Make your own Mittens
Grade Level:
Ages 6+ (Directed as an introductory lesson to hand sewing and pattern making for elementary age students. Can also be expanded through other processes and materials for older students.)
Goal:
To be able to reuse/recycle accessible resources such as old, discarded fabrics to create an object with a new function. Introduces sustainable art practice through materials. This lesson can also be expanded to include sustainable ways of dying fabrics with natural materials like fruits and plants.
Outcome/standards:
Follow a process to transform once old and discarded materials into a new object with different functions. To create art with sustainable materials and processes in mind.
Materials:
-Sewing needles
-Safety pins/ tape
-Sharpie
-Scissors
-Ruler
-Paper
-Discarded fabrics (t-shirts, socks, blankets, etc..)
Optional:
-Natural dyes ( beats, coffee, etc..)
-beads, buttons, ribbons etc..
Vocabulary:
Textile:
-a type of cloth or woven fabric
Sustainability:
-avoidance of the reduction of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.
Construction:
-the building of something.
Craft:
-an activity involving skill in making things by hand.
Pattern:
-pattern is the template from which the parts of a garment are traced onto fabric before being cut out and assembled
Upcycle:
-reuse discarded objects or material in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original.
Thread:
-pass a thread through the eye of a needle.
Reusing:
-use again or more than once.
Lesson Steps:
-gather materials/ find a space to work
-review vocabulary
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiSYoeqb_VY
Sustainable clothing (2:56)
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaqv9YwbQek
Sewing Tutorials
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9zegUYdPmg (3:14)
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PowkA9Bojlo (4:04)
Step 2: Cut out the pattern on the piece of paper.
Step 3: Turn your fabric inside out and lay it flat making sure the bottoms hems are even. Trace your paper pattern onto the fabric.
Step 4: Cut out the sweater using scissors. Make sure to cut through both the front and back of fabric if it is double sided like a T-shirt.
Step 5: Once you have 4 fabric patterns cut out, pin or tape the front and back pieces together.
(Put the sides of fabric you want on the outside face to face while you sew them together, we are going to flip them right side out to hide the seam.)
Step 6: Sew around the mitten. Remove any pins, tape or loose thread that is left on the mittens.
Step 7: Repeat steps to make the second mitten. Flip the mittens right side out and enjoy!
Optional: Add different fabric scraps or materials like beads and buttons to your mittens to personalize your designs.
Use natural dyes to change the color of your fabrics
-Did you enjoy the lesson? Why/Why not?
-Can you think of other things you can create with these new craft skills?
Grade Level:
Ages 6+ (Directed as an introductory lesson to hand sewing and pattern making for elementary age students. Can also be expanded through other processes and materials for older students.)
Goal:
To be able to reuse/recycle accessible resources such as old, discarded fabrics to create an object with a new function. Introduces sustainable art practice through materials. This lesson can also be expanded to include sustainable ways of dying fabrics with natural materials like fruits and plants.
Outcome/standards:
Follow a process to transform once old and discarded materials into a new object with different functions. To create art with sustainable materials and processes in mind.
Materials:
-Sewing needles
-Safety pins/ tape
-Sharpie
-Scissors
-Ruler
-Paper
-Discarded fabrics (t-shirts, socks, blankets, etc..)
Optional:
-Natural dyes ( beats, coffee, etc..)
-beads, buttons, ribbons etc..
Vocabulary:
Textile:
-a type of cloth or woven fabric
Sustainability:
-avoidance of the reduction of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.
Construction:
-the building of something.
Craft:
-an activity involving skill in making things by hand.
Pattern:
-pattern is the template from which the parts of a garment are traced onto fabric before being cut out and assembled
Upcycle:
-reuse discarded objects or material in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original.
Thread:
-pass a thread through the eye of a needle.
Reusing:
-use again or more than once.
Lesson Steps:
- Prep (10-15 min)
-gather materials/ find a space to work
-review vocabulary
- Introduction (10-15 min)
- How are clothes/ textiles made and what processes are used? Are these processes and materials sustainable?
- What do we do with clothes when we are finished with them?
- Why do people make their own clothing and textiles?
- Watch (10-15 min)
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiSYoeqb_VY
Sustainable clothing (2:56)
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaqv9YwbQek
Sewing Tutorials
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9zegUYdPmg (3:14)
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PowkA9Bojlo (4:04)
- History (10-15 min)
- What processes and practices are used to create fast fashion? Are these practices sustainable?
- What are ways we can practice sustainability in relation to clothing and fashion?
- What are ways clothing can be reused or upcycled? Can you think of new ways clothing can be reused or upcycled? What can you transform old clothes into?
- Procedure (30-60 min)
Step 2: Cut out the pattern on the piece of paper.
Step 3: Turn your fabric inside out and lay it flat making sure the bottoms hems are even. Trace your paper pattern onto the fabric.
Step 4: Cut out the sweater using scissors. Make sure to cut through both the front and back of fabric if it is double sided like a T-shirt.
Step 5: Once you have 4 fabric patterns cut out, pin or tape the front and back pieces together.
(Put the sides of fabric you want on the outside face to face while you sew them together, we are going to flip them right side out to hide the seam.)
Step 6: Sew around the mitten. Remove any pins, tape or loose thread that is left on the mittens.
Step 7: Repeat steps to make the second mitten. Flip the mittens right side out and enjoy!
Optional: Add different fabric scraps or materials like beads and buttons to your mittens to personalize your designs.
Use natural dyes to change the color of your fabrics
- Reflection:
-Did you enjoy the lesson? Why/Why not?
-Can you think of other things you can create with these new craft skills?
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