Question 1: Describe how fabric can be shaped using pleating techniques. Include the purpose of pleats in textile design.

Answer: Pleating involves folding fabric systematically and pressing or sewing it to hold the folds. It allows the fabric to expand or contract, creating texture, volume, or decorative effects in garments and textiles.

Question 2: Explain the difference between gathering and shirring as methods of shaping fabric. Provide one example of where each technique might be used.

Answer: Gathering involves bunching fabric together by sewing multiple rows of stitches to create ruffles or volume, often used in skirts or sleeves. Shirring uses parallel rows of elastic thread sewn into the fabric, creating a stretchy, ruched effect, commonly seen in fitted bodices or cuffs.

Question 3: Identify two fabric manipulation techniques used to shape fabric without cutting or sewing, and briefly describe how each technique is performed.

Answer: One technique is fabric folding, where fabric is folded into specific shapes and pressed to hold the form. Another is fabric gathering, where fabric is sewn with loose stitches and then pulled to create ruffles or texture.

Question 4: Draw a simple sketch showing a fabric that has been shaped by pinching and tacking to create a three-dimensional effect. Label the key areas.

Answer: A correct sketch would show fabric with areas pinched together and secured with stitches or tacks, creating small pleats or ridges that give a three-dimensional form. Label the pinched areas and secured points.

Question 5: Describe how fabric can be manipulated using fabric manipulation techniques to create textured surface effects. Give two examples.

Answer: Fabric manipulation techniques involve folding, pleating, gathering, or tucking fabric to create texture. Examples include scrunching fabric to produce a ruffled surface or pleating fabric to add structured texture.

Question 6: Sketch a design for a fabric that has been shaped using darts. Show the placement of the darts and explain their purpose.

Answer: A correct sketch would show fabric with dart lines marked in areas such as the bust or waist. The darts should be drawn as tapered folds sewn into the fabric, shaping it to fit the contours of the body.

Question 7: Explain the process of moulding fabric over a shaped form to achieve a specific shape. What are some common applications of this technique?

Answer: Moulding fabric involves stretching or wrapping fabric tightly over a form or mannequin and securing it in place, often using glue or stitching. This technique is used in dressmaking, costume design, or millinery to create sculptural shapes or fitted forms.

Question 8: Identify a textile shaping technique that involves shrinking or stretching fabric and describe how it alters the fabric’s shape.

Answer: Shaping by shrinking involves applying heat or chemicals to contract the fabric, creating a gathered or puckered effect. Stretching involves pulling the fabric during or after construction to create tension, often used in knitwear to create a fitted shape.

Question 9: Describe how fabric can be manipulated to create volume or three-dimensional effects for a fashion piece.

Answer: Fabric can be manipulated by techniques such as padding, gathering, or pleating to add volume. These methods involve adding extra material or creating folds that stand out from the surface, giving a three-dimensional appearance.

Question 10: Sketch a design of a textile item where fabric has been shaped by tucking and tacking to form decorative folds. Show the tacked areas.

Answer: A correct sketch would display fabric with several tucks and tacking stitches forming decorative folds or rosettes. The tacked points should be clearly indicated to show where the fabric is secured to hold the shape.