Fashion & Textiles Workshop
Maybe it was love at first sight — that ah-mazing fabric you absolutely had to have. The drape, the colour, the feel… destiny. So how did it end up like this? Another meh garment that doesn’t live up to the dream. Chances are, it wasn’t the fabric — it was right fabric, wrong garment choice. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to confidently match fabric to design by understanding fibre types, weave, drape, quality, colour planning and the sewing techniques that bring it all together — so you can stop second-guessing and start creating garments that truly work.
What You’ll Learn
This workshop is designed to take the guesswork out of fabric selection and garment design, so you can choose and use fabric with confidence. You’ll learn how fibres, weaves and drape influence design, how to assess quality and performance, and how to apply the right sewing techniques and finishes to support your fabric choice. From colour planning to handling specialty materials, this workshop gives you the knowledge to make informed decisions and achieve beautifully considered results.
Suitable for all skill levels and especially recommended if you’re planning to start your own label.
What to Expect
This workshop is structured to give you a clear, practical understanding of how fabric choice influences garment design and construction. Through guided exploration, you’ll examine fibre classifications, weave structures, drape and structural characteristics, quality indicators and appropriate sewing techniques and learn how these elements work together to inform confident design decisions. The focus is on building knowledge you can immediately apply to evaluating fabric and planning garments with greater accuracy and professionalism.
Classes & Costs
Cost: $399
Format: 6-hour workshop, 9:30am – 4:00pm (30-minute lunch break)
Upcoming 2026 dates: 17 & 24 May · 12 & 20 September
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.
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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.
Classes & Cost
12 hours | 2 days | $399
9.30 am - 4.00 pm (inc 30 mins lunch)
17 & 24 May 2026
13 & 20 September 2026
What You'll Learn
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.
More Information
Please feel free to email or call us on 02 9449 1450 and we'd be happy to provide more information or tailor a program for you.