A-Line Skirt
Fashion Design
Arts, Audio/Visual Technology, and Communications
Lesson Plan
Performance Objective
 Upon completion of this lesson, the students will be able to construct an A-line skirt by following
instructions on a pattern envelope.
Specific Objective
 Students will understand the terminology used in patterns.
 Students will learn how to determine the amount of material and notions to buy by reading a pattern
envelope.
 Students will be able to follow a cutting layout and determine which pattern pieces to use to create an
A line skirt.
 Students will be able to identify the different parts and silhouette of an A-line skirt.
 Students will be able to complete:
o A finished hem
o Zipper
o Proper inseam
o Fusible interfacing
o Hook and eye
o Darts
Terms
Body Measurements
Notions
Fabric Key
Cutting Layout
Pattern Piece
Darts
Grainline
Hemline
Notches
Proper Inseam
Fold line
Time
When taught as written, this lesson should take approximately 10 weeks to complete.
AAVTC: Fashion Design: A-Line Skirt
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.
1
me
When taught as written, this lesson shouldPreparation
take approximately 10 weeks to complete.
TEKS Correlations:
This lesson, as published, correlates to the following TEKS. Any changes/alterations to the activities may result
in the elimination of any or all of the TEKS listed.
130.93. (C) Knowledge and Skills
(10) The student develops an understand of fashion and the textile and apparel industries. The student
is expected to:
(K) demonstrate effective repair, alteration, and construction techniques by:
(ii) demonstration appropriate use, selection, and care of equipment, tools, and notion;
(iii) applying design elements when designing, constructing, or altering apparel;
(iv) applying appropriate construction and pressing techniques in garment construction;
(v) applying safety procedures while operating equipment; and
(vi) determining apparel design and alterations to a accommodate individuals with
specials needs.
Interdisciplinary Correlations:
English-English I
 130.93(c)(1)(A). Apply English language arts knowledge and skills by demonstrating use of content
technical concepts, and vocabulary;
 130.93(c)(2)(e,f). Students will apply active listening skills; listen to and speak with diverse individuals
Occupational Correlation (O*Net – www.onetonline.org/):
Job Title: Fashion Designer
O*Net Number: 27-1022.00
Reported Job Titles: Apparel Fashion Designer, Clothing Designer, Costume Designer, Design Director
Tasks:







Direct and coordinate workers involved in drawing and cutting patterns and constructing samples or
finished garments.
Examine sample garments on and off models, modifying designs to achieve desired effects.
Sketch rough and detailed drawings of apparel or accessories, and write specifications such as color
schemes, construction, material types, and accessory requirements.
Confer with sales and management executives or with clients to discuss design ideas.
Identify target markets for designs, looking at factors such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status.
Attend fashion shows and review garment magazines and manuals to gather information about fashion
trends and consumer preferences.
Select materials and production techniques to be used for products.
Soft Skills: Active Listening, Speaking, Communication
AAVTC: Fashion Design: A-Line Skirt
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.
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Accommodations for Learning Differences
It is important that lessons accommodate the needs of every learner. These lessons may be modified to
accommodate your students with learning differences by referring to the files found on the Special
Populations page of this website.
Preparation
 Have materials, slide presentation, and any reference books ready to go prior to the start of the lesson.
 Unless your department can afford to provide patterns, material, and notions for students, they will
need to purchase these for themselves. Provide students with a list of what they will need to purchase.
 Materials Check: Students should bring their patterns to class a minimum of 3 weeks before beginning
this project so they can make a list (in class) of how much material they will need along with notions.
Be sure to give students a deadline for when they should bring all materials to class.
References
1. Weber, J. (2008). Clothing: Fashion, fabrics & construction (4th ed.). New York, NY: Glencoe/McGrawHill.
2. Editor, Soto, Anne Marie (2001). Simplicity’s simply the best sewing book (Revised Edition). New York,
NY: Simplicity Pattern Co.
