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UPMSP Vocational Embroidery study materials
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UPMSP Vocational Embroidery practice questions

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Question 1Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

In a hand embroidery needle, which part is pierced to carry the thread through the fabric?

  1. The eye, drilled through the blunt end Correct answer.
  2. The taper, running along the shaft
  3. The shank, thickened near the middle
  4. The point, ground sharp at the very tip

Explanation

The eye is the small hole pierced through the blunt end of a hand embroidery needle, and it is the part that carries the thread through the fabric. The point is the sharpened tip that penetrates the weave, while the shank is the body of the needle between the eye and the point. A good needle has an eye large enough to let the chosen thread pass without fraying it, but not so large that it drags and enlarges the stitch hole.

Question 2Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

Why is the fabric stretched firmly in an embroidery hoop before stitching begins?

  1. To keep the design centred on the frame
  2. To stop the raw edges of the fabric from fraying badly
  3. To hold the fabric taut so the stitches lie flat Correct answer.
  4. To let the needle pass through without a thimble

Explanation

Fabric is stretched in a hoop so that it behaves like a flat, stable surface while work is in progress. Even tension stops the stitches from drawing the weave together, so satin stitch and long-and-short shading stay smooth and the motif does not pucker after the hoop is removed. The fabric should feel drum-tight, yet not stretched so hard that the weave is permanently distorted.

Question 3Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

A new skein of stranded embroidery cotton is supplied with how many separable strands?

  1. Six Correct answer.
  2. Two
  3. Three
  4. Twelve

Explanation

Stranded cotton, also called embroidery floss, is sold as a skein of six loosely twisted strands that can be separated by the stitcher. The worker separates the number of strands the design needs, using one strand for fine detail and three or more for bold coverage, then recombines them before threading. Working with all six strands at once gives a thick, corded line suited only to heavy work such as edging or couching.

Question 4Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

A student embroidering fine cotton voile finds that the needle leaves visible holes along the design line. Which change is the best remedy?

  1. Pulling every stitch tighter to close the holes
  2. Using a heavier needle to open the weave cleanly
  3. Using a finer sharp needle matched to the thread Correct answer.
  4. Switching to a blunt tapestry needle

Explanation

Holes appear when the needle is thicker than the space the weave can close around once the thread has passed through. A fine sharp needle, that is one with a higher size number, slips between the yarns and the fibres close up again after the work is washed and pressed. Heavier or blunt needles either force the yarns apart or split them, so the marks become permanent.

Question 5Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

What is the recommended working length for a strand of embroidery thread drawn from a skein?

  1. About 100 cm, the full length of a skein
  2. About 10 cm, to avoid any waste of thread
  3. About 45 cm, roughly fingertips to elbow Correct answer.
  4. About 25 cm, twice the length of the needle

Explanation

Thread longer than about 45 cm, roughly the distance from the fingertips to the elbow, rubs against itself every time it is drawn through the fabric. That friction causes fraying, knotting and a dull, fuzzy surface on the finished stitch. Cutting a fresh arm's length whenever the thread shortens is quicker than fighting tangles caused by an over-long strand.

Question 6Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

A tracing wheel is used together with which item to transfer an embroidery design onto fabric?

  1. Greaseproof kitchen paper
  2. Printed graph paper
  3. Dressmaker's carbon paper Correct answer.
  4. Translucent tracing paper

Explanation

A tracing wheel has small spurs that perforate the design line, and it is worked over dressmaker's carbon so that the coloured coating is pushed through the perforations onto the fabric beneath. The result is a dotted line that follows curves accurately and can be used on fabrics that are too dark or too thick for a light box. Papers without a pigment coating cannot transfer a mark of any kind.

Question 7Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

In machine embroidery, the bobbin thread is normally chosen to be:

  1. The same heavy metallic thread that is used on top
  2. A colour match, whatever its weight happens to be
  3. A fine thread thinner than the top thread Correct answer.
  4. A thick crochet cotton for extra bulk

Explanation

In machine embroidery the decorative thread is on top, so the bobbin thread only has to form and lock the stitch underneath. A fine 60s or 90s bobbin thread keeps the reverse flat, reduces bulk in dense designs and lets the top thread pull the knot to the wrong side. A heavy bobbin thread stiffens the motif and drags the top thread downwards, spoiling the surface.

