The Interior — Family & Consumer SciencesGrades 3–5
Unit 6 · The Needle and the Button
A unit of the course: the story, then chapter by chapter — sections, numbered lessons, a source or the numbers to read, three checks each — a review per chapter, and the wrap-up at the end.
Drawn scene: a sewing table with a tomato pincushion, spools of thread, scissors, scattered buttons and a stuffed bear with a seam being stitched closed
6Unit
The Needle and the Button
Textiles
A stuffed animal leaking stuffing. A coat with no top button on the coldest day of the year. A seam that split when you bent over. Every one of these is a small problem that a needle and a piece of thread can fix in minutes. You do not need a machine. You need a small kit and a few skills.
In this unit you learn the tools in a sewing kit and the safe way to handle sharp needles and pins. You learn to thread a needle, tie a knot that anchors the thread, and sew two stitches: the running stitch for speed and the back stitch for strength. Then you put those skills to work sewing on a button and mending a split seam.
By the end, you will be able to fix a button so it stays fixed, close a seam from the inside so the fix does not show, and make a small felt project of your own. You will also know why fixing a piece of clothing usually beats throwing it away, for your wallet and for the trash pile.
How people learned it
Long ago
People carve needles with eyes from bone and sew animal skins together with sinew.
1200s
Buttons with buttonholes become a common way to fasten clothing in Europe.
1500s
Steel needles are made in Europe, sharper and stronger than bone or bronze.
1755
Charles Weisenthal patents a needle meant for a sewing machine that does not yet exist.
1830
Barthelemy Thimonnier builds an early sewing machine in France.
1846
Elias Howe patents a machine that makes a lockstitch with two threads.
1849
Walter Hunt invents the safety pin, a pin with its point covered.
1851
Isaac Singer sells a sewing machine that works at home and in shops.
1900s
Ready-made clothes fill stores, and fewer families sew their own clothing.
Today
Mending comes back as a way to save money and keep cloth out of landfills.
11
Chapter
Thread, Needle and Knot
Sewing Basics
Big questionHow can a needle and a piece of thread hold two pieces of cloth together?
The story
The Bear With the Open Side
A stuffed bear, a torn seam, and a stitch that held for good.
Maya's bear was named Biscuit. He was brown and soft and older than she was. One morning she found white stuffing on her pillow. Biscuit had a hole in his side, right along the seam. Every time she squeezed him, more stuffing came out.
Her grandmother took a small tin box from a shelf. Inside were needles, a spool of brown thread, pins in a little cushion, and a pair of small scissors. "This is a sewing kit," she said. "Everything you need to fix a seam is in here."
Grandma showed Maya how to wet the end of the thread and push it through the eye of the needle. Then she tied a knot at the end. "The knot is the anchor," she said. "Without it, the thread pulls right through the cloth."
Maya pushed the stuffing back inside. She pinned the two edges of the hole together. Then she made small stitches, in and out, along the seam. Grandma said the stitches should be close together, like footprints in snow.
When she reached the end, Grandma showed her how to tie off the thread with two tiny knots. Maya snipped the tail. She squeezed Biscuit hard. No stuffing came out. The seam held. She had fixed it herself.
Talk about itGrandma called the knot the anchor. What would have happened to Maya's first stitch without it?
Section 1
The Sewing Kit
11.1
Seven Tools in a Tin
Main ideaA sewing kit holds a few small tools, and each one has one clear job.
Open the tin. Inside is a small pile of tools. A is a thin steel stick with a point on one end and a hole on the other. The hole is called the eye. Thread goes through the eye. The point goes through the cloth.
A spool of thread is a small tube wrapped in thread. Pins are like needles with no eye and a round head. Pins hold cloth in place before you sew. They live in a , a small stuffed pillow that keeps the points covered.
Small scissors cut thread. A is a little metal cap for your middle finger. It pushes the needle without hurting your skin. Learn each tool’s name and job. Then put each one back in its place when you are done.