Instructional Aids
 Textbooks with information on patterns, fabric, and basic sewing skills (see above list)
 Lesson Plan – A-Line Skirt
 Slide presentation – A-Line Skirt
 Handout – Steps for Preparing Your Pattern and Fabric
 A-Line Skirt Grading Rubric
 Instructor computer and projection unit
 Online websites (teacher directed)
 Writing instruments and paper
Introduction
Introduce the lesson by placing an A-line skirt on a mannequin or placing it on a table at the front of the class.
Ask students to examine the garment and describe what they see.
Ask students to name the parts of the A-line skirt.
Ask students what steps they should take before they begin constructing their own A-line skirt.
Explain that this project will take roughly 10 weeks to complete.
1. Allow students five minutes to sketch out a design for an A-line skirt using map pencils to help them
envision the type of fabric they would like to buy.
2. When students have finished their designs, have them respond in their journals to the question, “How
could not reading directions before cutting effect your garment construction?”
3. Discuss journal responses.
AAVTC: Fashion Design: A-Line Skirt
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.
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Outline
MI
Outline
Instructor Notes
Go through the Slide Presentation with
students. Discuss the following:
I. Identify Characteristics of an A-line skirt
Allow students time to examine
the A-line skirt that you brought
in as a model.
Make sure students can name all
of the skirt parts on the model.
After Slide #4, provide time for
students to go back and add some
details to their initial sketches.
II. The Silhouette
III. The Parts of an A-line Skirt
IV. Journal Entry
V. Learning How to Read a Pattern
A. Ask students to locate a particular
item of information on their pattern.
B. Pattern Play: Students have 30
seconds to list everything they can find on
their pattern.
VI. Definitions
A. Pattern envelope
B. Guide sheet
C. Cutting layout
D. Fabric key
Students should respond to the
question in their journals. Discuss
responses.
Take a few minutes to play this
speed quiz game, which will help
students become familiar with the
information on their pattern
envelope.
VII. Preparing Your Pattern
VIII. Preparing Your Fabric
IX. Preparing to Sew
A. Slow and steady
B. You save more time doing
something slowly but right the first time than
having to rip it up and start over.
Encourage students to let their
creativity flourish in the
constraints of an A-line.
Many times throughout the year
you will need to remind your
students that sewing is not a race.
AAVTC: Fashion Design: A-Line Skirt
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.
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Multiple Intelligence
Existentia
Interperso Intraperso
list
nal
nal
Kinesthe
tic/
Bodily
Logical/
Mathemat
ical
Musical/Rhyt
hmic
Natural Verbal/Lingu Visual/Spa
istic
tial
ist
Application
Guided Practice
Students will sketch a design for their A-line skirt, being sure to add the parts discussed in the slide
presentation.
Discuss responses to journal entries.
Check orally for students’ understanding of patterns before they begin cutting. Be sure to walk around the
room and constantly check on students’ progress and to make sure they follow the steps outlined in their
handout.
Note: Use a search engine to find sewing tutorials, such as “Teach Yourself How to Sew: 101”. There are lots of
videos out there that are very helpful. You may find the one that best suits your class environment while still
teaching your students how to read a pattern envelope and guide sheet. If needed, pause during the video if
students need further explanation.
Independent Practice
Students will follow the directions in their handout for preparing their patterns and fabric.
Move around the room to make sure that students are following the directions carefully for pinning and
cutting out their fabric.
The students should already have practice with basic sewing skills, but the teacher may need to demonstrate
specific skills needed for this project, such as how to make a dart, how to add a lapped zipper, how to add
facings, and how to add a hook and eye.
Students will add this information to their journals.
Students will follow all pattern directions and complete their construction of an A-line skirt.
AAVTC: Fashion Design: A-Line Skirt
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.
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Summary
Review
Review the characteristics of an A-line skirt. Review how to read a pattern and how to choose appropriate
material for the project. Make sure that students add all information to their journals in a section entitled,
“How to Construct an A-line Skirt”. Include handouts, sketches, and notes from teacher directions.
