Textiles
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On this course, you will learn to understand and use the design and manufacturing processes for Textiles. You will learn a range of techniques and apply them during practical lessons. There is a small fee for those wishing to take completed projects home.
Where Can Textiles take me?
- Fashion Designers
- Fashion Illustrators
- Fashion Merchandisers
- Fashion Windows Displays
- Fashion Retail
- Fashion Journalism
- Quality Control Inspectors
- Quality Assurance Inspectors
- Textile Designers
Projects
- Year 7 - Cusion Cover
- Year 8 - Applique Bag
- Year 9 - T-Shirt
* A small fee for completed practical projects to take home & keep will be requested
Key Stage 3 (Year 7) - Cushion Cover
After planning your design and creating your stencil template you will sew the calico material using a
sewing machine and then dye, surface paint or decorate the cushion cover. Finally you will fill the
cover ready to take home.
Key Stage 3 (Year 8) - Applique Bag
Expanding on all your techniques you have learnt in Year 7 you will make an Applique Bag using design
elements, including mood boards, development ideas and final design.
Key Stage 3 (Year 9) - Customised T-Shirt
You will provide a plain T-shirt to enable you to create your own imaginative design using various textile techniques.
Key Stage 4 Years (10 & 11)
What will I study?
You will learn to understand and use the design and manufacturing processes for Textiles. You will have the opportunity to design and make quality items using different textile techniques and materials.
In Year 10 you will study the skills, techniques and information needed to complete the final major project and the
examination in Year 11. This will include fashion drawing, colouring and decoration techniques for fabrics, construction
and finishing of garments, fabric properties and use of CAD (computer aided design). Comprehensive understanding of the
design process through research, development of design, planning and evaluation will be crucial. A knowledge of industrial
processes including mass production, CAM (computer aided manufacture) and health and safety issues will also be required.
How will I learn?
A great deal of the work will be done through fashion-based products. At the end of Year 10 you will begin your final major
project. This accounts for 60% of your final grade and will consist of a design portfolio and a quality product that should
show a range of skills and techniques as well as accuracy and a good standard of finishing. You will be able to choose a
project that is either fashion or soft-furnishing based.
Your major project will account for 60% of your final grade. At the end of the course you will sit a written examination
which accounts for the remaining 40% which will test your knowledge and understanding of the subject area and your ability
to design and make quality products. Untiered exam grades A*-G can be gained. Your entry level will be discussed with you
in Year 11 and will depend upon your completion of each project, the standard achieved and your trial mock examination results.
Will there be any Independent Study?
Independent Study is an integral part of this course, and will be ongoing to complete work stated in lessons.
All independent study will be graded. Extra lunchtime sessions when required will be provided by the teacher for all
pupils to complete work set if needed
What do I need for Design and Technology: Textiles?
You should equip yourself with an A3 portfolio. You will also be asked to purchase fabric and other materials
throughout the course. This is a requirement to be able to complete all module areas and the final project.
Packs of equipment can be purchased from the College Textile Department at cost.
Year 12 & 13
As of 2009 we now offer AS and A2 level Design & Technology AQA Textiles, One Year AS, Two years A2.
50% of the project coursework plus 50% written exam. Students learn a higher level of manufacture and level
knowledge to lead onto university or college entry.
Useful Documents
Places to buy Fabrics / Trims / Textiles - GCSE Course 10-11
| March | Storeys - High Street | Small shop, very helpful, good prices |
| Ely | Bob In - Main High Street | Small shop, small stock, middle range, good prices |
| Huntingdon/Wisbech | Dunelm | Large store, lots of stock, very good prices |
| Peterborough | Simply Fabrics | - |
| Wisbech | Top Stitch Fabrics | - |
Trend Information / Current Fashion / Textiles Courses & Technical Textiles Websites
| Shoe trend informations. Has excellent visuals. |
www.ytrends.com |
| Clothing, Textiles and life predictions |
www.wgsn.com |
| Childrens and teenagers predictions |
www.mudpie.co.uk |
| Style magazine |
www.hintmag.com |
| Great sportswear visuals |
www.design-iq-ltd.com |
| Nike web site, great spots shoe visuals, Design a shoe online |
www.nikeid.com |
| Drapers record magazine |
www.drapersonline.com |
| London fashion week |
www.londonfashionweek.co.uk |
| Computer Textiles design group |
www.ctdg.co.uk |
| Information on further education courses and careers |
www.hotcourses.com |
| Information on further education courses and pathways |
www.yourcreativefuture.org |
| Skills fast UK- Education Website and resources |
www.fabricadabra.co.uk |
| Adam is a search engine for cretive designs and ideas |
www.adam.ac.uk |
| Patern adaptation and construction site |
www.lins.ac.uk/learning/garment |
| Textiles and food based resources |
www.ridgwellpress.co.uk |
| Sports shoes and sneakes web site |
www.sneaker-nation.com |
| Technical textiles information |
www.inteletex.com |
| New Nomads, wearable electronics |
www.design.philips.com |
| Electronics embedded in textiles |
www.elektex.com |
| Italian design company who designed the shape memory alloyshirt |
www.corponove.it |
| Magazine looking at new areaas of technology |
www.newscientist.com |
| Communication scarf |
www.electronicshadow.com |
| Looks at the science behind Biomimetics |
www.extra.rdg.ac.uk/en/BIONIS |
Other useful textile websites