Saturday 9 August 10.30am-4.30pm with a break for lunch

Tutor: Mel Forrest

Level - Intermediate - 5 places

If you know how to use a sewing machine and have tried your hand at basic garment sewing (such as our Pyjamas or Stevie Dress classes), this is an ideal opportunity to build on your skills. Bob Pants are a cult classic in the sewing community as they are effortlessly cool and look great on everyone! Bobs have an elastic waistband, in-seam pockets and a gentle balloon shape, and look fabulous sewn in a wide range of light to medium weight fabrics.

Using the Style Arc pattern, Mel guides you through simple garment construction. Techniques covered include pattern lay plans and grain lines, understanding and marking pattern notations, cutting out the correct size, stitching seams, inserting pockets, and creating an elasticated waistband. Most of Hometown’s wide-width (and normal-width) fabrics will be suitable for this project - linen-handle, gingham, Sevenberry wovens and lightweight denim would all make beautiful Bobs.

This class is suitable for dressmakers who already know how to use a sewing machine and have some experience of garment sewing. The workshop fee includes your own copy of the paper pattern, so you can make more at home. Please note we’ll be using the standard sizes on the pattern and won’t be covering pattern adjustments during the day.

Important: As the pattern is available in 2 sizes, UK 4-16 or UK 18-30, please put your preferred pattern size in the comment box when booking. You can check your body measurements against the chart. Machine sewn.

Recommended Fabrics:

Woven lightweight cottons, linen, linen-handle, cotton/linen mixes, gingham and lightweight denim are all suitable and we stock these at Hometown. Other suitable fabrics not stocked by us are light wool, rayon or crepe. Note babycord has a nap, so if you want to use this extra fabric will be needed because of the directional pile.

Materials and equipment required:

• 150cm / 58-in wide fabric - sizes 4 to 16 require 1.80m, sizes 18 to 30 require 2.2m. Please

• 112cm / 42-in wide fabric sizes 4-16 require 2.75m, sizes 18-22 require 3.75m, 24-30 4.5m

• 100m cotton / sew-all thread to match your fabric

• Elastic for waistband – width 4cm (1.5-in)

• Sewing Machine, including straight sewing foot, spare bobbins. Don’t forget your lead and foot pedal

• Basic sewing kit, including sharp fabric scissors/rotary cutter (as you prefer), fabric marking pen/pencil/tailors’ chalk, pins and stitch ripper. Fabric weights and thread snips (if you use them)

• pinking shears (if you have a pair)

For more of Mel’s me-made makes, look at her instagram feed.

We recommend that all dressmaking fabrics are pre-washed prior to the class. If you need additional haberdashery supplies during the day, you’re able to purchase these in the shop.

Refreshments are provided during the day with a break for lunch. You’re welcome to bring your own lunch, or there are a wide variety of tearooms and delis in the high street.

If you have any questions, please phone us on 01634 838880 before booking. Note: we do not send out reminder emails before a workshop, as all the information you need is here! For location and car parking info, please see our Contacts page.

Please check dates carefully before booking as we do not offer refunds on workshops. For full booking terms, please read here.