Question 8Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

Before a motif is machine-embroidered on a stretch cotton knit, the back of the fabric should be supported with:

  1. An iron-on or cut-away stabilizer Correct answer.
  2. A coat of liquid fabric stiffener
  3. A layer of tissue paper only
  4. A second layer of the same knit fabric

Explanation

Knitted fabric stretches in every direction, so stitching on an unsupported knit makes the motif ripple and the fabric bounce under the needle. An iron-on or cut-away stabilizer is fused or tacked to the wrong side to give a firm temporary surface that the hoop can grip, and it is trimmed or torn away when the embroidery is finished. This keeps the design in shape without changing the drape of the garment permanently.

Question 9Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

Hand embroidery needles carry size numbers. Which statement about these numbers is correct?

  1. The number gives the fabric thread count it suits
  2. A higher number denotes a finer, shorter needle Correct answer.
  3. The number gives the needle's length in millimetres
  4. A higher number denotes a thicker, longer needle

Explanation

Hand embroidery needles are numbered in inverse order to their thickness, so a size 1 is long and heavy while a size 12 is short and fine. The number is a gauge, not a measurement in millimetres and not a statement of fabric count. A stitcher therefore moves to a higher number when working on finer fabric or with a finer thread, and to a lower number for heavy threads and coarse weaves.

Question 10Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

Which combination is the soundest technical choice for a delicate floral motif on fine silk?

  1. A long darning needle with six strands of pearl cotton in a spring hoop
  2. A size 1 chenille needle with three strands of tapestry wool
  3. A blunt tapestry needle with a metallic thread in a spring hoop
  4. A size 10 sharp needle, one strand of stranded cotton, screw hoop Correct answer.

Explanation

Fine silk marks easily, so it needs a fine sharp needle, a soft light thread and firm but adjustable tension. A screw-tension hoop lets the stitcher slacken the pressure as the silk relaxes, whereas a spring hoop grips at a fixed tension that can leave hoop marks. Heavy needles and thick threads such as wool or pearl cotton add weight the delicate fabric cannot carry and will distort the motif.

Question 11Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

Which hand embroidery needle has a blunt point and a long eye, making it suitable for counted-thread work on Aida cloth?

  1. Sharps needle
  2. Beading needle
  3. Tapestry needle Correct answer.
  4. Crewel needle

Explanation

A tapestry needle is made with a blunt tip so it slips between the woven threads of Aida or evenweave instead of splitting them. Its long eye accepts the thicker threads often used in counted-thread embroidery. Crewel and sharps needles have sharp points, while beading needles are extremely fine.

Question 12Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

During hand embroidery, what is the main purpose of wearing a thimble on the middle finger of the stitching hand?

  1. To smooth the fabric surface after each completed stitch
  2. To measure and cut uniform lengths of embroidery thread
  3. To shield the finger and push the needle through firm fabric Correct answer.
  4. To hold the fabric taut against the edge of the hoop

Explanation

A thimble is a rigid cap that protects the fingertip while the embroiderer pushes the needle through dense or layered fabric. It also gives controlled pressure so the needle passes through without bending or piercing the skin. Holding the hoop, measuring thread, and smoothing fabric are separate tasks.

Question 13Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

A misplaced block of satin stitches must be removed from a cotton ground fabric without cutting the cloth. Which tool is designed for lifting and slicing those stitches?

  1. Curved embroidery scissors
  2. A stiletto
  3. A needle gauge
  4. A seam ripper Correct answer.

Explanation

A seam ripper has a small pointed blade that slides under a stitch and cuts it while the rounded back helps protect the ground fabric. Curved embroidery scissors are for trimming thread tails or clipping curves, not for lifting individual stitches. A stiletto makes holes and a needle gauge measures needle size.

Question 14Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

An embroiderer is working a heavy bullion knot with six strands of pearl cotton on medium-weight linen. Which needle is the best choice?

  1. A beading needle with a very fine eye and long shaft
  2. A sharps needle with a short round eye and sharp point
  3. A tapestry needle with a blunt point and long eye
  4. A chenille needle with a large eye and sharp point Correct answer.

