The Great British Sewing Bee

Talking to DD last night, who knows far more about Sarah Pascoe than I do and her reaction was to say she liked her but considers her miscast as the presenter of Sewing Bee. We decided it was because she doesn't really engage with the contestants. Just pops up says her piece, makes a funny face and gives the impression that she then returns to her trailer, until her next slot. Joe Lycett was always visibly on set and seemed to make sure he had a personal rapport with each contestants. Even Oscar winning actors are sometimes miscast and appear in flops, and Sarah Pascoe, whatever her skills, is miscast here.

I enjoyed last night. The general standard of sewing was very good and contestants very evenly talented. Sewing Bee is like a tennis tournament. As Emma Radacanu found you can win a big tournament one week and be out in the first round of a minor tournament the next week. Sewers win or lose on their skills in the current match, not how they have played over the season.

As last night's episode shows, the programme is not just about sewing standards, it is about creativity, choosing the right materials and timing. Angela twice chose inapproriate fabrics last night, the parka fabric she chose looked good but she remarked on the problems it might cause when she chose it - and it did-. And needlecord fabric, was completely wrong for the last task. Whoever saw David Bowie in needlecord?

Regarding having a presenter, I would have thought Patrick and Esme could do it between them, with an unseen ‘voiceover’ doing some of the narration.

I’ve watched every programme from the beginning but it’s now too repetitive for me and Sarah Pascoe is dire. She’s like a wack a rat toy, she just pops up randomly with no connection to the sewers. I just fast forward to the reveals, I think that’s all that needs to be shown.

Problem is Patrick and Esme are the judges so cannot be with the sewers all the time, they need to have a presenter, to hold the programme together.

Unfortunately this year's presenter, is miscast and i I do hope, that if there is another season of SB, they choose someone more empathetic.

I thought Christian's "David Bowie" outfit was by far the closest to the brief, and looked very Bowie. I think it would have won Garment of the Week if it hadn't been a bit tight on her bottom.

MawtheMerrier

Lilypops

Why do the models on GBSB. Wear masks,when none of the contestants or Esme or Patrick wear them ,

I’m guessing that this was filmed some months ago and that the contestants and judges etc are bubbled together.
The models, coming in from outside are wearing face coverings as we were encouraged to do indoors at that time (theatres, cinemas) until that too fell by the wayside.

Mawthemerrier, Thankyou , yes that’s makes sense, The models weren’t in the GBSB bubble ,

Well I had a tear in my eye last night at the contestant's speech. So did Patrick! They were obviously well liked by the others too. However I think it was the right decision but must have been difficult to make.

Oh-oh we have 2 threads active on this. The other one is called ‘Sewing b’ and I have posted on it this morning, as have others.
!
I shed a few tears at the amazing Gill’s leaving speech too Grandmabatty and loved the transformation challenge for a change - Debra’s jacket was great.
Who knew a bra was so difficult to sew together - so many small pieces (although if it were my size they would be bigger!)

What an inspirational woman Gill is.
Sad she's gone but she will be the one always remembered on TGBSB.

I saw the programme for the first time last night and really enjoyed it. It has the same format as The Great Pottery Throwdown and on that, too, the presenter often spoils it. I can see they do need presenters but surely they can manage to pick a good one at the auditions.

I was fascinated by the cutting wheels and the weights used to hold pattern to fabric at the cutting out stage. Never seen those before but a big improvement on the pins and scissors I've always used. I'm off to have a look on Amazon.......

Tillytrotter I inadvertently started a sewing Bee thread when this current series began and was very politely told off. ? I only post on this one now. I note the folk who gave me a row didn't do the same to the other thread. Maybe they didn't see it or maybe they're chums.

I love this programme, I really look forward to it. Always lots of sewing when I was little, my mum used to make all her own clothes and mine.
Sad to see Gill go.
Can't wait for next week. I was trying to reckon up how many weeks left, possibly three/four.
It's the highlight of my week.

I was sad to see Gill go what a clever lady to do so much with one hand absolute inspiration
Brogan has quite an annoying voice but she a brilliant designer/ sewer I would imagine she may win she has a happy personality too I liked the grandads navy pyjamas best I can’t remember the lady’s name

It was Man Yee’s pyjamas - I think they were more James Bond than old man to be fair, I really liked them, I thought they deserved to win garment of the week. I wasn’t keen on Debra’s jacket, probably because I don’t like bows on clothes except on the under 10s.

I did similarly a while ago Grandmabatty and started an identical thread by genuine error.
I can’t remember what prog it was now.
I had my hand smacked too - so we can be in the naughty corner together ?

Last night's programme was really emotional at the end. What an inspiration Gill was and I think she was finding it increasingly difficult to finish on time.

I quite liked the pyjamas Annie made. What a challenge to make a bra and my goodness they were so small. Far too fiddly to sew.

I also shed a few tears at Gill’s leaving speech, she was my favourite from the start and I’m sad to see her go but it was the right decision. I’ve been amazed each week at how she managed to sew so well.
I find Sara Pascoe gets more annoying each week, really don’t find her funny at all.

Gill and Cristian have been sewing/renovating together.

www.instagram.com/p/CeX3qJuK0fI/

I think this week's episode really took of in a way that other episodes havn't, this year, despite an engaging group of contestants.

I was in awe of the bra and pants people made, most so close to perfect. The transformation challenge actually produced some wearable clothes and none of the contestants had time to give their pyjamas a really good heavy iron to give them the crisp knife edge seams, you see on high end pyjamas in the shops or on characters in films, but again, they all looked very wearable.

I was very sorry to see Gill go, but her choice of fabrics in several recent episodes, has been uncertain, and this week her sewing was away with the fairies.

I really enjoyed the latest episode and I too was sorry to see Gill go. I was so impressed with what she could achieve and was very touched by her 'farewell' speech. What an amazing lady!

I like Sara Pascoe and really don't see why so many people don't like her. Mind you I am sure people complained about Joe Lycett last year and now he is being praised! (BTW I liked him too)

A fabulous programme and I will be sad when it ends. I hope Brogan wins.

You cannot blame Sara Pascoe for when she appears, that will be down to the director and editor.

I don’t think Sara Pascoe is the right person for the presenter but then I really didn’t like Joe Lycett on it either. I too wonder how difficult it is to find a good presenter, not necessarily a comedian, to do this job? It’s the same on Pottery Throwdown, I much preferred the substitute one who came on instead of Siobhan. Again, comedians?

I never complained about Jo Lycett. I liked him from Day 1.

But Jo Lycett interacted with the contestants. Sara Pascoe, seems to just do her entries, recite her script and then retire to her trailer. In fact I sometimes wonder whether they film her entries and scripts entirely separately from the rest of the show and just cut them in later.

I did complain about Joe Lycett when he started. Hadn't heard of him, didn't know who he was and I found him very annoying and infantile. However, once he settled down and I got more used to him he did make me chuckle. I always thought he was good with the sewers too. Haven't seen that empathy and connection with the sewers yet from Sara Pascoe, but that may change. I feel a bit sorry for her and think she may be finding it a lot harder than she thought it would be. There are only so many (funny) jokes you can make about sewing.