Words to know
needle
a thin steel tool with a point on one end and a hole, the eye, on the other
pincushion
a small stuffed pillow that holds pins and needles safely
thimble
a small cap worn on the middle finger to push the needle
Check yourself
1. What is the eye of a needle?
Why: The eye is the hole at the blunt end. Thread goes through the eye.
2. Which tool holds cloth in place before you sew?
Why: Pins hold two layers of cloth together until the stitches are in.
3. Where do needles and pins go when you are not using them?
Why: The pincushion covers the points so nobody gets poked.
11.2
Sharp Rules for Needles and Pins
Main ideaNeedles and pins are sharp tools, so you count them, cover them and never put them in your mouth.
A pin rolls off a table and lands on the rug. Later someone steps on it. That hurts, and it can be hard to find. Sharp tools need sharp rules. Rule one: count your pins before you start. Count them again when you finish.
Rule two: pins go in the , never in your mouth. Some people hold pins in their lips to keep hands free. Do not do this. A pin can be swallowed. Rule three: pass a needle or pin with the point away from the other person.
Rule four: a needle is small and rolls easily. Keep it stuck in the pincushion or a scrap of cloth when it is not in your hand. If a needle or pin , stop and find it right away. Tell a grown-up if you cannot find it.
Words to know
pincushion
the stuffed holder where every pin and needle goes when not in use
falls
drops to the floor; a dropped pin must be found before anyone steps on it
Check yourself
1. Why do you count your pins before and after sewing?
Why: A missing pin can end up in a rug or a chair. Counting tells you if one is lost.
2. Where should pins go while you sew?
Why: Pins go in the pincushion. A pin in your mouth can be swallowed.
3. How do you hand a needle to a friend?
Why: Pass any sharp tool with the point away from the other person.
11.3
Choosing the Thread
Main ideaPick thread that matches the color of the cloth and is strong enough for the job.
You have a red shirt with a torn seam and a drawer of thread. Which spool? Hold each spool against the cloth. The one that almost disappears is the right . Stitches in matching thread are hard to see. Stitches in white thread on red cloth stand out.
Thread also has strength. All-purpose thread is the everyday kind. It works for shirts, pillows and felt. Heavy thread is thicker. It is for jeans, canvas and buttons that get pulled a lot. Very thin thread breaks if you pull hard.
Cut a piece of thread about as long as your arm, from fingertip to shoulder. Longer thread tangles. Shorter thread runs out too soon. Cut it with scissors at a slant. A clean, slanted end slides through the eye more easily than a chewed end.
Words to know
match
thread that is the same color as the cloth so stitches are hard to see
all-purpose thread
the everyday thread that works for most cloth and most repairs
Check yourself
1. How do you pick a thread color for a repair?
Why: Matching thread hides the stitches. Hold the spool against the cloth to compare.
2. Which thread is best for a button on jeans?
Why: Buttons on jeans get pulled hard. Heavy thread is thicker and holds.
3. About how long should you cut a piece of thread?
Why: Fingertip to shoulder is long enough to sew but short enough not to tangle.
Section 2
Thread the Needle, Tie the Knot
11.4
Through the Eye
Main ideaCut the thread at a slant, hold the needle still, and push the thread through the eye in good light.
Sit near a window or a lamp. Hold the needle in one hand with the eye up. Hold the thread in the other hand, close to the end, about a finger-width back. A long floppy end bends away from the eye. A short stiff end goes straight in.
Push the thread toward the eye. If it misses, do not jab. Snip the end again at a and try again. Some people wet the end of the thread on their lip to make it stiff. When the tip pokes through, pinch it and pull it out the other side.
Pull until about a hand’s length of thread hangs on one side. The long side is the one you sew with. A is a small wire loop that helps. Push the loop through the eye, put the thread in the loop, and pull the loop back out.
Words to know
slant
a cut at an angle, which makes a sharp thread end that fits the eye
needle threader
a small wire loop that pulls thread through the eye for you
Check yourself
1. How far from the end of the thread should you hold it?
Why: Holding close to the end keeps the tip stiff so it goes straight into the eye.
2. The thread end is fuzzy and will not go in. What do you do?
Why: A fresh cut at a slant makes a sharp end that fits the eye.
