GB2050445A - Instructional Toy - Google Patents

Abstract

A kit for teaching needlework in an engaging way consists of a number of sheets. Each sheet illustrates a stitch type at 10-12 and has numbered or lettered dots or holes 17 defining positions at which wool or the like is passed through the sheet to form the stitch type. Written instructions about making the stitch refer to the letters or numbers. When the sheets have all been stitched, they may be assembled e.g. stitched together to form a 'sample' book. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Instructional Toy This invention relates to instructional toys and its main object is to amuse children while at the same time teaching them the art of needlecraft.

Books have been printed with pictures and instructions to assist users in sewing on their own articles but these are often very difficult to follow especially for children. It has also been known to provide cards with pictures such as houses and animals with holes so that a child can thread wool through the holes to follow around the pattern but these do not teach the art of needlework.

According to the present invention a series of loose sheets are provided with a margin at one end through which fastening means can be inserted to form the sheets into a book, each sheet having thereon a picture depicting one form of stitch, the stitches being of different kinds on the respective sheets, each sheet also having a line of dots or holes spaced apart which may be located near the edge remote from said holes and referenced e.g. with numbers, the sheets also having instructions involving said references for making the specified stitches.

The sheets or some of them may have turn over margins simulating seams.

The dots and references are preferably provided on both sides of the sheet directly opposite to each other so that the same reference applies to a hole pierced through a dot.

The said margins are preferably provided with punched holes which serve for stitching the pages together. Once the pages have been stitched the sheets are assembled in numerical order and inserted into the covers provided and are then sewn together through the punched holes.

The sheets are preferably stiff paper but textile or plastics sheets could be used.

The initial instruction might read about as follows:- Sewing is not very difficult if you know how to go about it. In this box you will find sewing pages.

Each page deals with only one stitch. It has very clear diagrams and numbered dots to show you where to put the needle when practising the stitches. You may think it strange to learn to sew on paper but in many ways it makes things easier as it is not as soft and floppy as cloth. When you have done all the pages you will be able to bind them all together into a useful and beautiful book; Left handers should hold the page so that the dots are nearest to them while sewing. Right handers should hold the page with the dots away from them.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a view of one of the sheets made in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a similar view showing a different stitch; and Figure 3 shows the completed book.

As shown in Figure 1, diagrams at 10, 11, 12 show successive steps in making a tacking stitch.

On the left hand side are holes 1 5 for stitching through the holes of the sheets and a cover 16 (Figure 3) to make a book. On the right hand side of the sheet are dots or holes 1 7 numbered consecutively at 20 (holes 1 and 2 are omitted from the drawing). The back of this sheet has similar reference numbers each number being exactly opposite to the same number on the front of the page. The edge of the page is 21. The margin from 22 to 23 is double thickness i.e. it has a margin turned over to represent a seam and this margin may be suitably coloured.

In the space 25 suitable descriptive matter may be printed (or this may be printed on the back of the preceding page) e.g.:-- Tacking is a big stitch which is used to hold two pieces of cloth together while other stitches are being made. It is usually pulled out afterwards. Fold along 'Fold line'. Push the needle in through dot 1. Push out through dot 2. To make it easier for you the dots are on the back as well as the front.

Push needle in through dot 3. Push out through dot 4. Continue like this to the last dot (14). Keep the thread firm, but do not pull too tight. To finish off:- Sew back into dot 13 and out of dot 14, twice. Cut thread.

Figure 2 is similar but shows how to make a cross-stitch. This requires two rows of holes or dots 17 and two diagrams 26, 27.

A sheet of soft plastics material such as foamed polystyrene may be provided when the dots 1 7 are printed dots. The child then places each sheet on the plastics sheet and pierces the holes at the dots 1 7 before proceeding with the stitching. The child then follows the diagrams and instructions and makes the required stitches on the same sheet as at 28. When all the stitches are made the child can stitch the sheets into the cover 16 by stitches 30 through the holes 1 5 and similar holes provided in the cover.

Other sheets may include flowers with crossstitching or other patterns and stitches.

These sheets may include all the basic sewing stitches and most of the simple embroidery stitches, and may explain any stitches or patterns which may be used as illustrated on the printed covers.

A final page, which is not bound into the book explains, with diagrams how to assemble the book.

Claims

1. A needlework teaching kit comprising a plurality of sheets each of which bears a pictorial representation of a stitch type, the stitches on different sheets being of different types, a set of spaced apart dots or holes defining positions at which thread passes through the sheet when forming on the sheet a stitch of the type depicted, reference indicia associated with at least some of the dots or holes, and printed instructions for making the stitches and referring to the indicia.