Explanation

A chenille needle combines a sharp point that penetrates medium-weight linen with a large eye that accepts several strands of pearl cotton. The large eye reduces thread abrasion when the heavy knot is pulled through. Tapestry needles are blunt, beading needles are too fine, and sharps have eyes too small for six strands.

Question 15Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

For free-motion machine embroidery, which presser foot is normally fitted so the fabric can be moved in any direction while the needle stitches?

  1. A standard zigzag presser foot
  2. A walking presser foot
  3. A buttonhole presser foot
  4. A spring-loaded darning foot Correct answer.

Explanation

A spring-loaded darning foot holds the fabric only during needle penetration and lifts clear between stitches, allowing the embroiderer to move the hoop freely. A standard zigzag foot grips the fabric and prevents free movement. Walking feet feed layers evenly for straight sewing, and buttonhole feet control a fixed slot.

Question 16Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

A dense floral design is to be machine-embroidered on a cotton jersey knit, and the customer wants permanent support that will not fray away after washing. Which backing should be used?

  1. Tear-away stabilizer
  2. Cut-away stabilizer Correct answer.
  3. Heat-away stabilizer
  4. Water-soluble film

Explanation

Cut-away stabilizer remains permanently around the embroidered area, giving continuous support to a stretch knit and helping prevent stitch distortion. Tear-away is removed after stitching and can leave weak edges, while water-soluble and heat-away products are designed to disappear. For dense designs on knit, the permanent support of cut-away is the sound choice.

Question 17Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

Which machine embroidery needle is designed with an enlarged eye and a special scarf to reduce friction and thread breakage when stitching with metallic thread?

  1. An embroidery sharp
  2. A leather needle
  3. A ballpoint needle
  4. A metallic needle Correct answer.

Explanation

A metallic needle has an enlarged eye and a modified scarf and groove to protect delicate metallic thread from friction and fraying. Ballpoint needles are for knits, leather needles have a wedge point, and embroidery sharps are for woven fabrics with standard threads. Matching the needle to metallic thread is essential to reduce breakage.

Question 18Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

Which small tool is used to measure the diameter of a hand embroidery needle and identify its size?

  1. A stiletto
  2. A thimble
  3. A thread conditioner
  4. A needle gauge Correct answer.

Explanation

A needle gauge has holes or slots marked with needle sizes; the needle should pass through the correctly sized hole to confirm its diameter. It helps an embroiderer replace a lost needle with the same size. A stiletto makes holes, a thimble protects the finger, and thread conditioner lubricates thread.

Question 19Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

In machine embroidery, a 40-weight rayon thread is used on top. How does its thickness compare with a 60-weight bobbin thread, and why is that pairing common?

  1. The 60-weight thread must always be used on top because a higher number gives a thicker stitch that covers the fabric more quickly
  2. The 40-weight top thread is thicker than the 60-weight bobbin thread, so the finer bobbin thread keeps the underside from bulking up Correct answer.
  3. The 40-weight top thread is thinner than the 60-weight bobbin thread, and the heavier bobbin thread improves top coverage
  4. The two weights are interchangeable because weight describes color rather than thickness, so either can be used in the bobbin

Explanation

Thread weight numbering runs opposite to thickness: a lower number means a heavier thread, so 40-weight is thicker than 60-weight. Using a finer 60-weight bobbin thread under a 40-weight top thread reduces bulk on the underside and helps form clean stitches. Weight is a measure of thread thickness, not color.

Question 20Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

When embroidering a dense design on looped terry toweling, a water-soluble stabilizer is placed on top of the fabric. What is its purpose?

  1. To lubricate the needle and reduce heat during high-speed stitching
  2. To replace the bobbin thread when the design has more than six colors
  3. To hold the terry loops flat so they do not work up through the stitches Correct answer.
  4. To add permanent body to the towel so the design cannot crease

Explanation

Terry toweling has loops that can be pushed up through dense embroidery, producing a rough, uneven surface. A water-soluble topping holds those loops flat during stitching and then washes away cleanly. It does not add permanent body, lubricate the needle, or replace bobbin thread.

