**Key Definitions:**
• Weaving = Crossing vertical and horizontal threads over and under each other to make cloth
• Spinning = Twisting cotton fibres together to make thread strong and thin
• Fibre = Thin hair-like thread from natural sources like cotton
• Stitching = Joining two pieces of cloth together using needle and thread
• Running stitch = Simple stitch where needle goes up, down, up, down in straight line
**Natural Fibres:** Cotton, silk, wool, jute, bamboo, linen
**Synthetic Fibres:** Rayon, nylon, polyester, terylene (made by humans)
**Silkworm Life Cycle:** Eggs → Caterpillar → Cocoon → Moth
**Famous Indian Handlooms:** Kanjeevaram (Tamil Nadu), Pashmina (Kashmir), Ikat (Odisha and Gujarat)
**Hidden Artists in Nature:** Baya weaver bird (weaves nest), Tailorbird (stitches leaf nest), Spider (spins web)
**Important Facts:** 45 lakh people work in Indian handloom sector; Gandhi ji promoted khadi as symbol of self-reliance; Indian muslin was so fine it was called 'woven air'
**Diagrams to Remember:** Weaving pattern (over-under crossing), Silkworm life cycle stages, Running stitch pattern (up-down-up-down)
**Don't Confuse:** Weaving (making cloth from threads) is different from Stitching (joining pieces together); Natural fibres come from plants and animals, synthetic fibres are human-made
Q1. Which bird weaves beautiful hanging nests from grass strands?
Answer: A — The baya weaver bird is the expert weaver that makes pouch-shaped hanging nests by crossing grass strands over and under.
Q2. What does the process of spinning do to cotton fibres?
Answer: A — Spinning twists cotton fibres together to make them stronger, thinner, and suitable for making thread.
Q3. Which of these is a natural fibre?
Answer: A — Cotton is a natural fibre from the cotton plant, while polyester, nylon and terylene are synthetic fibres made by humans.
Q4. From which insect do we get silk fibre?
Answer: A — Silk fibre comes from the cocoon of the silk moth, which is gently extracted when the cocoon is put in hot water.
Q5. What is the name of the spinning wheel used in traditional cloth making?
Answer: A — A charkha or spinning wheel helps spin thread from cotton fibres by twisting them together, just like spinning with fingers.
Q6. Which tiny green bird stitches leaves together to make its nest?
Answer: A — The tailorbird uses its beak to poke holes along leaf edges and pulls plant fibres or spider silk through, like a tailor stitching cloth.
Q7. In weaving, what happens when vertical and horizontal threads cross over and under each other?
Answer: A — When vertical and horizontal threads are carefully crossed over and under, they interlace to create a strong, unified fabric.
Q8. Which Indian handloom cloth represents self-reliance and was promoted during the freedom struggle?
Answer: A — Khadi is hand-spun and hand-woven cloth that became a symbol of self-sufficiency and the independence movement.
Q9. What is a running stitch?
Answer: A — Running stitch is the basic stitching method where the needle repeatedly goes up and down through cloth in a straight line.
Q10. Which of these is a synthetic fibre made by humans?
Answer: A — Nylon is a synthetic fibre created by humans using artificial materials, unlike wool, silk and cotton which come from nature.
What is weaving?
Weaving is crossing strips or threads over and under each other to make a unified fabric like cloth, mat or basket.
Which bird weaves beautiful hanging nests from grass?
The baya weaver bird weaves hanging pouch-shaped nests from grass by crossing strands over and under.
What is spinning?
Spinning is the process of twisting cotton fibres together to make thread or yarn stronger and thinner.
Name three natural fibres used to make cloth.
Cotton, silk, wool, jute, bamboo and linen are natural fibres used to make cloth.
Where does silk fibre come from?
Silk fibre comes from the cocoon of a small insect called the silk moth.
What is a charkha or spinning wheel used for?
A charkha is used to spin thread from cotton fibres by twisting them together, just like our fingers or a pencil do.
Which special Indian cloth is made by hand spinning and represents self-reliance?
Khadi is the cloth made by hand spinning thread from cotton and weaving it, which became a symbol of the freedom struggle.
Which tiny green bird stitches its own nest using its beak?
The tailorbird stitches leaf edges together using its beak and plant fibres or spider silk to make a safe nest.
What is the basic running stitch?
Running stitch is a simple stitching method where the needle goes up, down, up, down in a straight line through cloth.
Name two synthetic fibres used in clothes.
Rayon, nylon, polyester and terylene are synthetic fibres made by humans using artificial materials.
What is weaving? [1 mark]
Define weaving as crossing threads over and under; mention it creates cloth, mats or baskets.
Name any three natural fibres used to make cloth. Why are they called natural? [2 marks]
List three from: cotton, silk, wool, jute, bamboo, linen. Natural fibres come from plants and animals in nature, not made by humans.
How does the tailorbird stitch its nest? Describe the process in your own words with an example from how humans stitch clothes. [3 marks]
Tailorbird uses beak to poke holes in leaf edges and pulls plant fibres or spider silk through; similar to how tailors sew cloth with needle and thread.
Explain the process of making thread from cotton. What is spinning? Draw and label the steps involved from cotton plant to thread. [5 marks]
Spinning = twisting cotton fibres to make them stronger and thinner; include steps: pull cotton fibre → twist it → wind on pencil/charkha → creates thread; mention charkha is traditional spinning wheel.
State whether these statements are true or false. Give one reason for each answer. (a) Silk is a synthetic fibre. (b) Khadi cloth is made by hand spinning and weaving. [2 marks]
(a) False — silk comes from silkworm cocoon (natural fibre). (b) True — khadi is hand-spun and woven cotton cloth that represents self-reliance.
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