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WBBSE Madhyamik Sewing & Needle Work (Optional) study materials
WBBSE Madhyamik Sewing & Needle Work (Optional) study resources

WBBSE Madhyamik Sewing & Needle Work (Optional) practice questions

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Question 1Tools, Equipment and Their Care

In the sewing kit prescribed for Madhyamik Sewing & Needle Work, which tool is used mainly for measuring and marking a seam allowance of 1.5 cm along a fabric edge?

  1. Pinking shears
  2. Tailor's tape measure
  3. Sewing gauge Correct answer.
  4. Seam ripper

Explanation

A sewing gauge is a short metal or plastic ruler with a sliding marker, so a fixed width such as 1.5 cm can be set once and repeated along a hem or seam line. The sliding indicator keeps the measurement constant, which is why it is preferred for marking seam allowances and hems.

Question 2Tools, Equipment and Their Care

After use, the blades of a pair of dressmaking shears should be treated in which way to keep them in good working order?

  1. Washed in hot soapy water and left to soak
  2. Sharpened on a grinding wheel after every cutting session
  3. Wiped dry and given a thin film of oil at the pivot Correct answer.
  4. Stored closed tightly with the screw fully tightened

Explanation

Moisture left on steel blades causes rust, and a drop of oil at the pivot keeps the joint moving freely. Wiping the blades dry after cutting and oiling the screw occasionally is the standard care routine for dressmaking shears.

Question 3Tools, Equipment and Their Care

A candidate notices that her needle keeps making a large, ragged hole in cotton fabric and the thread snags at every stitch. Which condition of the needle most likely explains this?

  1. The needle point is blunt or burred Correct answer.
  2. The needle eye is too small for fine thread
  3. The needle is too fine for the thread
  4. The needle is too short for the machine

Explanation

A blunt or burred point pushes fibres apart instead of parting them cleanly, so it leaves visible holes and snags the thread. Replacing the needle restores a smooth passage through the fabric.

Question 4Tools, Equipment and Their Care

Which of the following is the correct reason for keeping pins in a closed pin cushion or magnetic holder rather than loose on the table?

  1. It stops the pins from rusting completely
  2. It makes the pins easier to thread
  3. It prevents loss of pins and accidental pricking of hands Correct answer.
  4. It keeps the pins sharp by polishing them

Explanation

Loose pins scatter easily, are difficult to find and can prick fingers or be stepped on. A closed cushion or magnetic holder keeps them gathered, safe and ready for use.

Question 5Tools, Equipment and Their Care

In the sewing room, the iron is placed on a stand rather than rested flat on the ironing board during pressing. What is the main reason for this practice?

  1. To keep the soleplate hot for longer
  2. To protect the board cover from scorching and allow safe handling of the hot soleplate Correct answer.
  3. To prevent the iron from rusting
  4. To save electricity between presses

Explanation

A hot soleplate resting directly on the cloth cover can scorch or burn it and is a fire risk. A stand holds the iron safely, protects the board and reduces the chance of accidental burns.

Question 6Tools, Equipment and Their Care

Which tool is most suitable for snipping threads close to the fabric surface while machine stitching?

  1. Tailor's shears
  2. Embroidery scissors with long blades
  3. Pinking shears
  4. Small sharp-pointed thread clippers Correct answer.

Explanation

Thread clippers have short, sharp points that reach close to the fabric and cut the thread cleanly without lifting or damaging the cloth. Large shears are clumsy for this fine task.

Question 7Tools, Equipment and Their Care

A candidate stores her sewing machine with the presser foot left down on the needle plate for several weeks. What problem is most likely to result?

  1. The presser foot spring may lose tension and the foot may mark the plate Correct answer.
  2. The needle will become blunt
  3. The bobbin winder will stop working
  4. The feed dogs will reverse direction

Explanation

Leaving the presser foot down keeps the spring compressed for a long period, which can weaken its tension, and the metal foot can leave marks on the plate. The foot should be raised when the machine is stored.