3. What does a needle threader do?
Why: The wire loop goes through the eye, catches the thread, and pulls it back through.
11.5
The Anchor Knot
Main ideaA knot at the end of the thread stops it from pulling through the cloth on the first stitch.
Thread the needle and let one end hang long. Now make the on the long end. Wrap the thread once around your pointer finger. Roll the loop off your finger with your thumb. Pull the loop down to the end of the thread. It tightens into a small knot.
One knot is small. Some cloth is loose, like felt or knit, and a small knot slips right through the holes. For loose cloth, tie the knot two or three times in the same spot. The knot gets bigger and holds.
Try the first stitch. Push the needle up from the back of the cloth. Pull the thread through until the knot stops it. If the knot pops through, the knot was too small. If it stops with a gentle tug, you have an .
Words to know
knot
a tight loop tied at the end of the thread so it cannot slip through the cloth
anchor
the knot that holds the thread in place at the start of the sewing
Check yourself
1. Why do you tie a knot at the end of the thread?
Why: The knot anchors the thread. Without it the first stitch pulls straight through.
2. Your knot keeps popping through the felt. What should you do?
Why: A bigger knot cannot fit through the loose holes in felt.
3. Where does the first stitch start?
Why: Start from the back so the knot is hidden on the wrong side.
11.6
Two Sides of Cloth
Main ideaCloth has a right side and a wrong side, and knots and messy ends belong on the wrong side.
Turn a shirt inside out. The colors look duller. You can see the seams and their loose threads. This is the . Turn it back. The bright, smooth side that shows when you wear it is the .
When you sew, the knot goes on the wrong side. Loose thread ends go on the wrong side. Then the right side looks clean. If a stitch line has the knot on the front, it shows, and it can catch on things.
Before you sew two pieces together, put the right sides facing each other. Pin them. Sew along the edge. When you turn them right side out, the is hidden inside. This one habit is the secret to neat sewing.
Words to know
right side
the side of the cloth meant to show, the brighter side
wrong side
the inside or back of the cloth, where knots and seams hide
seam
the line of stitches that joins two pieces of cloth
Check yourself
1. Which side of the cloth shows when you wear it?
Why: The right side is the bright, smooth side meant to be seen.
2. Where should the knot end up?
Why: Knots and loose ends hide on the wrong side so the front looks clean.
3. How do you place two pieces before sewing them together?
Why: Right sides together means the seam is hidden inside when you turn it out.
Section 3
Stitches That Hold
11.7
The Running Stitch
Main ideaThe running stitch goes in and out in a straight line and is the fastest stitch to learn.
Pin two scraps of cloth together. Push the needle up from the back at your starting point. Pull until the knot stops it. Now push the needle down through the cloth a little way ahead. Then up again. Down again. In and out, like a dolphin jumping.
Keep the stitches small and even. About the width of a grain of rice is a good size. Keep the space between stitches the same as the stitch. A that is too long and loose will let the seam gap open.
Pull the thread gently after each few stitches. Do not yank. If you pull too hard, the cloth bunches up like a crumpled paper. If you pull too little, the thread hangs in loops. Just snug is the goal.
Words to know
running stitch
a line of small in-and-out stitches, the basic stitch for joining cloth
snug
pulled just tight enough, not loose and not so tight the cloth bunches
Check yourself
1. How does the running stitch move through the cloth?
Why: The running stitch goes up and down through the cloth in a straight line.
2. About how long should each running stitch be?
Why: Small, even stitches about the size of a grain of rice hold well.
3. The cloth bunched up as you sewed. What happened?
Why: Pulling too hard gathers the cloth. Pull just snug.
11.8
The Back Stitch
Main ideaThe back stitch goes one step back and two steps forward, which makes a seam that will not pull open.
A running stitch is fast, but you can slide it open with your fingers. A seam on a bear or a shirt gets pulled every day. It needs the . The back stitch makes a solid line with no gaps, like the stitches on store-bought clothes.
