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The Great British Sewing Bee is back soon! (SPOILER ALERT)

(180 Posts)
DanniRae Tue 24-Mar-20 17:16:50

Delighted that this show is back soon. Something to look forward to grin

Ellianne Thu 23-Apr-20 09:08:09

Thank you. I've never watched the programme before but thought it was enchanting. The best dress won.
I made the clothkits padded jacket too. The piped edges and toggle loops were a challenge for a novice.

Grammaretto Thu 23-Apr-20 10:21:40

Ah but grandma70s, it was clothkits which managed to trounce the horrible school memories for me of tailor's tacks, slippery linings, darts and I had at least 4 stitch ripper tools.

With Clothkits, the shapes were already marked on the printed fabric and it was almost impossible to make a mistake.
The styles eventually dated and by the time my DD was born in the late 1980s, the ready-made market had caught up and overtaken.
Do you remember Kidstuff?

Jane43 Thu 23-Apr-20 10:38:14

I love it too. I used to sew when I was a teenager but haven’t kept it up whereas I still knit. I agree vegansrock Next In Fashion is very good, it’s similar to Project Runway which I used to enjoy watching as well. I hope there is another series.

midgey Thu 23-Apr-20 10:38:45

My mum made me clothkit leather shoes! They were brilliant. She clothed my children and me in their clothes. I particularly remember reversible dresses for girls.

Alishka Thu 23-Apr-20 12:06:51

Clothkit leather shoes? What sort of wondrous things were those?shock Tell me more...

Grammaretto Thu 23-Apr-20 22:22:42

I may still have a clothkits catalogue. I can't remember seeing shoes. That does sound exotic.
Of course Laura Ashley RIP began by printing tea towels on her kitchen table (I think)

TwiceAsNice Thu 23-Apr-20 23:10:01

I watched part of it once and decided I’d rather watch paint dry. Never been so bored!

JessK Fri 24-Apr-20 11:03:51

I've watched every series of this programme and it never disappoints. The mix of participants is great this year and I'm looking forward to seeing some wacky creations as the weeks go on.

Alishka Thu 30-Apr-20 15:03:37

I watched the next episode yesterday. Perfect lockdown TV. btw, that little lady presenter? Put a few dark highlights in her hair and she could be Philipa Perry's diminutive sister,couldn't she?!grin

ginny Thu 30-Apr-20 15:11:15

I love it and DH enjoys it too !
I think Joe Lacey is perfect as a presenter for this programme.

aggie Thu 30-Apr-20 15:13:07

The little lady is a famous designer and is one of the judges

Lucca Thu 30-Apr-20 15:17:54

Esmé. I loved her dress and necklace last night

Grammaretto Thu 30-Apr-20 15:20:06

I enjoyed it last night though I switched on late. Saw the shirts. I liked the African one best and the one which came second with pin tucks.
I adore the material and want to be let loose in that fabric store.
Where can you get hold of lovely fabrics these days?

Ever since I made my DD a pair of pyjamas when she was about 5 and realised the fabric and pattern and bits added up to about £15 when you could buy a ready-made pair for a couple of pounds, I have craved to be tempted by fabric. All the big stores buy up/or have printed for them the nicest prints so you can't buy it for love nor money.,

JessK Thu 30-Apr-20 21:49:10

I've got the bug to make some palazzo pants after last night's show.
Everyone is still settling in and no one stands out yet as exceptionally more talented than the others.

Luckygirl Thu 30-Apr-20 22:39:30

I think it should change its name to "The Great British Innuendo Fest" after this week's episode! smile

Callistemon Thu 30-Apr-20 23:31:42

It was rather saucy Luckygirl blush

I can embarrass DS by pulling out photos of him wearing home made cord dungarees with handknitted jumpers. My DC were very 'home made'! I used to sew after they'd gone to bed until about midnight.

I remember buying Laura Ashley fabrics and similar patterns to make DD2 and myself clothes because I couldn't afford them readymade

LullyDully Fri 01-May-20 08:34:41

When mine were little I put corduroy patches on the knees of the boys' jeans, when they got a hole in them. They still talk about it , nearly 40 years later, as some kind of child abuse.
I used to sew a lot then but I seem to have lost my skills, so love to watch the sewing bee.

Jane10 Fri 01-May-20 08:56:55

Well I've read about this programme and thought I'd watch it as so many people seem to like it. I just don't get it! Some of the 'garments' that the judges rave over just look like bundles of washing. I think I'll give it a miss in furure.

Dottydots Fri 01-May-20 11:31:06

I absolutely love this show. I don't sew now but it brings back so many happy memories of when my sister and I were teenagers and we would both knock up a new shift dress every Saturday morning to wear dancing the same evening.

Grammaretto Fri 01-May-20 17:04:21

LullyDully wink
I am still in trouble for making my DS wear shorts to school long after all the others were in longs. I was trying to save having to patch the knees and toughen them up.

I made most of DC clothes and I am proud to say DD is now a costume maker - for theatre etc.

kissngate Fri 01-May-20 17:14:20

Love this show though not keen on presenter Joe. I started cutting out patterns for mum when I was still at junior school. Made clothes in my teens from scrap materials then made maternity wear. Once children arrived I sewed no more. Did think about it the other year but couldn't believe cost of patterns and material. My interest has been peaked tho by the palazzo pants.

craftyone Fri 01-May-20 17:29:01

The little lady wore a dress similar to the style of the trapeze dress by merchant and mills. I have several of their patterns, they have a cult following. All it needed was a collar and a slight alteration to the sleeves
drapersdaughter.com/collections/patterns/Merchant-&-Mills

I did enjoy it again last night, one of the female contestants was, I thought, a bit full of herself again. Did you notice the dash for fabrics? I have a ginormous amount of fabric in my sewing room but need wardrobe space so am not sewing for a while. I have sewn forever, my mum had me sewing on the treadle when I was about 6

Seeing that last night, it is like card making and sometimes less is more, especially in that very limited time

craftyone Fri 01-May-20 17:43:13

It always happens, I try not to think of sewing and along comes some inspiration. I have ordered 2 more patterns and will make them both from stash, a very useful maria apron from maven and a multi-useful pinnacle top by papercut. I bet my dds would each like one of those aprons smile

MissAdventure Fri 01-May-20 18:35:13

Oh bum!
I missed it, and I'd been looking forward to it.

Dinahmo Sun 03-May-20 23:22:36

It's repeated on Saturdays, 5.00pm I think.

Patrick seems to have loosened up this series. Love Esmee's style. My DH is regretting that there isn't a straight male contestant this time. Remember the army officer who made all his wife's clothes? It's a great show IMO and i hope it will run for a few more series.