Question 8Tools, Equipment and Their Care

Why should dressmaking shears be reserved for cutting fabric only and never used on paper or plastic?

  1. The screw loosens only when paper is cut
  2. Paper leaves a sticky residue that cannot be removed
  3. Cutting hard materials dulls the fine cutting edge quickly Correct answer.
  4. Paper and plastic make the blades rust faster

Explanation

The long, finely ground edge of dressmaking shears is designed for cloth fibres. Paper and plastic are denser and abrasive, so they blunt the edge rapidly and the shears then chew rather than cut fabric.

Question 9Tools, Equipment and Their Care

A sewing machine needle is described as size 90/14. What does the first number on the needle packet indicate?

  1. The diameter of the needle blade in hundredths of a millimetre Correct answer.
  2. The recommended stitch length
  3. The length of the needle in millimetres
  4. The size of the thread the needle can hold

Explanation

Metric needle sizes express the blade diameter in hundredths of a millimetre, so a 90 needle is 0.90 mm thick. The second number is the equivalent American size, and both refer to the same blade thickness.

Question 10Tools, Equipment and Their Care

A candidate needs to mark a curved armhole line on dark cotton fabric so that the mark will not show on the finished garment. Which marking tool is most appropriate?

  1. A metal scriber
  2. A washable fabric marker or tailor's chalk Correct answer.
  3. A ballpoint pen
  4. A hard lead pencil

Explanation

Tailor's chalk and washable markers are designed to mark cloth and can be brushed or washed away afterwards. Pencils and pens leave permanent marks that may show through or stain the finished garment.

Question 11Tools, Equipment and Their Care

Which routine practice best protects a wooden cutting table in a school sewing room?

  1. Dusting it and covering it when not in use Correct answer.
  2. Washing it daily with water and detergent
  3. Oiling it before every cutting session
  4. Storing it in direct sunlight

Explanation

Wood swells and warps with water, and direct sun causes cracking, so the table should be kept dry, dusted and covered between sessions. This preserves a flat, smooth cutting surface.

Question 12Tools, Equipment and Their Care

A candidate's machine is skipping stitches on a medium-weight cotton. Which combination of needle and thread faults should she check first?

  1. A bent or blunt needle and a needle too fine for the thread Correct answer.
  2. A loose presser foot screw and a dull seam ripper
  3. A short stitch length and a loose belt
  4. A needle that is too thick and a bobbin that is overfilled

Explanation

Skipped stitches usually arise when the needle fails to form a clean loop, which happens with a bent or blunt needle or one too fine for the thread in use. Checking and replacing the needle with the correct size for the fabric and thread is the first remedy.

Question 13Tools, Equipment and Their Care

What is the correct way to clean lint from the bobbin case and feed dogs of a sewing machine?

  1. Wash the parts in water and dry them in the sun
  2. Scrape it out with a needle point
  3. Brush it out with the small brush supplied and remove the bobbin case Correct answer.
  4. Blow it away with compressed air

Explanation

Lint should be brushed out gently after removing the bobbin case, following the machine manual. Compressed air drives lint deeper into the mechanism and a needle point can scratch the machined surfaces.

Question 14Tools, Equipment and Their Care

A candidate finds that her tailor's chalk has become soft and crumbly in the humid season. What is the most suitable remedy?

  1. Use it only on wet fabric
  2. Soak it in water to harden it
  3. Bake it in an oven to dry it
  4. Store it in a dry, covered container and replace crumbly pieces Correct answer.

Explanation

Chalk absorbs moisture from humid air and loses its firmness, so dry storage in a covered box is the practical preventive measure. Crumbly pieces should be discarded because they leave smudged, inaccurate marks.

Question 15Tools, Equipment and Their Care

Which property makes a stainless steel ruler preferable to a wooden one for measuring fabric on a cutting table?

  1. It is lighter in weight
  2. It can be cut to size with shears
  3. It bends easily around curves
  4. It does not warp with moisture and resists nicks Correct answer.