Start with the knot on the back. Bring the needle up. Make one running stitch forward. Now go backward: push the needle down at the end of the stitch you just made. Bring it up one stitch length ahead of the thread. Go back down into the end of the last stitch again.
Each stitch fills the gap the last one left. From the front, the line looks like a solid dashed pencil line with no spaces. The seam is because every stitch is locked into the one before it. Use it anywhere the cloth gets pulled.
Words to know
back stitch
a stitch that goes back into the last stitch each time, making a solid strong line
strong
able to hold when pulled; the back stitch is stronger than the running stitch
Check yourself
1. Why is the back stitch stronger than the running stitch?
Why: Going back into the last stitch fills the gaps and locks the line.
2. What does a back stitch line look like from the front?
Why: Because each stitch fills the last gap, the line is solid.
3. Which seam most needs the back stitch?
Why: Seams that get pulled every day need the strongest stitch.
11.9
Tie It Off
Main ideaEnd every line of sewing with a small knot on the wrong side, then snip the tail.
You reach the end of the seam. If you just cut the thread, the stitches will slide out one by one. You need a . Push the needle to the wrong side. Take one tiny stitch, right on top of the last stitch, but do not pull it tight.
A small loop is left. Pass the needle through the loop. Now pull it snug. That is one knot. Do it again in the same spot. Two knots hold better than one. Some sewers do it three times on loose cloth.
Snip the thread about a fingernail’s length past the knot. Do not cut right at the knot, or it can come undone. Then check the right side. It should be clean, with no knots showing. Put the needle back in the pincushion and count your pins.
Words to know
finishing knot
the small knot tied at the end of a seam so the stitches cannot slide out
tail
the short end of thread left after the knot, snipped a little past the knot
Check yourself
1. What happens if you cut the thread with no finishing knot?
Why: With no knot, nothing holds the last stitch, and the line slowly comes undone.
2. How is the finishing knot made?
Why: A tiny stitch leaves a loop; the needle goes through it and you pull it snug.
3. How far past the knot do you snip the tail?
Why: A short tail keeps the knot from pulling apart. Cutting at the knot can undo it.
Chapter review
Thread, Needle and Knot
0 / 8
1. Which tool has an eye?
Why: A needle has a point and an eye. A pin has a point and a round head.
2. Where do pins go while you sew?
Why: Pins go in the pincushion so no one is poked and none are swallowed.
3. Why do you tie a knot before the first stitch?
Why: The knot is the anchor. Without it, the first stitch pulls straight through.
4. Which side of the cloth do knots belong on?
Why: Knots and loose ends hide on the wrong side so the front is clean.
5. Which stitch makes a solid line that will not pull open?
Why: The back stitch locks each stitch into the last one.
6. How long should you cut a piece of thread?
Why: Fingertip to shoulder is long enough to sew and short enough not to tangle.
7. The cloth bunched up while you sewed. What went wrong?
Why: Pulling too hard gathers the cloth. Pull just snug.
8. What is the last step of a line of sewing?
Why: A finishing knot holds the stitches. Then snip a short tail.
Send it to your teacher
12
Chapter
Sew a Button, Mend a Seam
Repairs
Big questionWhy fix a piece of clothing instead of throwing it away?
The story
The Coat on the Coldest Day
One missing button, a wind off the lake, and ten minutes with a needle.
It was the coldest morning of the year in Chicago. The wind came off the lake and cut through everything. Devon pulled on his winter coat and reached for the top button. It was gone. There was just a loose tuft of thread where it used to be.
"Wear it open," his sister said. But the cold went straight down his neck at the bus stop. All day the coat flapped. At recess he held it shut with one hand and could not play. He came home cross and cold.
His dad found the button in the pocket. "Ten minutes," he said, and got out the sewing box. He picked heavy thread that matched the coat. He threaded a needle and tied a knot three times, because coat cloth is thick.
He showed Devon how to hold the button a little away from the coat, with a toothpick under it. He stitched up through one hole and down through the other, six times. Then he wrapped the thread around and around under the button. "That is the shank," he said. "It gives the buttonhole room."
