FE News | Sheffield College students show off their skills in the BBC’s Great British Sewing Baize

Students from Sheffield College (@sheffcol) showcased their fashion skills on the international stage during the World Snooker Championships hosted in the city.

Four fashion and textiles students were commissioned by the BBC to design and reuse some of the iconic bright green cloth that covers snooker tables.

Usually, after the Championship at the Crucible in Sheffield, the 52 meters of used cloth would be sold to the public, a player or club owner, or donated to charity.

This year, BBC presenter Abigail Davies brought some of the cloth to the college’s Hillsborough campus, Livesey Street, for reuse.

The task set for the students was to design and produce a garment that embodies the essence of the Crucible for the BBC’s Great British Sewing Baize.

Alison Rockett, Lecturer, Arts and Creative Industries, Sheffield College, said: “Participating in this challenge was a fantastic opportunity for our students to develop and showcase their skills. I am incredibly proud of them.

“Baze is a dense felt course and material to work with, but the designs the students created are fantastic and they worked hard to a tight deadline.

“Exploring how to reuse materials and learning about sustainability is an important part of the curriculum.”

Students who took part in the project included Bean Coleman, 18, who designed a tie and bag, and Eve Dalley, 17, who created a shoulder bag.

Nadine Abdugabit, 17, designed a bag with motifs based on a magical theme inspired by the nicknames of snooker players.

George Green, 17, created a traditional waistcoat with snooker ball motifs on the front and music, football and steel symbols strongly associated with the city’s identity on the back.

The students’ work was exhibited at the city’s Winter Garden and judged by professional snooker player and Irish broadcaster Ken Doherty, who praised them all for their “brilliant” designs.

George, whose coat stole the show and was selected as the winner, said: “I’m really proud of what I’ve created in the time I’ve had.”

You can watch BBC iPlayer coverage of the Great British Sewing Baize during day 13 of the championships by subbing at the 1:24:01 mark.

In the picture: Sheffield College students with their snooker inspired designs in the Winter Garden.