Explanation

Steel stays straight and accurate because it does not absorb moisture, and its hard edge resists nicks from the rotary cutter or shears. A wooden ruler can warp and its edge can splinter.

Question 16Tools, Equipment and Their Care

After a sewing session, why should the sewing machine be switched off and unplugged before any cleaning or needle change is attempted?

  1. To cool the motor before the next session
  2. To prevent accidental starting of the machine and electric shock while hands are near the needle Correct answer.
  3. To release the bobbin tension
  4. To reset the stitch length automatically

Explanation

With the plug removed there is no chance of the motor starting while fingers are close to the needle or bobbin area, and the risk of electric shock is removed. Safety rules require the machine to be isolated before maintenance.

Question 17Tools, Equipment and Their Care

A candidate has two pairs of shears: one heavy tailor's shears and one small pair of embroidery scissors. Which assignment of tasks shows correct understanding of tool selection?

  1. Use embroidery scissors for both tasks because they are lighter
  2. Use tailor's shears for both tasks because they are sharper
  3. Use embroidery scissors for cutting the main garment pieces and tailor's shears for clipping curves
  4. Use tailor's shears for cutting the main garment pieces and embroidery scissors for clipping curves and trimming seams Correct answer.

Explanation

Heavy tailor's shears provide the long, stable cut needed for large pattern pieces, while small pointed embroidery scissors reach into curves and seam allowances. Matching the tool to the task protects both the fabric and the cutting edges.

Question 18Tools, Equipment and Their Care

A candidate's machine has been stored unused for a year and now runs stiffly with a dry, rattling sound. Which care routine addresses the cause most directly?

  1. Change the bobbin and adjust the presser foot pressure
  2. Replace the needle and rethread the machine
  3. Clean out old lint, apply the specified machine oil at the marked points and run it briefly without fabric Correct answer.
  4. Loosen the tension dial and increase the stitch length

Explanation

Long storage dries out the oil and lets lint harden in the bearings, so the machine runs stiffly. Cleaning, lubricating at the points marked in the manual and running it briefly restores smooth movement.

Question 19Tools, Equipment and Their Care

Why is a bent sewing machine needle more dangerous than a blunt one, even though both spoil the stitch?

  1. A bent needle uses more thread than a blunt one
  2. A bent needle cannot be threaded at all
  3. A bent needle makes the machine run faster
  4. A bent needle can strike the needle plate and break, sending fragments towards the user's face Correct answer.

Explanation

A bent needle is deflected from its true path and can hit the plate or bobbin case, snapping under pressure. The broken tip can fly upward, so the needle must be replaced at once.

Question 20Tools, Equipment and Their Care

A candidate is choosing between a rotary cutter and tailor's shears for cutting several layers of cotton. Which reasoning correctly weighs the tools' care requirements?

  1. The rotary cutter is better because its blade never needs replacing
  2. Both tools require no maintenance if used on cotton only
  3. The shears are better because they never need sharpening
  4. The rotary cutter gives clean multi-layer cuts but its blade must be retracted and replaced when dull, while shears need regular sharpening and screw adjustment Correct answer.

Explanation

A rotary cutter slices many layers accurately, but the blade is sharp, must be retracted after use and replaced once dull. Shears need periodic sharpening and a correctly set pivot screw, so each tool carries its own maintenance duty.

Question 21Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

In hand sewing, which stitch is worked by passing the needle up and down through the fabric at regular, equal intervals, producing the same appearance on both sides of the cloth?

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

Explanation

The running stitch is the simplest straight stitch: the needle travels in and out of the fabric in small even steps, so the dashes and gaps look identical on the right and wrong sides. It is used for tacking, gathering and light joining. Back stitch, blanket stitch and chain stitch each produce a distinct, non-identical reverse face.

Question 22Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

Which hand stitch is most suitable for securing a turned-under hem almost invisibly on the right side of the garment?