Devon tied it off himself. He buttoned the coat to the top. The button sat proud and firm. A new coat would have cost a lot of money. This fix cost a piece of thread and ten minutes, and the coat was warm again.
Talk about itDevon's dad said the shank gives the buttonhole room. What do you think would happen if the button were sewn flat and tight against the thick coat?
Section 1
Buttons
12.1
Two Holes and Four
Main ideaButtons come with two holes or four holes, and you sew through the holes in a pattern that matches the other buttons.
Look at the buttons on your shirt. Some have two holes. Some have four. A is sewn with the thread going up one hole and down the other, over and over. It makes one short bar of thread on top.
A can be sewn two ways. Two straight bars, like an equals sign. Or two crossed bars, like an X. Look at the other buttons on the same shirt and copy their pattern. A button that does not match looks like a patch.
Some buttons have no holes at all. They have a little loop on the back called a shank. You sew through the loop. Before you start, hold the button up to the buttonhole. It should slide through with a small push. Too big and it will not close. Too small and it slips open.
Words to know
two-hole button
a button with two holes; the thread goes up one and down the other
four-hole button
a button with four holes, sewn as two bars or as an X
buttonhole
the small slit in the cloth that the button pushes through
Check yourself
1. A four-hole button can be sewn in which two patterns?
Why: Four holes can be stitched as two straight bars or as crossed bars.
2. Why should you check the button against the buttonhole first?
Why: A button that is too big will not close; one that is too small slips open.
3. How should a replacement button be sewn on a shirt?
Why: Matching the pattern of the other buttons keeps the shirt looking right.
12.2
The Thread Shank
Main ideaA shank is a short stem of thread under the button that leaves room for the cloth of the buttonhole.
Button a shirt. Look at how the button sits. The cloth of the buttonhole slides under it. A button sewn flat and tight has no room for that cloth. It pulls, puckers, and pops off. A button with a sits a little above the cloth on a stem of thread.
To make a shank, place a toothpick or a matchstick across the top of the button before you stitch. Sew over it. When you are done, pull the stick out. The button now has a little slack under it. Wrap the thread around that slack five or six times to make a firm stem.
Thick cloth needs a longer shank. A coat needs more room than a thin shirt. For a thin shirt, one toothpick is enough. For a coat, use two sticks or a stick. The rule: the shank should be about as tall as the cloth is thick.
Words to know
shank
the short stem of thread under a button that leaves room for the buttonhole cloth
bulkier
thicker; a bulkier stick makes a taller shank for thick cloth
Check yourself
1. What does the shank do?
Why: The stem of thread lets the buttonhole cloth slide under the button without pulling.
2. How do you make a shank?
Why: The toothpick leaves slack; wrapping the thread turns the slack into a firm stem.
3. Which needs the longer shank?
Why: The shank should be about as tall as the cloth is thick, and coat cloth is thickest.
12.3
Sewing the Button On
Main ideaMark the spot, anchor the thread, stitch through the holes six times, wrap the shank, and tie off on the back.
Find the spot. Button the other buttons and see where the loose buttonhole lands. Mark that spot with a pin or a dot of chalk. Thread a needle with strong thread. For a button, tie the knot two or three times, or use the thread so it is twice as strong.
Bring the needle up from the wrong side at the mark. Slide the button on. Lay a toothpick across the top. Go down the other hole and back up. Do this six times for a two-hole button. For four holes, do three times through each pair.
Pull out the toothpick. Lift the button gently. Bring the needle out between the button and the cloth. Wrap the thread around the stem five or six times. Push the needle to the back. Tie two finishing knots and snip. Tug the button. It should be firm, with a little wiggle from the shank.
Words to know
doubled
thread pulled through the eye until both ends are even, so you sew with two strands at once
mark
a pin or chalk dot showing exactly where the button goes
Check yourself
1. How do you find where the missing button goes?
Why: The buttonhole shows exactly where the button must sit.
2. Why sew with doubled thread for a button?
Why: Buttons get pulled a lot. Doubled thread holds better.
