An investigation into the factors which impinge on the reading comprehension abilities of first year human ecology students at UWC

Abstract

The study deals with the reading comprehension abilities of first year Human Ecology students as they attempt to interpret commercial patterns. A commercial pattern is a retail pattern which is mass-produced in different sizes by various manufacturers and consists of pattern pieces (from which fabric is cut) and an instruction sheet which explains how the fabric pieces should be attached in the construction of a garment. People who wish to use a commercial pattern to construct a garment but who cannot properly interpret the instructions of these patterns, (even if they are able to read in the English language), will not be successful in their venture of clothing construction.