  1. Overcasting
  2. Slip hemming stitch Correct answer.
  3. Stab stitch
  4. Stem stitch

Explanation

In slip hemming the needle picks up only a few threads of the garment fold and a small bite of the hem allowance, so the thread is hidden between the layers. This makes it the standard invisible hemming stitch. Stab stitch, overcasting and stem stitch all leave visible surface work.

Question 23Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

What is the main purpose of a tacking (basting) stitch in garment construction?

  1. To decorate the neckline permanently
  2. To hold fabric layers temporarily before final stitching Correct answer.
  3. To attach buttons securely
  4. To finish raw edges against fraying

Explanation

Tacking uses long, loose running stitches to keep layers aligned temporarily during fitting or before machine stitching. The tacking threads are removed once the permanent seam is complete. Decoration, edge finishing and button attachment are done with other stitches.

Question 24Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

Which stitch is worked along a raw edge with the needle looping the thread over the edge, and is used to prevent fraying on fabrics that will not be hemmed?

  1. Overcasting stitch Correct answer.
  2. Running stitch
  3. Chain stitch
  4. Satin stitch

Explanation

Overcasting (oversewing) passes slanting stitches over a raw edge so the thread wraps it and stops the yarns from raveling. It is common on seam allowances and unhemmed edges. Running, chain and satin stitches are surface stitches that do not wrap the edge.

Question 25Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

A flat seam in which the raw edges are pressed open and the seam allowances are then stitched down separately to the garment is known as which of the following?

  1. Plain seam pressed open
  2. Run-and-fell seam
  3. Flat fell seam Correct answer.
  4. French seam

Explanation

A flat fell seam (flat fell) encloses the raw edges and is then topstitched so the allowances lie flat on one side, giving a strong neat finish seen on jeans and shirts. A French seam encloses edges inside a tube, while a plain open seam leaves edges exposed unless finished separately.

Question 26Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

Which seam is made by stitching the fabric wrong sides together, trimming the allowance, then turning and stitching again so the raw edges are completely enclosed?

  1. French seam Correct answer.
  2. Plain seam
  3. Lapped seam
  4. Flat fell seam

Explanation

The French seam is worked in two stages: first wrong sides together, then the work is turned so the first stitching is enclosed inside a second row. This hides all raw edges and gives a neat, strong finish for light fabrics. A plain seam leaves edges exposed, and lapped and flat fell seams join edges differently.

Question 27Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

When working a back stitch by hand, where should the needle be inserted for each new stitch?

  1. Exactly in the same hole as the previous stitch
  2. One stitch length ahead of the previous stitch, then brought back to meet it Correct answer.
  3. Half a stitch length behind the previous stitch, then forward one length
  4. At the end of the previous stitch, then brought forward two stitch lengths

Explanation

In back stitch the needle is brought up one stitch length ahead, then inserted back into the end of the previous stitch, creating a continuous line on the right side. The reverse face shows overlapping stitches. Repeating the same hole or working forward only would give running stitch, not back stitch.

Question 28Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

Which hand stitch produces a row of linked loops on the surface and is often used for decorative outlines and chain-like borders?

  1. Whip stitch
  2. Chain stitch Correct answer.
  3. Buttonhole stitch
  4. Herringbone stitch

Explanation

Chain stitch is formed by bringing the needle up, holding the thread in a loop and taking the needle down inside the previous loop, so each loop links to the next. It is a decorative outline stitch. Herringbone, buttonhole and whip stitches are crossing or edge-wrapping stitches, not linked loops.

Question 29Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

A tailor wants a strong, decorative stitch that crosses diagonally and is traditionally used to hold a hem on heavy fabric or to decorate a flannel garment. Which stitch fits best?

  1. Back stitch
  2. Herringbone stitch Correct answer.
  3. Slip stitch
  4. Running stitch

Explanation

Herringbone stitch works slanting stitches that cross each other in a zigzag, catching the hem allowance and the garment. On heavy or flannel fabrics it gives a strong, decorative hold. Running, slip and back stitches are plain joining or hemming stitches without the crossing pattern.