3. About how many times do you stitch through a two-hole button?
Why: Six passes make a button firm without a bulky pile of thread.
Section 2
Mending
12.4
A Split Seam
Main ideaA split seam is a seam where the old thread broke, and you fix it from the inside with a back stitch over the old stitch line.
You bend over and hear a rip. The seam on the side of your shirt has split. The cloth is not torn. The old thread just broke or wore out. This is the easiest repair there is. You put new thread where the old thread was.
Turn the shirt so the wrong side is facing you. Find the old stitch line. It is a faint line of tiny holes, with the old thread still on both sides of the gap. Pin the two edges together along that line so they match.
Start your new stitches about a finger-width before the gap, on top of the old stitches that still hold. Use the along the old line through the gap. Go a finger-width past the other end. Tie off. Turn it right side out. The fix is hidden inside.
Words to know
split seam
a seam that has opened because the old thread broke, while the cloth is not torn
inside out
turned so the wrong side faces you and the seam is easy to reach
back stitch
the strong locked stitch used for seams that get pulled
Check yourself
1. What is a split seam?
Why: In a split seam the cloth is fine; the old stitches gave way.
2. How should the shirt be turned to fix a seam?
Why: Inside out puts the wrong side and the old stitch line in front of you.
3. Where do you start the new stitches?
Why: Overlapping the old stitches locks the new seam to the part that still holds.
12.5
Pin It So It Matches
Main ideaBefore you mend, pin the two edges so they line up exactly, or the seam will pucker or twist.
Two edges of a split seam do not stay together on their own. If one slides while you sew, the seam ends up twisted. One side gets longer than the other. The shirt puckers. Pins stop this.
Lay the two edges flat, wrong side up. Match the old stitch lines. Push a pin the seam line, not along it, about every two finger-widths. Pins across the line are easy to pull out as the needle gets close.
Sew up to each pin. Pull it out just before the needle reaches it. Never sew over a pin. The needle can hit it and bend, or the pin can get sewn in. When you finish, count your pins. Every pin goes back in the .
Words to know
across
pinned at a right angle to the seam line, so pins are easy to remove as you sew
pincushion
where every pin returns after the seam is sewn
Check yourself
1. Why pin the edges before mending a seam?
Why: Pins hold the two edges lined up so the seam stays straight.
2. Which way do the pins go?
Why: Pins across the line are easy to pull out as the needle gets close.
3. What do you do when your needle reaches a pin?
Why: Sewing over a pin can bend the needle or trap the pin in the seam.
12.6
Make Clothes Last
Main ideaSmall habits, such as hanging, folding, washing gently and fixing early, make clothes last for years.
A tiny loose thread on a seam is a one-minute fix today. In a month it is a split seam that is a ten-minute fix. Left longer, the edges fray and the shirt is hard to save. Fix small problems early. Check pockets and seams when you put clothes away.
How you wash matters too. Read the small inside the collar. It says whether to wash cold or warm and whether the dryer is okay. Hot water and a hot dryer can shrink some cloth and fade colors. Zip zippers and empty pockets before washing.
Hang or fold clothes instead of dropping them. Wear the right clothes for the job; play clothes for mud. A loose button gets sewn tight before it falls off and gets lost. These habits are free. They keep clothes for years.
Words to know
care label
the small tag inside clothing that tells how to wash and dry it
wearable
in good enough shape to wear
Check yourself
1. When is the best time to fix a loose thread on a seam?
Why: A small fix now stops a bigger split later.
2. Where do you find how to wash a piece of clothing?
Why: The care label tells the water temperature and whether to use the dryer.
3. What can hot water and a hot dryer do to some clothes?
Why: Heat can shrink some cloth and fade colors, so follow the label.
Section 3
Projects and Choices
12.7
A Felt Bookmark
Main ideaA felt bookmark is a first project that uses cutting, a running stitch and a finishing knot.
Felt is a good first cloth. It does not fray at the edges, and it comes in bright colors. Cut a strip of about 2 inches wide and 6 inches long. Use a ruler and mark the corners with chalk before you cut, so the sides are straight.