Question 21Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

Which embroidery thread is a tightly twisted cord sold in balls under size numbers such as 5, 8 and 12, and is chosen for outlines and French knots because it cannot be separated into strands?

  1. Six-strand stranded cotton
  2. Pearl cotton Correct answer.
  3. Mulberry silk floss
  4. Wool crewel yarn

Explanation

Pearl cotton is a twisted, non-divisible cord, so it gives a firm, rounded line with a soft sheen rather than a flat one. Its numbering works in reverse to most threads: size 5 is thicker than size 12, so a lower number produces a bolder line for outlines, coral knots and French knots.

Question 22Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

On a 14-count Aida cloth, how many embroidery blocks are there in one inch (2.54 cm) of the fabric?

  1. 14 Correct answer.
  2. 7
  3. 18
  4. 28

Explanation

The count of an Aida or evenweave fabric states how many stitching blocks or threads lie in one inch, so 14-count Aida gives 14 blocks per 2.54 cm. Dividing the block width of a chart by 14 converts it into inches, which is how the fabric quantity for a design is worked out before purchase.

Question 23Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

Which cutting tool has short, sharply pointed curved blades that let a stitcher snip a thread flush with the fabric surface?

  1. Dressmaker's shears with 20 cm blades
  2. Pinking shears with zigzag blades
  3. Curved embroidery scissors Correct answer.
  4. Buttonhole scissors with an adjustable screw stop

Explanation

Curved embroidery scissors have short, fine points and a curved blade, so the tip can slide under a thread and cut it close to the cloth without catching finished stitches. The curve also lifts the cutting action away from the work, keeping the view of the motif clear.

Question 24Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

A needleworker is working an eyelet motif and needs a tapered, pointed tool that will hold the fabric steady and push the threads apart to open the hole. Which tool is most suitable?

  1. A pin magnet
  2. A tracing wheel
  3. A stiletto Correct answer.
  4. A needle gauge

Explanation

A stiletto is a tapered, sharply pointed tool, usually set in a wooden handle, used to hold a loop or fabric edge steady and to open eyelets and buttonholes by pushing the yarns apart. Because it separates rather than cuts the threads, the hole can be worked and then closed neatly.

Question 25Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

A cotton jersey knit is to be machine-embroidered with a dense logo. Which needle point should be fitted so that the knit loops are pushed aside instead of being cut?

  1. Metallic point
  2. Ball point Correct answer.
  3. Leather point
  4. Sharp point

Explanation

A ball point needle has a rounded tip that slips between the loops of a knit and pushes them aside, so the fabric does not develop ladders or needle holes. A sharp point is intended for woven fabrics, where it pierces cleanly between the yarns.

Question 26Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

Which traditional method transfers a design by perforating the outline along a padded surface and then rubbing fine powder through the holes?

  1. Printed template taped under a window
  2. Dressmaker's carbon with a tracing wheel
  3. Iron-on transfer pencil and iron
  4. Pricking and pouncing Correct answer.

Explanation

In pricking and pouncing, the design line is pricked through with a needle or pricker, then a fine coloured powder is dabbed through the holes and the dotted result is painted in. It is used for thick, dark or piled fabrics that cannot be traced through on a light box.

Question 27Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

Which quality of a machine embroidery thread most directly decides whether it survives high-speed stitching without fraying or breaking?

  1. The light fastness rating given by the supplier
  2. The shade number printed on the spool
  3. The total length of thread wound on the spool
  4. Abrasion resistance and tensile strength Correct answer.

Explanation

During stitching the thread passes through the needle eye and needle plate thousands of times, so its resistance to abrasion together with its tensile strength decides whether it shreds or snaps. Shade numbering, fastness and spool length affect appearance, fading and cost, but not the thread's behaviour inside the machine.

Question 28Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

A large crewel panel must be held drum-tight while it is stitched over many weeks, with the worked parts rolled away as the design progresses. Which equipment suits this work?

  1. A slate frame with side lacing Correct answer.
  2. A rectangular plastic hoop with a tightening screw
  3. A 15 cm spring hoop
  4. A hoop held in an adjustable clip stand

Explanation

A slate frame carries webbing tapes on the top and bottom bars and lacing cords at the sides, so a wide panel can be tensioned evenly and rolled onto the bars as the stitching advances. A hoop grips only a small area and leaves the rest of a large panel unsupported, so the fabric distorts.

