Clothkits Sewing Bee - The Fabric Challenge Workshop | Half Day | Chichester Sewing Courses
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Delivery and Shipping
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Europe
Small Parcels Less than 1kg - £8.50
Medium Parcels 1kg to 1.99kg - £15
Large Parcels 2 to 3.99kg - £25
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We use Royal Mail International Standard Shipping, which takes 5 – 14 working days depending on the location. For urgent European orders please contact us first. Please review our International Sales Policy before placing an order.
Rest of the World
Small Parcels Less than 0.49kg £12.50 (approx 1 or 2 kits)
Medium Parcels 0.5 to 0.99kg - £18
Large Parcels 1 to 1.99kg - £30
Heavy Parcels 2kg+ - £65+
We use Royal Mail International Standard Shipping, which takes 5 – 14 working days depending on the location. For urgent International orders please contact us first. Not trackable.
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Description
Description
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:
- The Pattern Challenge
- The Fabric Challenge
- The Alteration/Transformation Challenge
- 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.
Terms & Conditions: Please take a moment to read our booking terms below before reserving your place
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Reviews
Workshop Terms and Conditions
Workshop Terms and Conditions
We want everyone to have a lovely experience at our Clothkits workshops and courses. As places are limited and our tutors and materials are arranged in advance, please take a moment to read our booking terms before reserving your place.
If you have any questions or need a little help, please email us at info@clothkits.co.uk or give us a call. We're always happy to help.
How to Book
All our workshops and courses can be booked online, over the telephone or in person at our Chichester shop.
Places are limited and bookings are confirmed once payment has been received. Unfortunately, we cannot reserve spaces without payment, so we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.
Cancellations & Changes to Your Booking
We understand that plans sometimes change. However, as our workshops have limited spaces and tutors are booked in advance, we do have a cancellation policy.
- At least 6 weeks before your course: If you can no longer attend, please let us know at least six weeks before the course start date. We will be happy to transfer your course fee or deposit to another available workshop or course.
- Less than 6 weeks before your course: Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds or transfers to another course if you cancel within six weeks of the start date, subject to your statutory rights.
- Unable to attend on the day: If you are unable to attend, or miss part of a course, we cannot offer a refund, credit or replacement session, except where required by law.
- Sending someone in your place: You're very welcome to pass your booking on to a friend or family member if you can no longer attend. Please contact us in advance with their name and contact details so we can make sure they receive all the information they'll need.
Please note: Course fees and deposits are non-refundable for customer cancellations, subject to your statutory rights. Any transfer to another course is subject to availability and must be arranged with us in advance.
We always appreciate as much notice as possible if you are unable to attend, even when a refund or transfer isn't possible. It may mean we can offer your place to someone else.
If Clothkits Cancels a Course
Occasionally, we may need to cancel or reschedule a workshop due to unforeseen circumstances, tutor illness or insufficient bookings.
If this happens, we will contact you as soon as possible and offer you the choice of:
- A full refund of the course fee paid.
- A transfer to another available date or suitable alternative course.
Unfortunately, we cannot cover additional expenses such as travel, accommodation or other arrangements made in connection with attending a course, except where required by law.
Course Materials & Supplies
Every workshop is a little different, so please check the individual course description for details of what's included and anything you'll need to bring along.
As a little extra treat, everyone attending a Clothkits workshop receives 10% off most purchases in our shop on the day of their course. Some exclusions apply.
We recommend allowing a little extra time before your workshop if you need to choose fabrics or other materials, particularly on busy days.
If you'd prefer to purchase your supplies in advance, just get in touch and we'll arrange a discount code for you.
Not sure what to bring? Please ask! We're always happy to help you get everything ready for your creative day.
