Unit 2 · OctoberIn Progress

Fiber Arts & Appliqué Craft

Take your digital designs into the physical world through hand-sewing and soft sculpture.

Hand stitchingFelt appliquéTechnical blueprintingSoft sculpture

Reference: Hand Sewing 101

Hand Sewing 101: Mastering the Basics — preparation, essential stitches, running stitch, backstitch, blanket stitch, mending

Unit Vocabulary

Appliqué

A technique where cut fabric shapes are sewn onto a background fabric to create a design.

Running Stitch

A basic hand stitch made by passing the needle in and out of fabric in a straight line.

Backstitch

A strong hand stitch where each new stitch begins at the end of the previous one, creating a solid line.

Whip Stitch

A stitch that wraps thread over the edge of fabric to join two pieces together.

Felt

A non-woven fabric made by matting and pressing fibers together; it does not fray when cut.

Plushie

A soft stuffed toy or sculpture made from fabric and filled with stuffing material.

Blueprint

A scaled technical drawing showing the dimensions and structure of an object before it is built.

Seam Allowance

The extra fabric between the cut edge and the stitch line, allowing pieces to be sewn together securely.

Projects in this unit

Project 1Current

Felt Stitch Sampler

Practice all 6 required stitches on your felt sampler card — each labeled and neat.

Objectives

Complete all 6 stitches on your sampler card: running, backstitch, whip, blanket, cross, and satin
Each stitch section must be at least 2 inches long
Label each stitch with its name
Demonstrate consistent stitch length and tension throughout
Follow all sewing room safety rules before picking up a needle

7 materials

9 tips

Project 2

Hand-Sewn Felt Patch

Sew a felt patch based on your Unit 1 identity icon using at least 3 stitch types and 3 colors.

Objectives

Patch must be 4x4 inches on background felt
Use your Unit 1 identity icon as the design source
Incorporate at least 3 different stitch types
Use at least 3 colors of embroidery floss
All felt edges must be secured — no fraying or loose pieces
Demonstrate proper needle safety throughout — needles in pin cushion when not actively sewing

6 materials

8 tips

Project 3

Pop Tart Blueprint

Create a scaled digital blueprint of your Pop Tart Plushie with front, back, and side views.

Objectives

Show front panel, back panel, and side gusset (edge strip) views
All dimensions labeled in inches
Include 0.25-inch seam allowance on all edges
Note which fabrics/colors go where
Scale must be accurate — use grid paper or digital grid

3 materials

5 tips

Project 4

Pop Tart Plushie

Sew your completed stuffed Pop Tart Plushie using your blueprint as a guide.

Objectives

Completed plushie must be fully stuffed and closed
Front panel must have a custom frosting/sprinkle design using appliqué or embroidery
All seams must be whip-stitched or blanket-stitched closed
Plushie must be able to stand up to gentle handling without seams splitting
All sharps (needles, pins) returned to pin cushion or kit before cleanup

7 materials

8 tips

Reference: Sewing Room Safety

Sewing Room Safety: The Essential Student Guide — sharps management, scissor discipline, workspace awareness, equipment maintenance

Visual Design Foundations & Digital Identity

3D Clay Sculpture & Cultural Art