Stitch sample lesson for beginners

This ready-to-use lesson resource is designed for teachers delivering introductory textiles and sewing skills. It provides a complete lesson PowerPoint that walks students step-by-step through essential skills, safety, and stitch techniques.

Covers the basics:

• Health & safety routines in a textiles room
• How to correctly thread a sewing machine
• Key terminology (needle, thread, stitch types, etc.)
• Understanding stitch length and width

Engaging and structured activities:

• Mini-whiteboard starter questions to check prior knowledge
• Clear step-by-step diagrams and guides for threading
• Paired practical activity to build confidence using machines
• Plenary recap questions to assess learning

Teacher-friendly design:

• Straightforward slides with visual guides
• Clear instructions for setting up a safe practical environment
• Includes a stitch sample task (straight and zigzag stitch) to build foundation skills
• Links to an ongoing project (bean bag construction)

This resource is ideal for KS3 Textiles / Design & Technology classes, especially for Year 7 beginners, but can also support cover lessons or refreshers for older students who are new to sewing.

By the end of the lesson sequence, students will have developed confidence using a sewing machine, learned key technical language, and produced basic stitch samples to apply in future projects.