Reading Passage 2 – Embroidery

Keywords: informal, Year 7-ish, non-fiction, first-person, article, multiple-choice, short answer, 10 qs

Sew beautiful x

(sewbeautifulx and Sophie Kalagas, ‘The stitch up’, frankie magazine, issue 99.)

From a young age, I used to watch my mum embroider little flowers onto pillowcases, bedding and clothes. I was fascinated by the practical ways she incorporated her love of embroidery into our lives, using just a needle and thread. Now I’m a mother of four, and as my children have grown up I’ve found time to pick up sewing as a hobby of my own. It’s so therapeutic, relaxing and calming.

I’m especially into designs that feature vibrant colours, flowers and animals. I love that putting certain colours together can bring them to life and create something brilliant. The possibilities of working with fabric and thread are endless – I use a vast array of materials, from felt, cotton and netting to organza and embroidery thread in a rainbow of colours. You can create anything you want with great detail because the thread is so fine. Depending on the level of detail, a piece may take days, weeks or even months!

Questions

Based on the information from the passage, what do we know about sewbeautifulx’s current life?

a) She is a mother of young children who spends her free time embroidering

b) Her mother is teaching her how to embroider on pillowcases, bedding and clothes

c) She sees embroidery as a relaxing and time-consuming hobby

d) She owns a profitable business selling her embroidery under the name ‘sewbeautifulx’

2. Which of these is not listed as a possible embroidering material?

a) Organza

b) Tulle

c) Cotton

d) Felt

3. How did sewbeautifulx’s mother introduce her to embroidery?

a) In a practical way by giving her embroidering classes

b) In an impractical way by embroidering her pillowcases

c) In a practical way by telling her daughter to watch the mother while she is embroidering

d) In a practical way by embroidering things around her home

4. Which statement would best describe sewbeautifulx’s embroidery?

a) Vivacious and colourful

b) Monochrome and detailed

c) Simplistic and vibrant

d) Intricate and understated

5. Complete this sentence: Since the thread is so ________, you can make very _________ embroidery.

a) Thin, simplistic

b) Thin, vibrant

c) Colourful, vibrant

d) Thin, detailed

6. This passage teaches us about general embroidery. Which of these facts are not mentioned?

a) Embroidery is often vibrant and based on nature

b) Many materials can be used while embroidering

c) Embroidering can be a very therapeutic activity

d) Depending on its detail, embroidering can take a long time to complete

7. Write one example of the author using an em-dash.

_________________________________________________________________________________

8. What is sewbeautifulx’s opinion on embroidery? Use at least one quote from the passage as evidence.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Check your answers here!

Note: this passage is part of an article called ‘The stitch up’ from frankie magazine (issue 99). It is an interview with @sewbeautifulx conducted by Sophie Kalagas. To my knowledge, utilising this passage as a free educational exercise falls under fair use. If not, please let me know. I want to make sure that everything on this website is fair and right.