Question 30Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

Which of the following best describes a plain seam?

  1. An edge turned under twice and stitched
  2. A seam in which one edge overlaps another and is topstitched
  3. Two raw edges joined with a single row of stitching, usually with right sides together Correct answer.
  4. Two edges folded and interlocked without stitching

Explanation

A plain seam is the basic seam: right sides of the fabric are placed together and a single row of stitching joins the raw edges, leaving the allowances on the wrong side. It is the foundation seam from which most others are developed. Folding without stitching, double-turned edges and overlapped topstitched joins are different constructions.

Question 31Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

Why is the seam allowance usually trimmed and clipped at a curved neckline before turning?

  1. To make the seam weaker so it drapes
  2. To hide the stitching line
  3. To make the curve lie flat and prevent bulk when turned Correct answer.
  4. To add extra fabric for growth

Explanation

On a curve the outer edge of the allowance is longer than the inner edge, so it bunches when turned. Trimming reduces bulk and clipping (cutting small snips) lets the allowance spread or overlap so the curve lies smooth and flat. It does not weaken the seam intentionally or add fabric.

Question 32Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

Which stitch is worked by taking small, even stitches over a raw edge with the needle pointing towards the worker, forming a knotted edge often used around buttonholes?

  1. Running stitch
  2. Blanket stitch
  3. Cross stitch
  4. Buttonhole stitch Correct answer.

Explanation

Buttonhole stitch is a looped edge stitch with a knot on the edge, worked with the needle pointing towards the worker, giving a firm, rounded finish that resists wear. It is standard around buttonholes and eyelets. Running and cross stitches are surface stitches, and blanket stitch, though related, is spaced differently and used for edging rather than the dense buttonhole edge.

Question 33Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

A student is joining two pieces of fine, sheer fabric and wants a seam with no visible raw edges on the inside. Which seam should be chosen?

  1. Flat fell seam
  2. Plain seam pressed open
  3. French seam Correct answer.
  4. Lapped seam

Explanation

A French seam encloses the raw edges inside a neat tube, so the inside of a sheer garment shows no fraying edges and the seam looks clean through the fabric. A plain open seam leaves edges visible, and lapped and flat fell seams add bulk or surface stitching that shows on sheer cloth.

Question 34Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

In a run-and-fell seam worked by hand, what is the correct order of steps?

  1. Overcast both edges separately, then press them open
  2. Join with a French seam, then topstitch both sides
  3. Fold both edges under and stitch them together in one row
  4. Stitch a plain seam, trim one allowance, fold the other over it and fell down Correct answer.

Explanation

Run-and-fell begins with a plain running seam; one allowance is trimmed, the other is folded over to enclose it, and the fold is felled (hemmed) down with small slanting stitches. This produces a strong, flat, neat seam used on shirts and workwear. The other options describe edge finishing, overcasting or French seaming.

Question 35Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

Which factor most directly determines the length of the stitch taken when working a hand running stitch on a delicate fabric?

  1. The fineness of the fabric and thread Correct answer.
  2. The colour of the thread
  3. The size of the thimble
  4. The width of the seam allowance

Explanation

On delicate or fine fabric, short, small running stitches worked with a fine needle and thread prevent puckering and give a smooth result. Stitch length is governed by fabric weight and thread fineness, not by thread colour, thimble size or allowance width.

Question 36Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

What is the purpose of a whip stitch when joining two folded edges?

  1. To pass slanting stitches over the folded edges to hold them together neatly Correct answer.
  2. To make a knotted buttonhole edge
  3. To fill an area solidly with thread
  4. To enclose raw edges inside a turned tube

Explanation

Whip stitch takes small slanting stitches over two folded edges, catching a little of each so they are held together with a neat, unobtrusive line. It is often used for appliqué and joining turned edges. Enclosing edges in a tube is a French seam, solid filling is satin stitch, and knotted edges are buttonhole stitch.

