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Making Maths

Maths hiding in making things: sewing stitches

Count stitches in equal groups and repeated patterns.

Quick answer

Maths hiding in making things: sewing stitches means that when you sew, you are actually doing maths. You count stitches, make equal groups, and spot patterns – all of which help you understand multiplication, division, and shape.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to count and group stitches in patterns and use this to solve simple maths problems. Success signs:
  • You can count stitches in rows and columns
  • You can spot repeating patterns in your sewing
  • You can solve simple problems using groups of stitches
  • You can explain how sewing helps you understand maths

Why this matters

Sewing is not just about making pretty clothes or toys – it's full of maths! When you sew, you use equal groups, patterns, and counting. These skills help you understand how multiplication works, how shapes fit together, and how to solve problems in real life. Whether you're making a quilt, a pillow, or a doll’s dress, you're doing maths – and you don’t even realise it!

How it works

Sewing involves many maths skills:
  1. Counting stitches in rows or columns
  2. Grouping stitches into equal sets
  3. Spotting patterns like stripes or squares
  4. Repeating actions to make a design
Think of each stitch as a number. If you have 5 rows of 6 stitches, that’s 5 groups of 6. You can add them up or multiply them to find the total. Sewing is like making maths visual and hands-on.

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you are making a small square patch. You sew 4 rows, and each row has 5 stitches.
Row Stitches
Row 1 5
Row 2 5
Row 3 5
Row 4 5
You have 4 rows with 5 stitches each. That’s 4 groups of 5. You can add them up: 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 20. Or you can multiply: 4 × 5 = 20. Another example: You are making a pattern with 3 stripes, and each stripe has 8 stitches. That’s 3 groups of 8. 3 × 8 = 24 stitches in total.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Sewing Challenge You are a young seamstress helping your grandma make a pillow. She wants you to sew 3 rows of 6 stitches each. How many stitches will you sew in total?
  1. First row: 6 stitches
  2. Second row: 6 stitches
  3. Third row: 6 stitches
Now, add them up: 6 + 6 + 6 = 18 stitches. Or multiply: 3 × 6 = 18 stitches. Great job! You helped make a beautiful pillow using maths. Challenge: Now try this with 5 rows of 4 stitches each. How many stitches will you use? Answer: 5 × 4 = 20 stitches.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Counting the same stitch twice or missing one.
    Why it happens: When you're focused on the pattern, you might lose track.
    Fix: Count each stitch once, and use a small marker or finger to follow along.
  • Mistake: Thinking that 3 rows of 4 stitches is 3 + 4 = 7.
    Why it happens: Mixing up addition and multiplication.
    Fix: Remember that 3 rows of 4 means 3 groups of 4, so multiply: 3 × 4 = 12.
  • Mistake: Not noticing repeating patterns.
    Why it happens: Patterns can look the same, so it's easy to miss them.
    Fix: Look for shapes or colours that repeat – that’s a pattern!

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help by:
  • Letting the child count stitches as they sew
  • Asking questions like, “How many rows are there?” or “How many stitches in each row?”
  • Using simple multiplication to check answers
  • Encouraging the child to find patterns in their work
  • Helping them write down their counts or draw the patterns
It’s okay if the child makes mistakes – that’s how they learn. Be patient and keep the sewing fun!

Practice questions

  1. How many stitches are in 4 rows if each row has 5 stitches?
  2. If you sew 6 rows with 3 stitches each, how many stitches is that?
  3. How many stitches in 2 rows of 8 stitches?
  4. What is 5 × 7?
  5. How many stitches are in 3 rows of 9 stitches?
Answers:
  1. 4 × 5 = 20
  2. 6 × 3 = 18
  3. 2 × 8 = 16
  4. 5 × 7 = 35
  5. 3 × 9 = 27

FAQ

Why does sewing use maths?

Sewing uses maths because it involves counting, grouping, and making patterns. These are all basic maths skills that help you understand bigger concepts like multiplication and division.

Can I use sewing to learn times tables?

Yes! Sewing helps you practice times tables by making equal groups. For example, 4 rows of 6 stitches = 4 × 6 = 24 stitches.

What if I don’t like sewing?

You can still learn maths from sewing by just looking at patterns or counting stitches. You don’t have to sew to understand the maths!

How can I make sewing more fun?

You can make a game out of it – like counting how many stitches you can do in one minute or making a pattern with different coloured threads.

What are some other things that hide maths?

Many things hide maths! Like building with LEGO, cooking, playing board games, or even dancing. All of these use patterns, groups, and counting.