Question 29Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

A dense motif is stitched on a light woven cotton over a light tear-away backing. After the backing is torn off, the edges of the motif look pulled and the fabric cups. What is the most likely cause?

  1. The bobbin had been wound with a very fine lingerie thread
  2. The stabilizer was too light for the stitch density Correct answer.
  3. The machine had been fitted with an embroidery needle
  4. The upper thread used was a 40-weight rayon

Explanation

A dense motif needs a backing whose weight matches its stitch count; if the tear-away is too light, the needle pushes fabric between the stitches and the edges draw in, so the motif cups once the support is removed. The remedy is to match stabilizer weight to density or add a second layer under the design.

Question 30Embroidery tools, equipment and materials

Which consumable is drawn along metallic or slippery embroidery thread before stitching to reduce friction, fraying and tangling?

  1. Water-soluble fabric glue
  2. Tailor's chalk
  3. Spray starch
  4. Thread conditioner (beeswax) Correct answer.

Explanation

Thread conditioner, usually beeswax or a silicone preparation, is run down the length of the thread so that it smooths the fibres and lowers friction at the needle eye, helping metallic and slippery threads resist fraying and tangling. It should be applied thinly, because a heavy coating can dull the sheen of metallic and silk threads.

Question 31Basic hand stitches and stitch techniques

A candidate must hold two layers of fabric together temporarily before the final seam is stitched, and the stitches will be pulled out afterwards. Which hand stitch is the correct choice for this work?

  1. Back stitch
  2. Satin stitch
  3. Blanket stitch
  4. Running stitch Correct answer.

Explanation

Running stitch is made by passing the needle in and out of the fabric at short, even intervals, so it works up quickly and can be pulled out with ease. That is why it is the standard choice for tacking, basting and gathering rather than for permanent seams.

Question 32Basic hand stitches and stitch techniques

Which hand stitch produces a firm, continuous line that looks like machine stitching and is therefore chosen for seams and outlines that must not pull apart?

  1. Herringbone stitch
  2. Stem stitch
  3. Back stitch Correct answer.
  4. Chain stitch

Explanation

In back stitch the needle comes up a short distance ahead of the previous stitch and then goes back down into the end of that same stitch, so each new stitch locks against the last. This overlapping action gives an unbroken, strong line that resists pulling.

Question 33Basic hand stitches and stitch techniques

A small raised dot is needed at the centre of a flower. The needle is brought up at that point, the thread is wrapped two or three times around the needle, and the needle is returned just beside the exit point. Which stitch is being described?

  1. Bullion knot
  2. Seed stitch
  3. French knot Correct answer.
  4. Lazy daisy

Explanation

A French knot is made by wrapping the working thread around the needle a few times and then returning the needle to the fabric close to, but not exactly in, the exit hole. The wraps slide down and tighten into a compact raised dot.

Question 34Basic hand stitches and stitch techniques

A worker must embroider a broad leaf on a cushion cover so that the surface is glossy, smooth and slightly raised, with no fabric showing between stitches. Which method gives this result?

  1. Working a single row of stem stitch around the edge and shading the inside sparsely with seed stitches.
  2. Outlining the shape in chain stitch and leaving the whole centre of the leaf completely unfilled.
  3. Filling the shape with widely spaced back stitches that run in several different directions.
  4. Padding the shape with small running stitches, then covering it with closely packed straight stitches. Correct answer.

Explanation

Closely packed straight stitches laid side by side make a satin stitch surface that reflects light evenly. Working a pad of small running stitches underneath first lifts the shape so the satin surface stays smooth and raised instead of sinking into the fabric.

Question 35Basic hand stitches and stitch techniques

A paisley motif on a kurta needs a narrow, unbroken outline with a slight rope-like twist along its edge. Which stitch is worked with the needle kept on the same side of the working thread to give this effect?

  1. Blanket stitch
  2. Satin stitch
  3. Running stitch
  4. Stem stitch Correct answer.

Explanation

Stem stitch is worked along a line with the stitches overlapping by about half and the needle kept consistently on one side of the working thread. Holding the thread to the same side makes the stitches slant in one direction, producing the characteristic rope-like twist of the outline.

