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The Great British Sewing Bee

(88 Posts)
Indinana Mon 16-May-16 22:25:03

Anybody else watching this? I've been looking forward to the new series for a while and it didn't disappoint. Much too early to predict the winner, but two or three did stand out tonight and will certainly be the ones to watch in the future. But we know this can change dramatically, which is the fun of the programme!

On a sad note, I hadn't realised until the end of tonight's show that Lorna Monje, one of the stars of last year's GBSB, died earlier this year. She was such a fun person, so vibrant and so full of life that it seems hard to believe that that life has been snuffed out at only 69 years old.

suzied Tue 14-Jun-16 20:45:51

My daughter is an artist and made the feathers/ leaves here on a sewing machine using free machine embroidery

MargaretX Tue 14-Jun-16 21:47:31

The winning jacket was really a winner and i heard that the candidates could cut out the pieces of their garment at home. In my opinion the cutting out of this jacket where the pattern matched from sleeve over to the front and the back and was perfect that this was the main work. The pieces were cut out with mathematical precision and there was noproof that the girl had done that herself. Joyce continues to produce lovely clothes. Is she the winner?
I could not stop laughing at Esme. Hasn't she got a mirror at home or daughters? Mine would not have let me appear on Tv looking like that.

annodomini Tue 14-Jun-16 22:07:18

She did look as if she'd been through a shredder!

Indinana Wed 15-Jun-16 07:58:27

She did look as if she'd been through a shredder! Perfectly put, anno! It's difficult to believe that someone with so little sartorial sense can be a judge on such a programme.
I loved the winning jacket, it was absolutely flawless. I was so pleased to see Jade get the Garment of the Week award for that because she has struggled at times, and been close to going home.
Yes, Margaret Joyce is certainly looking like the winner at the moment. But then, Jamie did over the first couple of weeks and then made some disastrous errors of judgment, so I guess it could still be anyone's game.

whitewave Wed 15-Jun-16 08:44:12

I had a blue boucle jacket. Wore on my first date with DH. Pencil skirt to match. Black patent block heels and matching handbag?

BBbevan Wed 15-Jun-16 08:53:28

I think Esme looked like a slightly restrained Grayson Perry

Stansgran Wed 15-Jun-16 09:41:37

I used to love cloth kits and I think you also had a doll's dress pattern in with the little girls dresses. I was sure Caitlin Moran was wearing a cloth kit top in the Sunday Times. I haven't watched the sewing bee. My beloved Bernina has gone funny and the man has come to take it away. Feel as though my right arm has been cut off.

MargaretX Wed 15-Jun-16 10:15:59

I'm still sewing on the Bernina I bought myself 20 years ago with birthday money. The Mercedes of sewing machines was how they described them then. I would feel terrible if it broke down, still Mercedes, they don't break down either, they just carry on a new life in Africa and do another 300,000km.
Perhaps your Bernina is on its way to Africa where it will sew another thousand km.

SloeGinny Wed 15-Jun-16 13:02:10

Suzie, that head dress is amazing, what a talented daughter you have!

shysal Wed 15-Jun-16 13:31:19

The applique on Esme's tunic/Kaftan last week was unfinished and uneven too. This week's dress seemed to have frayed ends sticking up over her shoulders. I thought they were a very poor advertisement of her skills.

Deedaa Wed 15-Jun-16 21:51:02

I had to laugh at the problems the young ones were having with the 60's machine. They sounded just like me when I try to use my "lovely" new one that I foolishly bought to replace my 21st Birthday present machine. I hardly ever use the new one because I have to read right through the manual every time I do. Now if Patrick was going to come and help me with it ...............

tiredoldwoman Thu 16-Jun-16 05:24:06

Suzie , I needed your daughter last year ! My wee granddaughter wanted a parrot costume , I had to make feathers out of paper . That head dress should be put in a boxed frame - it's gorgeous !

Alea Tue 28-Jun-16 10:25:00

Loving the programme, but also especially the music!!
Is it "taking anybody else back" ? smile

LullyDully Tue 28-Jun-16 12:38:23

Getting exciting. All my favourites left. I want Jade to win as she is so young, enthusiastic and quirky. I think Charlotte has the skills and care. Have really enjoyed it. May I never have to transform a duvet cover or a ski suit.!

miep Tue 28-Jun-16 13:46:25

I admire all the contestants for their undoubted skill and still can't decide who is going to win. Anyone got any idea?

Kittye Tue 28-Jun-16 17:39:13

Jade for me, for the same reasons as Lully

whitewave Tue 28-Jun-16 17:44:40

I so wish I could sew, but nothing I make would ever be so nice asI can buy

Luckygirl Tue 28-Jun-16 18:14:07

I thought that Charlotte's garment of the week this week was a bit weird to be honest.

Ana Tue 28-Jun-16 18:19:37

I'm rooting for Jade, too. Charlotte is certainly precise and sometimes has flashes of flair, but she does seem to be getting just a little bit complacent, to my mind...

Joyce obviously has the most sewing experience, but that isn't always what the judges are looking for.

Deedaa Tue 28-Jun-16 20:35:50

Really hard to choose between them. They've all been very good this year.

MargaretX Tue 28-Jun-16 21:49:48

Charlotte was surprised her garment won and so was I. I thought it was terrible and it convinces me that these two judges have a plan. Maybe they have praised Charlotte's creations only to dash her down next week and let Jade win.
A girl her age could get started on a wonderful career if she won next week.
If I was hiring one to make clothes for me I would pick Joyce

Indinana Mon 04-Jul-16 22:46:24

Well my goodness that was a challenging final! I honestly would not have known where to start with the alteration challenge - a little black dress from a tux? Blimey! And they all just seemed to get stuck in, their creative juices overflowing immediately!
For once I wasn't gunning for any one particular finalist; I would have been happy with whoever won. I honestly don't think Charlotte expected it, but I did agree with Patrick when he said that she had a natural understanding of how fabric worked (or something like that!).
Well done all three! Now what on earth am I going to do next Monday at 9.00 pm? And oh how I'll miss Esme's sartorial disasters taste!

M0nica Mon 04-Jul-16 23:02:35

Working under pressure is never the same as taking your time and we all make mistakes when we rush, I certainly do. J

Jovce's sewing and mastery of technique was way ahead, but she was very poor at making clothes fit well, everything always seemed to be made for somebody a size larger than the dummy or model she was making for.

Charlotte was the most erratic and Jade was sometimes let down by her lack of experience. Nevertheless the final seemed too close to call with no obvious front runner, but I think the right decision was made and Jade has a great future ahead of her.

rubylady Tue 05-Jul-16 03:22:56

I just didn't want Joyce to win, I think she was expecting to.

suzied Tue 05-Jul-16 05:10:47

None of the final garments were perfect, illustrating the problems of unrealistic time limits. Charlottes dress was messy, satin shows up all mistakes and makes them look much worse, yet the main positive thing the judges said was the fabric choice! I think Joyce thought her skirt and jacket would be a bit Vivienne Westwood, but it looked more like bondage gear and it was way too big. Jade's dress didn't fit and the lining wasn't put in properly causing the outside of the dress to be distorted , plus the beaded bit shouldn't have been used for a train , but hats off to them I would hate to do that in the time frame and I m sure I'd have been unpicking all the time!