Cut a small shape from a second color: a heart, a star, a leaf. Pin it to the strip. Thread a needle with a color that shows. Sew around the shape with a , small and even. The stitches are part of the design, so make them neat.
Tie off on the back with two knots. Snip the tail. Now sew a line of running stitch all around the edge of the strip, a finger-width in from the edge. That is the border. Tie off, snip, count your pins. You made a bookmark from two scraps.
Words to know
felt
a thick soft cloth that does not fray when cut, good for first projects
running stitch
the in-and-out stitch used here as decoration and to hold the shape
Check yourself
1. Why is felt a good cloth for a first project?
Why: Cut felt edges stay neat, so you can skip hemming.
2. What do you do before you cut the strip?
Why: Marking first keeps the cut straight.
3. Which stitch goes around the shape and the border?
Why: A small, even running stitch holds the shape and looks like a design.
12.8
A Felt Pouch
Main ideaFold a rectangle of felt, back stitch the two sides, and you have a pouch that holds coins or pencils.
Cut a of felt 4 inches wide and 10 inches long. Fold it so the short ends meet, but leave one end about 2 inches longer than the other. The longer end will become the flap. Pin the two sides.
Sew each side with the back stitch, a finger-width in from the edge. This pouch will carry things and get opened and closed a lot, so it needs the strong stitch. Start and end each side with knots. Pull the pins as you go.
Fold the over the front. If you want, sew a button on the front and cut a small slit in the flap for a buttonhole. Snip only as long as the button is wide. Now you have a pouch. Every step used a skill from this unit.
Words to know
rectangle
a four-sided shape with square corners, like the felt piece you cut
flap
the extra piece of felt that folds over the top to close the pouch
Check yourself
1. Why does the pouch use the back stitch instead of the running stitch?
Why: Seams that get pulled every day need the locked, gap-free stitch.
2. What is the flap?
Why: The longer end folds over the front to close the pouch.
3. How long should the buttonhole slit be?
Why: A slit the width of the button lets it push through and still hold.
12.9
Fix It or Toss It?
Main ideaMending saves money and keeps cloth out of the trash, so fixing usually beats throwing away.
A shirt loses a button. One choice: throw it away and buy a new one. Another choice: sew the button back on. Example: a new shirt costs $15. A spool of thread costs $2 and sews on dozens of buttons. The fix costs a few cents of thread and ten minutes.
Throwing clothes away has a second cost. Thrown-away cloth goes to a , a big pile of trash that stays for a very long time. Making new cloth takes water, farms, factories and trucks. A mended shirt means one less shirt made and one less shirt in the pile.
Sometimes a piece really is done. Cloth that is worn thin all over cannot hold a stitch. Then it can become a rag or a scrap for a project. But a split seam, a loose hem or a lost button are small. Ask first: can I fix this? Most of the time, you can.
Words to know
landfill
a place where trash is buried; thrown-away clothes end up there
mend
to fix a piece of clothing by sewing
Check yourself
1. In the example, what does a new shirt cost compared to fixing one button?
Why: A $2 spool sews many buttons, so one fix is only cents; a new shirt is $15 in the example.
2. Where do thrown-away clothes usually end up?
Why: Trash, including cloth, is buried in a landfill and stays a long time.
3. Which piece is probably too worn to mend?
Why: Stitches need sound cloth to hold. Thin, worn-out cloth can become rags instead.
Chapter review
Sew a Button, Mend a Seam
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1. How can a four-hole button be sewn so it matches the others?
Why: Copy the pattern, two bars or an X, so the shirt looks right.
2. What is the shank under a button for?
Why: The shank lets the buttonhole cloth slide under without puckering.
3. How do you leave room for a shank while you stitch?
Why: The toothpick leaves slack that you wrap into a stem.
4. How should a shirt be turned to mend a split seam?
Why: Inside out puts the old stitch line in front of you and hides the fix.
5. Which stitch mends a seam that gets pulled every day?
Why: The back stitch locks each stitch into the last and will not gap open.
