The Great British Sewing Bee

I thought the quilted patchwork was a brilliant addition - I'd like to see some bag making too. I still love this programme - it is one of the few programmes I watch live as I can't wait! (Another is" Gentleman Jack".}

I agree that this year's SB seems very lack lustre - even Esme and Patrick seem very subdued. I know Patrick has had quite a stressful time over the last couple of years, so maybe that's why. Maybe they are missing the antics of Joe.

The contestants don't seem to have melded as a group yet either - they all seem way too quiet/nervous. Brogan is the only one who really stands out for me so far, as an individual.

Chewbacca I am with you, this years SB seems to lack excitement. Last nights 2 coats into one just struck me as a waste of 18 good coats. None of them were fit to be worn at the end, most of them looked weird and were badly made.

As for the dress of the week...... several people made far nicer and wearable long dresses from their duvet than the red and white confection that looked more like a dressing gown than a dress.

I m afraid that this series is beginning to become a characature of itself. And looks like some comedian's send-up of it

Always watch the programme, and I too miss Joe, wish he would come back.
I love the programme and thought the challenges last night were very difficult and the contestants did really well. What skills they have.
Felt rather sorry for the young man who went home, I just felt with a little more time he would get there, but obviously there isn't time on a competition.
Can't wait for next week.

I've watched every series of SB and loved them all but this series just doesn't feel right somehow; a bit lacklustre and flat. One or two of the challenges have seemed odd too; sewing trainers and making 2 coats into 1 came across as being desperate to find something that hasn't been done on the programme before.

I'm finding Sarah Pascoe increasingly silly and irritating and her "funny interventions" are just awkward. Come back Joe!

The patchwork jackets were incredible last night. 96 squares before you start to sew your garment! I agree that Sara is not doing much other than announcing how much time is left. She's not really talking to the sewers much. Looking forward to childrens week also.

I am more impressed by the sewers as the weeks pass. Turning 2 coats into a new wearable one. I know, why? but they were inspired. And the patchwork.
How did they make the fabric? It was cleverly not shown.
I can do without Sarah P. She's very sweet but what is her role exactly?

I still enjoy it but I’m sorry Sara pascoe adds absolutely nothing to the programme except a bit of irritation. Joe Lycett had empathy and charm.

I enjoyed last night. I really like all the competitors who are left in. I like Brogan but I wonder if she's a one trick pony. All her garments are very similar in shape/design to me.

I ll have to watch again I fell asleep don’t even know who went out
Ahh old age eh!

I missed the first part last night as we were out, but the duvet covers weren't very inspiring.

I'm looking forward to my favourite week - children's garments - next week. I thought they might have been cancelled due to filming during covid. It's a shame there aren't really any wacky creators left to go crazy for the kids, but hopefully it will be fun.

I recorded this week's and am watching it now. I liked Joe last year, I like Sarah this year. They're a nice bunch of sewers. I particularly like Annie and ManYee.

I'm sure in the first series, the contestants began their big project at home and arrived with it half finished . They spoke about their influences and seemed altogether more informed.
It is too repetitive IMO. Though I was impressed by the trainer's last time
Sarah Pascoe. Is she a comedian? You can't tell.

Karmalady could any of those be done in 4 hours ? I think that is the maximum time given
Another idea is they could start a project at the beginning but do different jobs and keep coming back to it ?

Yes the programme is not as lively as it used to be. Brogan is a very good sewist, very neat and precise, her smocked dress was fantastic. Her clothes are so pretty. Esme and Patrick seem to have lost their sparkle, they both seem jaded and worn out. The presenter alone cannot lift the programme

I too would like to see other sewn items, covering a small armchair, piped sofa seats, a set of cushions etc

Millie22

Joseanne
I agree that Brogan's dress should have been the garment of the week. I also liked the beach shorts set so I thought that they may have chosen that. It was one of the men not sure of his name Christian I think.

I think Brogan is excellent, she always makes items you can imagine people wearing- her dress was lovely, and I liked her top and skirt from hammock material as well, some of the others were dreadful.

It was interesting to hear that Esme had made clothes for Romeo and Juliet. It was the right decision to send Ritchie home, although Steve had a nightmare couple of rounds!

Joseanne
I agree that Brogan's dress should have been the garment of the week. I also liked the beach shorts set so I thought that they may have chosen that. It was one of the men not sure of his name Christian I think.

This series feels a bit flat to me too MOnica, I’m also not convinced Sarah Pascoe does much to enhance it.
Certainly Richie should have gone- but then it often seems to me they keep one less capable person on to maintain the contrast with the more proficient contestants (it happens on Strictly too)
Maybe it’s losing its appeal now?

I thought the winning "made to measure" beach ensemble was lovely, especially the fabric chosen.
Definitely Brogan's lucky week!
In the past, wasn't the winner of the week chosen from any of the three categorises? It seems to be just the last one this series? I might have chosen Brogan's Sheering dress.

The question of moving beyond clothes has come up a number of times but the response from SB is aways a firm 'no', clothes only.

I have found this years series a little bit flat. Some how despite the diversity the contestants appear very samey, no really distinct characters that really stand out, love them or hate them.

I am not sure about the stadards of their sewing. I know in the first run of SB the skills of the sewers got better and better and the tsasks they were set hrder and harder, until it bean to get boring because the contestants were all to busy sewin and concentrating to chtty to each other or the contestant, and I think had a break for a year, while they re thought it.

Since then, they seem to have put getting together an interesting and diverse set of contestants, with excellent sewing skills but not quite the absolutely best and given projects that are challenging, but not over challenging and the result is usually a more enjoyable programme, but I am not sure it has worked that well this year, we seem to have ended up with both diversity and uniformity, but there are many more programmes to come and it might suddently light up.

I think Richie should have gone home ... perhaps next week.

I think that this years sewers are generally more skilled.

Couldn't fit that into a morning!

Happysexagenarian

Everything stops in our house to watch the Sewing Bee. I thoroughly enjoyed the first episode of the new series. Like other GNERs I'd love to be let loose in the fabrics and haberdashery, and I just love that colourful stripy fabric in the opening shots. I must admit I would also like to see them make something other than clothes, perhaps soft toys, bags or a quilt - sewing isn't just about making clothes. You can tell where my interests lie! So that's Wednesday evenings taken care of for the next few weeks.

Loved the trainers, both the idea and the finished products.
Quilts take hours and hours to make, even ones for a small baby. You could fit that into a morning.
A lined bag with a zip (and interfacing for substance) takes quite a while too.