Question 1: Describe how embroidery differs from fabric painting in terms of technique and finished appearance.

Answer: Embroidery involves sewing decorative stitches onto fabric using needles and thread or yarn, creating textured patterns. Fabric painting involves applying dyes or paints directly onto the fabric surface, resulting in a flat, painted design.

Question 2: Explain the process of applying appliqué to a fabric. What are the key steps involved?

Answer: Appliqué involves cutting shapes from one fabric and sewing them onto a base fabric to create a decorative pattern. Key steps include designing the shape, cutting the fabric, positioning it on the base, and securely sewing around the edges, often using a satin stitch or zigzag stitch.

Question 3: Identify three different types of fabric dyes used for decoration and describe one characteristic of each.

Answer: 1. Reactive dyes: They bond chemically with fibers, offering vibrant, long-lasting colour. 2. Acid dyes: Used mainly on protein fibers like wool and silk, producing bright, intense colours. 3. Disperse dyes: Suitable for synthetic fibers, providing good colourfastness and vibrant shades.

Question 4: Draw a simple sketch of a fabric that has been tie-dyed, indicating the areas where the fabric would be tied or folded.

Answer: A sketch showing fabric with sections bound with elastic or string, creating resist areas. The tied areas should be depicted as tightly bundled or folded, with unbound sections in between.

Question 5: Explain what fabric distressing techniques are and give two examples of how they can be used to decorate textiles.

Answer: Fabric distressing involves intentionally damaging or altering fabric to create a worn or vintage look. Examples include sanding or abrading fabric to create frayed edges or holes, and acid washing or bleaching to lighten areas for a faded effect.

Question 6: Sketch a design for a fabric using fabric manipulation to create a textured surface. Label the different manipulated areas.

Answer: A sketch showing areas of gathered fabric, pleats, and tucks, with labels indicating each manipulation technique. The design should illustrate how different techniques add texture and interest to the fabric surface.

Question 7: Describe the difference between foil printing and flocking in fabric decoration.

Answer: Foil printing involves applying a metallic or pigmented foil onto the fabric surface using heat and adhesive, creating shiny, reflective designs. Flocking involves applying tiny fibers onto an adhesive-coated fabric to produce a velvety, textured surface.

Question 8: What are the advantages of using digital fabric printing over traditional screen printing?

Answer: Digital fabric printing allows for detailed, complex designs with a high level of accuracy and minimal setup time. It is more cost-effective for small runs and allows for on-demand customization, unlike traditional screen printing which requires creating screens and is better suited for larger batches.

Question 9: Sketch a pattern showing a repeating motif that could be used for fabric decoration, ensuring the motif can be seamlessly repeated.

Answer: A pattern sketch with a central motif designed to align and connect at the edges, demonstrating how the pattern repeats seamlessly across the fabric. The motif should be simple enough to tile without gaps or overlaps.