Enhancing Craft: Utilizing Hand Embroidery Technique for Production of Home Decorating Articles

This study examined enhancing craft by utilizing hand embroidery technique for the production of home decorating articles. The purpose of the study was to identify fundamental techniques of hand embroidery that could be used for production of home decorating articles and to develop three prototypes home decorating articles using fundamental techniques of hand embroidery. The study adopted the survey research design and research and development (R and D) design. The population was 125, 269 individuals (71 registered artisans and 125, 198 heads of households. A total of 431 respondents were selected for the study. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select house heads while census was used for the artisans. Instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire. The internal consistency of the instrument was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, which yielded a value of 0.89. Mean and standard deviation were used to analyse the research question. Findings of the study revealed 12 fundamental hand embroidery techniques needed for production of home decorating articles. The home decorating articles produced using hand embroidery techniques included two different designs of tea coasters, two different designs of wall hangings and two different designs of table mats. The study concluded that hand embroidery techniques can be used to produce innovative and aesthetic home decorating articles thereby enhancing and widening the scope of craft work. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that fundamental embroidery techniques should be incorporated for production of home decorating articles in order to promote and enhance the use of hand embroidery craft.