Question 36Basic hand stitches and stitch techniques

How is the needle positioned when blanket stitch is worked along the raw edge of an appliqué square?

  1. The needle goes down and up at exactly the same point on the edge, producing a small raised dot.
  2. The needle is passed through from the wrong side only, so all the loops are formed on the back of the work.
  3. The needle enters and leaves the fabric on the right side only and never crosses the raw edge at all.
  4. The needle enters above the raw edge and comes out over it, with the working thread looped under the needle point. Correct answer.

Explanation

Blanket stitch is worked from the front: the needle is taken down a short distance above the raw edge and brought out over the edge itself. The working thread is held under the needle point so a loop forms along the edge as the stitch is pulled firm.

Question 37Basic hand stitches and stitch techniques

In split stitch the needle is brought up through the middle of the previous stitch instead of beside it. What does this produce?

  1. A row of detached loops that can be used as flower petals
  2. A fine, firm, rope-like line that follows curves smoothly Correct answer.
  3. A wide, flat band that completely hides the fabric beneath it
  4. A raised, padded dot suitable for flower centres

Explanation

Splitting the previous stitch with the needle locks each new stitch into the last and gives a narrow, even, corded line. Because the line stays thin and flexible, split stitch turns smoothly around curves and is widely used for outlines and fine filling.

Question 38Basic hand stitches and stitch techniques

A worker makes a flower in which each petal is a separate loop of thread held down at its tip by one tiny straight stitch. Which stitch is this?

  1. French knot
  2. Blanket stitch
  3. Detached chain stitch (lazy daisy) Correct answer.
  4. Chain stitch worked in a continuous line

Explanation

Lazy daisy is a detached chain stitch: each loop is completed and anchored by a small straight stitch over its tip before the thread moves on. Because the loops are separate, they can be arranged as individual petals around a centre.

Question 39Basic hand stitches and stitch techniques

A very thick metallic thread frays and snaps when it is repeatedly drawn through the fabric as a working thread. Which technique suits this thread, and why?

  1. Couching: lay the thread on the surface and tie it down at short intervals with a fine matching thread. Correct answer.
  2. Satin stitch: use the metallic thread as the working thread so the sheen covers the shape quickly.
  3. Back stitch: work the metallic thread in long stitches so that fewer needle movements are needed.
  4. Bullion knots: knot the thread at the back and coil it along the curve to spread the thickness.

Explanation

Couching carries the thick or fragile thread on the surface of the fabric and holds it with small, evenly spaced tie-down stitches worked in a finer thread. Since the decorative thread never has to pass through the fabric, its surface and strength are preserved.

Question 40Basic hand stitches and stitch techniques

When a bullion knot is worked, the working thread is wrapped several times around the needle before the needle is drawn through. What decides how many wraps are used?

  1. The length of knot required, because the wraps slide off the needle to form the coil. Correct answer.
  2. The size of the embroidery hoop, because a larger hoop needs a longer coil.
  3. The thickness of the needle, because every wrap must cover the eye completely.
  4. The number of plies in the thread, because each ply needs one wrap.

Explanation

The wraps around the needle are what become the body of the bullion knot when the needle is pulled through. A greater number of wraps therefore makes a longer coil and fewer wraps make a shorter one, so the wrap count is matched to the length of knot the design needs.

Question 41Basic hand stitches and stitch techniques

A simple border on a cotton table runner requires a straight, dashed line in which each stitch and each space is the same length. Which hand stitch should be used?

  1. Running stitch Correct answer.
  2. Chain stitch
  3. Satin stitch
  4. French knot

Explanation

Running stitch is a straight stitch worked in and out of the fabric at regular intervals, producing a dashed line. Equal stitch and space lengths give the even, balanced border described, and the stitch is also used for gathering and light seams.

Question 42Basic hand stitches and stitch techniques

A worker neatens the raw edge of a woven cotton appliqué shape with evenly spaced slanting stitches that pass over the edge. Which stitch is being used?