2. A needlework teaching kit according to claim 1, wherein parts of at least some of the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Instructional Toy This invention relates to instructional toys and its main object is to amuse children while at the same time teaching them the art of needlecraft. Books have been printed with pictures and instructions to assist users in sewing on their own articles but these are often very difficult to follow especially for children. It has also been known to provide cards with pictures such as houses and animals with holes so that a child can thread wool through the holes to follow around the pattern but these do not teach the art of needlework. According to the present invention a series of loose sheets are provided with a margin at one end through which fastening means can be inserted to form the sheets into a book, each sheet having thereon a picture depicting one form of stitch, the stitches being of different kinds on the respective sheets, each sheet also having a line of dots or holes spaced apart which may be located near the edge remote from said holes and referenced e.g. with numbers, the sheets also having instructions involving said references for making the specified stitches. The sheets or some of them may have turn over margins simulating seams. The dots and references are preferably provided on both sides of the sheet directly opposite to each other so that the same reference applies to a hole pierced through a dot. The said margins are preferably provided with punched holes which serve for stitching the pages together. Once the pages have been stitched the sheets are assembled in numerical order and inserted into the covers provided and are then sewn together through the punched holes. The sheets are preferably stiff paper but textile or plastics sheets could be used. The initial instruction might read about as follows:- Sewing is not very difficult if you know how to go about it. In this box you will find sewing pages. Each page deals with only one stitch. It has very clear diagrams and numbered dots to show you where to put the needle when practising the stitches. You may think it strange to learn to sew on paper but in many ways it makes things easier as it is not as soft and floppy as cloth. When you have done all the pages you will be able to bind them all together into a useful and beautiful book; Left handers should hold the page so that the dots are nearest to them while sewing. Right handers should hold the page with the dots away from them. The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a view of one of the sheets made in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a similar view showing a different stitch; and Figure 3 shows the completed book. As shown in Figure 1, diagrams at 10, 11, 12 show successive steps in making a tacking stitch. On the left hand side are holes 1 5 for stitching through the holes of the sheets and a cover 16 (Figure 3) to make a book. On the right hand side of the sheet are dots or holes 1 7 numbered consecutively at 20 (holes 1 and 2 are omitted from the drawing). The back of this sheet has similar reference numbers each number being exactly opposite to the same number on the front of the page. The edge of the page is 21. The margin from 22 to 23 is double thickness i.e. it has a margin turned over to represent a seam and this margin may be suitably coloured. In the space 25 suitable descriptive matter may be printed (or this may be printed on the back of the preceding page) e.g.:-- Tacking is a big stitch which is used to hold two pieces of cloth together while other stitches are being made. It is usually pulled out afterwards. Fold along 'Fold line'. Push the needle in through dot 1. Push out through dot 2. To make it easier for you the dots are on the back as well as the front. Push needle in through dot 3. Push out through dot 4. Continue like this to the last dot (14). Keep the thread firm, but do not pull too tight. To finish off:- Sew back into dot 13 and out of dot 14, twice. Cut thread. Figure 2 is similar but shows how to make a cross-stitch. This requires two rows of holes or dots 17 and two diagrams 26, 27. A sheet of soft plastics material such as foamed polystyrene may be provided when the dots 1 7 are printed dots. The child then places each sheet on the plastics sheet and pierces the holes at the dots 1 7 before proceeding with the stitching. The child then follows the diagrams and instructions and makes the required stitches on the same sheet as at 28. When all the stitches are made the child can stitch the sheets into the cover 16 by stitches 30 through the holes 1 5 and similar holes provided in the cover. Other sheets may include flowers with crossstitching or other patterns and stitches. These sheets may include all the basic sewing stitches and most of the simple embroidery stitches, and may explain any stitches or patterns which may be used as illustrated on the printed covers. A final page, which is not bound into the book explains, with diagrams how to assemble the book. Claims

1. A needlework teaching kit comprising a plurality of sheets each of which bears a pictorial representation of a stitch type, the stitches on different sheets being of different types, a set of spaced apart dots or holes defining positions at which thread passes through the sheet when forming on the sheet a stitch of the type depicted, reference indicia associated with at least some of the dots or holes, and printed instructions for making the stitches and referring to the indicia.

2. A needlework teaching kit according to claim 1, wherein parts of at least some of the sheets are foldable to simulate a hem or seam.

3. A needlework teaching kit according to claim 1 or 2 and wherein the reference indicia associated with the dots or holes are present on both sides of the sheet.

4. A needlework kit including one or more work sheets substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

5. A needlework kit according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein one margin of each sheet is provided with means enabling the sheets to be assembled together to constitute a book.

6. A needlework kit according to claim 5 and including a book cover for assembly with the sheets to form a covered book.

7. A needlework sample book made from a kit according to any one of claims 1 to 6.