is not only for making clothes – you can make art with stitch

Keywords

  • Motif - a decorative design or pattern

  • Thread - a thin strand used for sewing or embroidery, made from cotton, polyester, silk, or nylon

  • Stitch - a single loop or movement of thread made with a needle when sewing or decorating fabric

Common misconception

Hand stitching is only for old-fashioned or traditional designs.

Hand stitching is a versatile skill that allows designers to add personal, creative and intricate details that machines often can’t replicate. It’s valued in modern fashion and art for its unique, handmade quality.


To help you plan your year 10 art and design lesson on: Hand stitching, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Encourage students to use any other stitches they may already know how to use alongsie runnoing stitch.
Teacher tip

Equipment

White cotton, paper, pencil, fine liner, embroidery threads, needle, pins, scissors, ink or fabric dye.

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.
How do artists use sewing machines to create expressive portraits?

By stitching only the outlines of faces in straight lines
By painting directly onto the thread
Correct answer: By layering line, tone and texture using thread like a drawing tool
By cutting fabric into face shapes and gluing them together

Q2.
What does 'freehand' mean when using a sewing machine?

It means the machine will stitch automatically without help
It’s a type of pencil used before stitching
Correct answer: It's an attachment that lets you move the fabric freely to draw with thread
It means the thread is left loose and unstitched

Q3.
What should you understand before using a sewing machine for thread drawing?

Correct answer: How to set up and control the machine correctly for freehand stitching
How to change the colour of the needle
How to glue down fabric shapes
How to programme a digital embroidery file

Q4.
Which of the following is true about thread in textile art?

It’s only used to join fabric pieces together
Correct answer: It’s used decoratively to add colour, texture and detail
It can only be used in straight lines
It should always be hidden inside the fabric

Q5.
What’s a benefit of experimenting with thread, colour and layering in textile portraits?

It helps keep the fabric stiff
It makes it easier to erase mistakes
It avoids the need for a sewing machine
Correct answer: It allows for more expressive, detailed stitched drawings

Q6.
True or false? Sewing machines can only be used for straight lines and joining fabric.

True
Correct answer: False

Additional material

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