6. What do you do when your needle reaches a pin?
Why: Sewing over a pin can bend the needle or sew the pin in.
7. Why is felt good for a first project?
Why: Felt edges stay neat when cut, so a beginner can skip hemming.
8. Why does mending usually beat throwing away?
Why: A fix costs cents and minutes; a new piece costs dollars and adds to the trash pile.
Send it to your teacher
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Unit wrap-up
The Needle and the Button
Twelve words, twelve meanings
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Tap a word, then tap its meaning. A right pair locks in green.
Words
Meanings
Unit test
Fifteen questions across the unit
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1. Which tool has an eye for the thread?
Why: A needle has a point and an eye. A pin has a round head instead.
2. Where do pins go while you sew?
Why: The pincushion covers the points; a pin in your mouth could be swallowed.
3. Why do you count pins before and after sewing?
Why: A lost pin can end up in a rug or a chair.
4. How do you pick a thread color for a repair?
Why: Matching thread hides the stitches.
5. The thread will not go through the eye. What helps?
Why: A sharp slanted end held close to the tip goes straight into the eye.
6. What does the knot at the end of the thread do?
Why: The knot is the anchor for the first stitch.
7. Where should knots and loose ends be?
Why: The wrong side hides knots so the front looks clean.
8. Which stitch makes a solid line that will not pull open?
Why: Each back stitch locks into the one before it.
9. The cloth bunched up as you sewed. What went wrong?
Why: Pulling too hard gathers the cloth. Pull just snug.
10. What happens if you cut the thread with no finishing knot?
Why: Nothing holds the last stitch, so the line comes undone.
11. What is the shank under a button for?
Why: The stem of thread lets the buttonhole cloth slide under without puckering.
12. How do you leave room for a shank?
Why: The toothpick leaves slack that you wrap into a firm stem.
13. How do you mend a split seam?
Why: Inside out, with new stitches over the old line, the fix is strong and hidden.
14. What do you do when the needle reaches a pin?
Why: Sewing over a pin can bend the needle or sew the pin into the seam.
15. Why does mending usually beat throwing away?
Why: A fix costs a little thread and a few minutes; a new piece costs dollars and adds to the trash.
Send it to your teacher
Spiral review
Five questions from earlier units
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1. (Unit 5) A recipe says bake 18 to 20 minutes. What do you set the timer for?
Why: Set the shorter time and check for doneness, then add minutes if needed.
2. (Unit 5) Which ingredient is measured packed?
Why: Brown sugar is sticky and holds air, so it is pressed into the cup.
3. (Unit 5) What is the first thing to do with a new recipe?
Why: Reading first finds missing tools, long chill times and warnings.
4. (Unit 5) How should you read a liquid measuring cup?
Why: A cup on a flat counter read at eye level gives the true line.
5. (Unit 5) A recipe serves 6 and you need 24 servings. What do you multiply each amount by?
Why: 24 divided by 6 is 4.
Send it to your teacher
Write it
A friend's shirt has lost a button, and the side seam has split. Write the steps to fix both, in order, from opening the sewing kit to putting it away. For each step, name the tool and explain why the step is there.
Put the steps in order, and start with the sewing kit and the safety rules.
Name the tool for each step: needle, thread, pins, scissors, toothpick.
Say which stitch you use for the seam and why it is the strong one.
Explain the knot at the start, the shank under the button, and the knot at the end.
Finish with counting the pins and putting everything back.
0 wordsSaved on this device as you type.
Practice rooms
Rooms already on the site that belong to this unit — cards, quizzes, a lab.
Every lesson keeps its own three checks; a lesson is ticked when all three are right. Chapter reviews, the unit test and its spiral review (five questions from earlier units in this band) score on the page. When the site is connected to your sheet, or the link carries ?dest=, each one also has a Send box: the first-try score, the standards, the supports used, the attempt number and the minutes go to your sheet as an IEP data point.
Print this page for a paper copy of the readings, the sources, the words and the questions; the answers print as dashed boxes under each question.
Fact-check notes for this course live in the handoff: quotes marked (paraphrased) were set that way on purpose.