  1. Overcasting Correct answer.
  2. Slip hemming
  3. Seed stitch
  4. Cross stitch

Explanation

Overcasting is worked over a raw edge with evenly spaced slanting stitches that enclose the edge and help prevent fraying. The stitches pass over the edge rather than through a folded hem, which distinguishes it from hemming.

Question 43Basic hand stitches and stitch techniques

A tailor turns up a woollen skirt hem and wants the stitches to be almost invisible on the right side while the folded edge stays free. Which stitch is most suitable?

  1. Blanket stitch
  2. Slip hemming Correct answer.
  3. Running stitch
  4. Bullion knot

Explanation

Slip hemming takes tiny stitches inside the folded hem and picks up only a few threads of the garment, so the stitching barely shows on the right side. The folded edge remains free and flexible, which is suitable for a woollen skirt.

Question 44Basic hand stitches and stitch techniques

In chain stitch, after the needle comes up at the starting point and the thread is held under the needle, where is the needle inserted next?

  1. At right angles to the line
  2. Back into the same hole Correct answer.
  3. At the far end of the motif
  4. Halfway back along the line

Explanation

The needle is returned to the same hole it came up through, then brought out a short distance ahead with the working thread under it. This traps the loop and creates the linked chain.

Question 45Basic hand stitches and stitch techniques

A worker is embroidering branching fern-like sprays along the border of a woollen shawl. Which stitch naturally produces paired, slanting loops that open alternately left and right along a central line?

  1. Feather stitch Correct answer.
  2. Cross stitch
  3. Chain stitch
  4. Satin stitch

Explanation

Feather stitch is worked by taking alternating slanting stitches to the left and right of a central line, with the thread looped at each side. This creates the paired, branching loops used for fern and vine motifs.

Question 46Basic hand stitches and stitch techniques

In counted cross stitch, why are all the top arms of the crosses usually worked in the same direction?

  1. To reduce the number of needles used
  2. To stop the fabric edge from fraying badly
  3. To give an even sheen and a tidy surface Correct answer.
  4. To make the reverse side completely flat

Explanation

Light reflects differently from threads that slope in different directions, so keeping every top arm slanting the same way gives an even sheen. It also makes the crosses look uniform when the work is viewed as a whole.

Question 47Basic hand stitches and stitch techniques

A tailor needs to transfer the position of a pocket from a pattern to two layers of wool without leaving a permanent mark. Which technique is appropriate?

  1. Stem stitch
  2. French knots
  3. Couching
  4. Tailor's tacks Correct answer.

Explanation

Tailor's tacks are loose, temporary stitches worked through the pattern and both fabric layers, then separated to leave paired marks. They transfer positions accurately and are pulled out after the garment is assembled.

Question 48Basic hand stitches and stitch techniques

A worker is blanket-stitching around the outer curve of a circular appliqué. To keep the edge flat and evenly covered, how should the spacing of the stitches be adjusted?

  1. Place stitches closer together around the curve Correct answer.
  2. Increase the spacing on the outer curve
  3. Make every third stitch double length
  4. Keep the spacing exactly as for a straight edge

Explanation

On an outer curve the edge is longer than the line being stitched, so the stitches must be placed closer together to fan around the curve. This keeps the blanket stitch flat and prevents gaps or puckering.

Question 49Basic hand stitches and stitch techniques

A row of herringbone stitch on a heavy fabric shows unequal arms and a crooked lattice. Which change is most likely to correct this?

  1. Pull the working thread very tight after every stitch
  2. Work the row with a longer needle
  3. Begin each new stitch from the centre of the row
  4. Keep both slanting arms equal and parallel Correct answer.

Explanation

Herringbone depends on two matching slanting stitches that cross at the centre, so equal lengths and parallel angles produce a regular lattice. Tightening the thread or changing the needle does not correct unequal stitch placement.

Question 50Basic hand stitches and stitch techniques

A worn heel in a knitted sock is to be repaired with parallel rows of stitches across the gap, then crossed at right angles to rebuild the fabric. Which technique is being described?

  1. Satin stitch
  2. Bullion knot
  3. Darning Correct answer.
  4. Couching

Explanation

Darning rebuilds a hole or worn area by working parallel rows of stitches across the gap and then interlacing them with crossing rows. The resulting woven patch replaces the missing fabric without a separate piece.