Clothkits Sewing Bee - The Fabric Challenge Workshop | Half Day | Chichester Sewing Courses

Inspired by The Great British Sewing Bee, our Clothkits Sewing Bee Challenges are designed to build your dressmaking knowledge, confidence and know-how – without the pressure of a competition!

We know The Great British Sewing Bee doesn't have a Fabric Challenge as such, but choosing the right fabric for a pattern is one of the most important parts of making a garment you'll love – and it's certainly something the Sewing Bee contestants are judged on.

With so much fabric now bought online, we don't always have the luxury of being able to touch, feel and drape it before making a decision. Instead, we're faced with photographs, descriptions and a collection of numbers and terms – composition, GSM, ounces, weave, weight – that aren't always particularly helpful if you don't know what they mean.

During this three-hour workshop, Jo will help demystify the world of fabric so you can understand what you're buying, how different fabrics behave and, most importantly, how to choose the right one for your next dressmaking project.

What you’ll learn

• How to recognise different types of fabric
• What common fabric names actually mean
• How different weaves affect the look, feel and behaviour of a fabric
• How to understand fabric weights, including GSM and ounces
• How fibre composition affects the characteristics of a fabric
• How different fabrics behave when made into garments
• How to use this information to choose a suitable fabric for your sewing pattern

Is this class for you? Absolutely! This workshop is suitable for complete beginners as well as experienced sewists who would like to feel more confident choosing fabric. The aim is to take the guesswork and frustration out of fabric shopping and give you the knowledge to make more informed choices for future projects.

You'll also go home with the beginnings of your own fabric swatch reference book – a handy resource you can continue to build as your fabric knowledge grows.

Please note, there is no actual sewing involved in this workshop.

What to bring: A notebook and pen.

About your Teacher: Jo gained her experience in the fashion industry as a designer/pattern cutter in ladies' outerwear. She has taught adults sewing and pattern cutting skills for over a decade, from absolute beginners sewing to bra making, simple pattern alterations to fitting masterclasses. Jo is an inspiring teacher and encourages creativity and confidence in dressmaking and sewing projects.

Course Duration: 3 Hours

When: Saturday 21st November 2026, 10am - 1pm

About the Clothkits Sewing Bee Challenges: We've created four different three-hour challenges inspired by The Great British Sewing Bee. Take them individually or work your way through the whole series:

1. The Pattern Challenge
2. The Fabric Challenge
3. The Alteration/Transformation Challenge
4. The Made to Measure Challenge

They may be challenges, but they're definitely not a competition – there are no prizes and everyone's a winner!

Venue: The workshop is held in our modern and vibrant studio at the Clothkits shop. We are located in central Chichester, about a 10 minute walk from the train and bus station. The closest car park is The Cattle Market.