Question 37Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

Which of the following statements about the wrong side of a back stitch is correct?

  1. It shows a knotted edge
  2. It shows evenly spaced dashes and gaps
  3. It shows a series of overlapping stitches that touch each other Correct answer.
  4. It shows linked loops

Explanation

On the reverse of a hand back stitch the stitches overlap and touch, because each new stitch is taken back into the end of the previous one. The right side shows a continuous line. Evenly spaced dashes indicate running stitch, loops indicate chain stitch and knots indicate buttonhole stitch.

Question 38Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

A seam on a curved armhole has been stitched and now pulls and puckers when turned. Which combination of corrections is most appropriate?

  1. Clip the allowance at intervals and trim it to reduce bulk Correct answer.
  2. Add extra fabric to the allowance and press hard
  3. Overcast the allowance without trimming
  4. Re-stitch with a longer stitch and no clipping

Explanation

On a curve the seam allowance must be trimmed to reduce bulk and clipped (on a convex curve) or notched (on a concave curve) so it can spread or overlap and lie flat. Adding fabric, pressing without trimming, or simply lengthening the stitch does not remove the excess.

Question 39Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

Which statement correctly distinguishes a flat fell seam from a French seam?

  1. The flat fell seam is topstitched flat on one side, while the French seam encloses edges inside a turned fold Correct answer.
  2. The flat fell seam encloses edges in a tube, while the French seam is topstitched flat
  3. Both leave raw edges exposed on the inside
  4. Both are worked with the fabric right sides together only once

Explanation

A flat fell seam folds the trimmed allowance flat and topstitches it to the garment, showing two rows of stitching on the right side. A French seam encloses the raw edges inside a folded tube, with no topstitching. Neither leaves raw edges exposed, and both require more than one stitching stage.

Question 40Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

When working a slip hemming stitch, why should only a few threads of the garment fold be picked up?

  1. So the stitch becomes a decorative feature
  2. So the thread can be pulled tight to gather the hem
  3. So the stitch remains almost invisible on the right side Correct answer.
  4. So the hem allowance can be removed later

Explanation

Slip hemming hides the thread between the hem allowance and the garment, so picking up only a few threads of the fold prevents the stitch from showing on the right side. Pulling tight would pucker the hem, and the stitch is not intended to gather, remove allowance or decorate.

Question 41Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

Which of these is the correct description of a lapped seam?

  1. Two wrong sides are joined and the work is turned and stitched again
  2. One edge is turned under, lapped over the other edge and topstitched Correct answer.
  3. Two folded edges are joined with slanting overcast stitches
  4. Two right sides are joined and the allowance is pressed open

Explanation

In a lapped seam one raw edge is turned under and laid over the second edge, then a row of topstitching holds the overlap. It is common on yokes and non-fraying fabrics. Pressing an allowance open is a plain seam, turning and re-stitching is a French seam, and slanting overcast joins folded edges.

Question 42Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

Which hand stitch would be most appropriate for attaching a patch pocket neatly to a garment with an almost invisible join on the pocket edge?

  1. Slip stitch Correct answer.
  2. Chain stitch
  3. Running stitch
  4. Blanket stitch

Explanation

A slip stitch catches the turned-under edge of the pocket and a few threads of the garment, hiding the thread between the layers so the join is nearly invisible. Running stitch would show on the surface, while blanket and chain stitches are visible decorative or edging stitches.

Question 43Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

What is the chief reason for pressing a plain seam before finishing its edges?

  1. To remove the stitching line
  2. To set the stitches and flatten the seam so it lies smooth Correct answer.
  3. To make the allowance fray faster
  4. To shrink the fabric permanently

Explanation

Pressing sets the stitches into the fabric and flattens the seam so it lies smooth before edges are finished or the seam is topstitched. It does not remove the stitching, deliberately shrink the cloth or encourage fraying.

