Exploratory Course on Dressmaking

Anita C. Sudaria

AS a TLE teacher, one must demonstrate an understanding to students about sewing tools and equipment and their functions; and types of sewing machines and their uses.

Aside from these, the types of sewing machines should be classified and their uses identified. While on the course, students should be able to identify sewing tools and equipment and their uses and produce a sewing kit and compile the tools and supplies properly.

Students should also will visit two or more dress shops and gather fabric swatches that will be analyzed and classified as per texture and quality.

In learning dressmaking, students should be able to carry out measurements and calculations and should have understanding of/on body measurements in ladies and men’s apparel. They should also be able to identify parts of the body to be measured, and have the appropriate measuring tools.

The reading of measurements is practiced with accuracy so that accurate measurements are obtained.

Aside from the measurements, the fundamentals of arithmetic operations should be practiced with accuracy to be able to come up with the cost of project materials based on current price.

Students should also be able to demonstrate understanding of/on principles of design and color theory. For an activity, a teacher can ask students to design a simple project by sketching and applying the principles of design and applying the color harmonies.

Teachers should also teach the basic hand stitches. A project may be produced in accordance to the specifications of designs, like creating patch pockets using sewing tools to make different types of patch pockets and labeled with basic hand stitches.

Students should also know how to operate a sewing machine and be familiar with lower and upper threading; common sewing machine troubles and its remedies; quality of stitches and tensions; proper handling of machine; making sample runs (straight and circular lines).

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The author is Teacher III at St. Vincent of Quebiawan Integrated School