Evaluation
Informal Assessment
Any and all of the following may be used as informal assessments…
 Observe students’ understanding of concepts
 Observe students’ daily progress
 Daily assessments may vary from class to class depending on what has been covered :
o Sample sketches of students’ A-line skirt designs
o Completed preparations for pattern and fabric
Formal Assessment
The following may be considered a formal evaluation of the students’ work throughout this unit :
 Teacher-made test over pattern terminology and characteristics of an A-line skirt
 Daily grades on the following :
• Pattern and fabric preparation
• Correct placement and cut of pattern pieces
• Ability to follow pattern instructions
• Sewing skills, including darts, facings, zipper, and hem
Final construction of students’ A-line skirts will be assessed using the grading rubric.
Enrichment
Extension
Students may add embellishments to their garment.
Students may like to use different fabric to construct another A-line skirt with a different style or length.
AAVTC: Fashion Design: A-Line Skirt
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.
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Steps for Preparing Your Pattern and Fabric
1. Make sure you have the correct pattern size, and that you have the correct amount of fabric as well as all
the necessary sewing notions.
2. Take all of the pattern pieces out of your pattern envelope.
3. Using the cutting layout on your guide sheet, highlight which pattern pieces you will need to use.
4. If your pattern has multiple sizes, find the pieces in your size.
5. Using the same color of highlighter, outline your pieces (on the correct size line). Check to make sure you
have outlined all pieces in the same size.
6. Loosely begin cutting out each of your pattern pieces.
7. Press each piece carefully so there are no creases. Then finish cutting each piece out completely.
8. Next, press your fabric to avoid creases.
9. Pick a cutting layout in reference to your fabric width, and pin the pattern pieces onto the fabric to match
the layout on the pattern.
10. Check the grain of your fabric to make sure the grain line is even with your selvage line. (If you are not
sure, ask your teacher to help you check this.)
11. Check to see that all pieces are pinned securely, and that any pieces that say “FOLD” are actually pinned on
the fold of the fabric. (If you are not sure, ask your teacher to help you check this.)
12. Carefully cut out each piece. Make sure that you cut your notches out instead of in, so if you accidently cut
too much, it will not interfere with your stitch line.
13. Check to make sure that you have all of the required notions.
14. Thread your machine.
15. Reread your directions before beginning to sew.
16. Begin with step 1. Remember to sew slowly and steadily. Follow each step carefully. When in doubt,
reread your instructions or ask for help.
AAVTC: Fashion Design: A-Line Skirt
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.
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A-Line Skirt Grading Rubric
Criteria
Exceptional
Completeness 20-15 points
Above Average
Below Average
Unacceptable
14-8 points
7-1 points
0 points
(20 pts)
Work is 100%
complete; all pieces
fit together as a
complete whole
Work is complete;
pieces are present
but final product
does not present a
unified look
Work is
incomplete; pieces
are inconsistent
and construction is
difficult to follow
Very little or no
attempt is made
to complete the
project
Creativity
20-15 points
14-8 points
7-1 points
0 points
(20 pts)
Fabric choice and
embellishments
create a final
product that is
aesthetically
pleasing
Work has some
creativity, but it is
not present
throughout the
entire project
Work exhibits little
creative effort
Work appears to
be done in haste
with no creative
effort
Pattern
Preparation
20-15 points
14-8 points
7-1 points
0 points
Student followed
instructions
carefully, and
pattern pieces were
correctly pinned
Most, but not all of
the pieces were
pinned correctly
Several pattern
pieces were not
pinned correctly
Instructions for
pinning pattern
pieces were not
followed
20-15 points
14-8 points
7-1 points
0 points
Student followed
instructions
accurately for
preparing and
cutting fabric
Most, but not all of
the fabric pieces
were pinned and
cut out correctly
Several pieces of
fabric were not cut
out correctly
Instructions for
cutting fabric
were not
followed
20-15 points
14-8 points
7-1 points
0 points
Completed A-line
skirt has a
professional
appearance
Skirt is completed,
and most of the
parts have a
professional
appearance
Skirt is complete,
but many of the
parts are not sewn
well and do not
look professional
Skirt is not
complete
(20 pts)
Fabric
Preparation
(20 pts)
Professional
Appearance
(20 pts)
Comments:
Total points:
AAVTC: Fashion Design: A-Line Skirt
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.
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Points