44
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 1

In general it is to be constantly borne in mind that no opportunity should be lost of correlating sewing with other subjects of the school course; that the sewing lessons should be such as to establish closer relations between the home and the school, the articles selected for making being such as have some relation to the child’s need at home or at school; that the articles should be simple, and not such as to demand too long an application of the children’s attention; and that in all cases the necessary planning, measuring, drafting, cutting and fixing, to secure a proper educational result, must be done by the children themselves. Free and individual design for decorative purposes should be encouraged.

The following is the programme in needlework to which the work of the school should, as far as circumstances permit, conform; but modification of the scheme, following similar lines of development, or any other scheme (presented in the form of a written programme), may be accepted by the Inspector if it covers substantially the same range of work.

All stitches taught are to be used for making articles for personal or school use. Articles should be chosen which can be made in half a term or a term. Children should be encouraged to practise needlework at other than class times.

JUNIOR AND MIDDLE DIVISIONS.

STANDARD I.—Weaving, measuring (foot-rule). Stitches through coarse material with wool-needle and wool, twine or raffia; tacking, overcasting, cross-stitch, blanket-stitch, knitting. (Some of this work may be done in the preparatory class if desired.)

STANDARD II.—Further use of the needle and thimble. Blanket-stitch, cross-stitch, running, hemming, weaving, cutting and tearing material.

Materials.—Canvas, flannel, dowlas, unbleached calico, britway, wool, raffia, embroidery cotton.

Suggested Examples.—Mats, bags, bib, book-cover, needle-roll or house-wife, sewing-bag, bedding for doll’s bed, simple knitted articles, simple woven articles.

STANDARD III.—Oversewing, running and felling, back-stitching, button-hole stitching as applied to scalloping. Study of beginning and finishing work of right and wrong side of materials. The correct way of attaching fasteners required, crochet.

STANDARD IV.—Study of selvedge and crossway of materials. Folding, joining, and use of cross-way strips, back-stitching. Fastenings such as buttons and button-holes, loops, &c. Patch-pockets and applique work to be used for decoration.

Materials.—Canvas, flannel, dowlas, unbleached calico, huckaback, fade-less casement cloth, britway. Avoid cheap shoddy materials. Use coarse coloured embroidery cotton as far as possible and so make the stitches decorative.

Suggested Examples.—Similar articles to those enumerated above, cookery apron and cap, cushion-covers, work-bags, wall-pocket, doll’s clothes, babies’ clothes, and small articles for their use.

Tools.—Thimbles, coarse needles, tape-measure, scissors, paper, cardboard, knitting-needles, crochet-hook.

(N.B.—The order in which the different stitches are studied will depend on the articles chosen; as far as possible children leaving Standard IV should know all the everyday stitches and how they are made.)

SENIOR DIVISION

STANDARD V.—Herring-boning and feather-stitching; mending (including darning and patching). Children to be encouraged to mend actual garments. Lessons in cutting out from drafts or paper patterns. Making of simple garments for their own use.

STANDARD VI.—Review of all stitches, further practice in mending, pleating, gathering, putting on band. Study of placing and putting together of patterns. Making of garments by the pupils for their own use.

Materials.—Soft firmly-woven cotton materials, as fadeless casement-cloth, britway, Italian cloth, print, madapolam are best. The better workers, if they desire, can use fuji or tussore silk and woollen materials. Finer cottons for purely constructive work as well as coarser threads for decorative construction.

Suggested Examples.—Babies’, children’s and girls’ clothes. Articles for home or school use.

Tools.—The use and care of the sewing-machine. Needles of various kinds, &c.