Clothing Handicrafts: Types and Features

What are clothing handicrafts?

A handicraft is something made by hand with simple tools. Clothing handicrafts use cloth, thread or yarn. Yarn is a long, thick thread made by twisting fibres.

The tools are small: a needle, a hook, a hoop, scissors. The maker needs patience more than machines. Each piece is a little different, so it feels special.

Four main types are in this lesson: embroidery, knitting, crochet and patchwork.

Embroidery: decorating cloth with stitches

Embroidery means sewing pictures or patterns on cloth that already exists. A stitch is one pass of the needle and thread through the cloth.

• Tools: needle, coloured thread, a hoop (a ring that holds the cloth tight), scissors.
• Common stitches: running stitch (dashes in a line), back stitch (a solid line), satin stitch (fills a shape), chain stitch (a line of small loops).
• Features: the cloth does not change shape; only the surface is decorated. It is slow but gives very fine detail.
• Examples: chikankari, phulkari, kantha, and sashiko from Japan.

Knitting and crochet: cloth made from loops

In knitting and crochet there is no cloth at the start. You make the cloth from yarn. The cloth is made of loops joined to each other.

Knitting: two long needles. Many loops stay on the needle at the same time. You make a new row by pulling new loops through the old ones. Use it for sweaters, socks and scarves.

Crochet: one hook. Only one loop is open at a time. You pull the yarn through the loop to make a chain, then build rows on the chain. Use it for caps, bags, doilies and toys.

Features: both are soft, warm and stretchy because loops can open a little. Knitting is smooth and flat. Crochet is thicker and easier to shape. If you pull one loop in a mistake, a knitted row can unravel, so work carefully.

Patchwork, quilting and other crafts

Patchwork joins small pieces of cloth (patches) into a bigger cloth. Patches may be squares, triangles or hexagons. It is a good way to reuse old clothes. The patches can be sewn by hand or by machine.

Quilting stitches three layers together: the patchwork top, a soft filling and a back cloth. The result is warm. Appliqué means sewing a cut-out shape on top of a cloth.

Other clothing crafts: macramé (knotted cords), lace-making (open threadwork), beadwork (beads sewn on cloth) and tie-dye (tied cloth dipped in colour).

Compare the features and choose a craft

Ask five questions to compare any craft: What is the tool? What is the base (cloth or yarn)? How is it made? How does it look and feel? What is it used for?

• Want to decorate a plain shirt: embroidery or appliqué.
• Want something warm and stretchy: knitting or crochet.
• Want to turn old scraps into something new: patchwork.

Also think about time, cost, and how much practice you have. Start with something small, like a hanky border or a small square.

Try it: make a mini patchwork

Cut 6 squares of 5 cm from old paper or cloth in different colours. Place them in 2 rows of 3. Count the patches. Now stitch or glue them edge to edge. Ask yourself: how many patches would a 4 by 5 quilt need? (Answer: 20.) Then open the 3D above and use the slider to count patches and stitches.

Key formulas and definitions

• Handicraft = made by hand with simple tools
• Embroidery = needle + thread decorating cloth that already exists
• Knitting = 2 needles, many loops open at once, makes new fabric
• Crochet = 1 hook, 1 loop open at a time, makes new fabric
• Patchwork = small cloth pieces joined into a bigger cloth
• Patches in a quilt = rows × columns

Worked examples

Common mistakes

• Thinking embroidery makes new cloth. It only decorates cloth that already exists.
• Mixing up knitting and crochet. Knitting uses two needles; crochet uses one hook.
• Thinking patchwork is only for old clothes. Patchwork can use new cloth too; it is the joining of pieces that matters.
• Pulling stitches too tight. The cloth puckers (wrinkles) and the pattern looks uneven.