Question 44Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

Which of the following best explains why a French seam is unsuitable for a heavy, thick fabric?

  1. The enclosed fold would create too much bulk and a lumpy seam Correct answer.
  2. The stitching would be invisible on the right side
  3. The raw edges would remain exposed
  4. The seam would not hold the fabric together

Explanation

A French seam folds the allowance inside a second stitching, and on thick fabric these multiple layers create bulky, lumpy ridges. It is therefore reserved for fine and light fabrics. The seam does enclose edges and does hold the fabric, so the problem is bulk rather than strength or exposure.

Question 45Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

In which situation would a tacking stitch be removed rather than left in the finished garment?

  1. When it decorates the yoke
  2. When it finishes a raw edge
  3. When it has held layers temporarily during fitting Correct answer.
  4. When it forms the permanent hem

Explanation

Tacking is a temporary holding stitch used during fitting or before final stitching, and its long threads are pulled out once the permanent seam is complete. Permanent hems, decoration and edge finishing are done with other stitches that remain in the garment.

Question 46Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

In hand sewing, which temporary stitch is worked with long, easily removed stitches to hold two layers of fabric together before the final stitching is done?

  1. Stem stitch
  2. Tacking stitch Correct answer.
  3. Hemming stitch
  4. Blanket stitch

Explanation

Tacking, also called basting, uses long loose stitches to hold fabric layers in position temporarily. It is removed after the permanent stitching is complete. Hemming, blanket and stem stitches are permanent functional or decorative stitches, so they cannot serve this holding purpose.

Question 47Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

Which hand stitch is worked from right to left with small, even slanting stitches on the right side and longer stitches on the wrong side, and is commonly used to neaten a raw edge before hemming?

  1. Running stitch
  2. Overcasting stitch Correct answer.
  3. Chain stitch
  4. Satin stitch

Explanation

Overcasting is worked along a raw edge with slanting stitches that enclose the cut threads and prevent fraying. The stitches appear slanted on the right side and are spaced further apart on the wrong side. Running, chain and satin stitches do not enclose a raw edge in this way.

Question 48Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

A student is making a cushion cover and wants a seam that hides the raw edges completely inside, with the finished seam looking neat on both sides. Which seam should be chosen?

  1. Double-stitched plain seam
  2. Plain seam
  3. Lapped seam
  4. French seam Correct answer.

Explanation

A French seam encloses the raw edges inside a second row of stitching, so no cut edge shows on either side. This makes it suitable for light fabrics where a clean inside finish is wanted. A plain seam, even when stitched twice, leaves raw edges exposed on the wrong side.

Question 49Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

When a plain seam is to be pressed open, why should the seam be pressed first along the stitching line before the allowance is opened out?

  1. To melt the thread so it grips the fabric
  2. To set the stitches into the fabric and prevent the seam line from puckering Correct answer.
  3. To shrink the fabric so the seam lies flatter
  4. To remove the tacking threads more easily

Explanation

Pressing along the stitched line first sets the thread into the fabric and relaxes the seam so it will not pucker. The allowance is then opened and pressed flat against the garment. This two-stage pressing gives a crisp, flat seam, whereas pressing only after opening can leave a ridge along the stitching.

Question 50Basic Hand Stitches and Seams

A tailor is working a hand back stitch on a medium-weight cotton and wants the wrong side to look like an even running stitch. What should be done with each new stitch?

  1. Insert the needle a full stitch length ahead of the previous stitch and bring it out one stitch length behind it
  2. Insert the needle a full stitch length behind the previous stitch and bring it out at the same point
  3. Insert the needle halfway along the previous stitch and bring it out halfway ahead of it
  4. Insert the needle exactly in the hole where the previous stitch ended and bring it out a full stitch length ahead Correct answer.

Explanation

In back stitch the needle returns to the end of the previous stitch on the right side, then comes up one full stitch length ahead. This makes the right side show continuous overlapping stitches while the wrong side shows an even running stitch. The overlap is what gives back stitch its strength.