FABRIC & TEXTILES WORKSHOP

Maybe it was love at first sight. The ah-mazing fabric that you absolutely had to have. So how did it come to this? Another meh garment that doesn’t live up to your expectations. Most likely, it was a case of right fabric, wrong garment choice. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to get it right every time.

Skill Level: All

This class is open to everyone: home sewers, hobbyists and professionals. It's also a required component of the Fibre & Fabric Unit of the Diploma of Fashion Design & Garment Construction. Highly recommended for those wanting to start their own label.

Classes & Cost

12 hours | 2 days | $395
9.30 am - 4.00 pm (inc 30 mins lunch)

20 & 27 October, 2024
9 & 16 February 2025
14 & 21 September 2025

1.     How to create and use colour schemes for use in garment design

2.     Characteristics, care and handling methods for the major fabric classifications:

• Plant based natural fibres including cottons and linens

• Animal based natural fibres including wools and silks

• Reconstituted fibres including acetate, triacetate, viscose and rayons

• Man-made fibres including polyesters and nylons

• Other materials used in garment production including leathers, synthetic suedes, vinyls, fur and feathers.

3.     Review of the right design choice for fabric drape and structural characteristics on the basis of fabric weave (woven and knits)

• Plain weaves

• Twill weaves

• Pile weaves

• Satin weaves

• Speciality weaves including brocade, jacquard, cloque, lace and seersucker

• Other fabric types such as felts, reversible fabrics, and technical fabrics

4.     Indicators of fabric quality

• Alignment of warp and weft grain, or wales and courses

• Fibre and weave regularity

• Dye penetration

• Print placement

• Evaluation of fibre characteristics

• Washing, evaluating hand and burn testing

• Weight and thread count

• Professional terms and quality evaluation

• Finishes used to improve fabric performance.

5. Sewing Techniques

• Grain requirements: laying out, cutting and sewing (including handling bias grain)

• Sewing tools

• Pressing tools

• Pre-shrinking

• Use of interfacings, linings and battings

• Basic seam finishes

• Basic hem finishes

• Basic edge finishes.

6. Using plaids, stripes, borders and patterns:

• Calculating metreage

• Cutting and layout of pattern pieces

• Matching principles.

7. Glossary of fabrics terms and references.