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

WWM2

I didn’t realise that. I love that little girl’s dress. It reminds me that when the Sewing Bee started, it was the same time as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

GD was at nursery school, and they were encouraged to wear patriotic colours to celebrate. Some little girls had expensive dresses, but our son bought a cheap one from Asda or somewhere. It looked very similar to the Sewing Bee one, and I am reminded of it every time that little girl twirls round at the start of the programme.

BlueBelle I only remember because I made a point of noting them when I was coming on here!

Claire is the 1940s girl who used the same material as Nicole (who is more original). That would have annoyed me!

The older lady is Therese. She is a bit erratic but can be inspired. I guess they are meant to be amateur.

My DD studied theatre costume and had to make garments to fit real people, including pantomime dames and Shakespeare actors -which had heavy wear. She refuses to watch the SB. She finds it too annoying.

Grammarettto, no I would never apply! I can follow a pattern but have no flair or originality whatsoever.

shysal Me neither but I hope that programmes like these inspire people to make their own clothes and that kids are taught creatively in school in future as they are cookery.

Home economics (Domestic Science) was considered the poor relation subject in my school. You only did it if you were too dim for the Latin class! How ridiculous that is.

I was once told that the French choose the fabric first whereas the British choose the pattern which is why our inventiveness is dulled. Is that true?

I love watching this programme although I can’t sew for toffee. I do feel it’s all a bit too full of innuendo and rude remarks as there are 4? gay contestants and the presenter as well! It seems as if they can get away with saying anything on this series and I find it too much sometimes. I’m so not a prude but do we need to have such remarks shoved down our throats? The remarks about the boning were infantile and completely unnecessary. Surely it’s not just me?

Grammaretto We had cookery classes cut right back to making sandwiches and learning to write invitations if we were taking Latin. We were still able to do needlework, but I wasn't very good. I did much better after I left school and made all sorts of garments.
I was interested in what you say about the French because I've gradually realised that the first thing I look at when buying clothes is the fabric. Colour and pattern come second.

Grammaretto

British choose the pattern which is why our inventiveness is dulled. Is that true?

No1 . I only have to think back to Vivienne Westwood, Mary Quant, Stella McCartney, Zandra Rhodes, Alexander McQueen

I think anyone in the profession (to do with this type of programme) generally don't like to watch them. I know a few potterts that dislike "Great Pottery Throw Down"

That should read "No !"
potters - not potterts

Maybe I'm thinking of a long time ago WOODMOUSE.
It applies to me. I used to marvel at French markets when women (it was always women) who'd touch all the fabrics and try them on themselves before buying whereas in UK you'd join a queue for the pattern books in John Lewis and turn the pages for ages before selecting the pattern you wanted and then find the material and all the bits and bobs.

I am a potter and I enjoyed the Throw down. I think it was well done with not too much dumming down and I liked the way they brought in a few specialists to show different techniques.. Still the innuendo...

I have just watched the repeat today and absolutely loved Nicole’s winter dress!
I would wear that any day - chic, original, flattering, wearable and visually stunning!

Yes, Nicole's was my favourite too.
I thought I'd already posted that but perhaps there's another thread.

Now, I am after some of those storage bags.
No, not to make a dress, to store winter clothes and duvet.

Grammaretto when I was growing up, our local market used to sell lots of lovely fabrics and that was where my friend and I used to go on Saturdays - we were making our own clothes from about age 14.
John Lewis was probably 70 miles away.

Ah Callistemon you are a proper seamstress. I hardly made anything until we had DC . The first 3 were boys and I made them shorts but not much else.

I liked several of the dresses. Was Nicole's the smart black and white one?. I can see I'll have to have another look.

Was, it the yellow, black and white striped one?
Rather like a bee, in fact fact!

I don't do any dressmaking now.

Grammaretto many years ago I would choose the pattern first, but not nowadays. I always buy fabric that catches my eye, and then cast around for a design that will suit it. Sometimes I mash two patterns together to achieve the design I'm after. Maybe I'm becoming French

Did you enjoy last night's? There was quite a turnaround, I thought, it could be anyone's turn to either win or lose.
Such a shame it's a knockout and we keep losing people.
I thought Therese's cocktail dress was brilliant but it didn't save her.

Did we really wear dresses like those in the 80s?

I had one jacket with shoulder pads but not until the end of the decade . I wore it to my son's graduation in 1991.
Oh dear. I was never a follower of fashion - just anything that fits that's me.

Difficult decision last night- could well have been Matt sent home.

I think Clare is one of the most consistent, but think Nichole might win as she produces quite showy garments that impress the judges, whereas Clare seems very competent but not so noticeable somehow.

I enjoyed the hark-back to 80’s dressing - the peplums, ra-ra skirts and shoulder pads. I had suit jackets for work with shoulder pads, I loved them but never thought of doubling up! One person - was it Nicole? - even added a bra cup inside the padding too!
Fashions were bold and striking - the prog. brought back memories.
The favourite evening dress in my wardrobe was black and white, one shoulder’d with a large bow on the shoulder strap. I thought I was the bee’s knee’s in it ?

I noticed there was less innuendo in last night's programme - thank goodness.
Maybe someone had had a word with the offender (Joe - I like you better when you are just being funny and silly!)

Meant to say I loved the burgundy, one shoulder (plus enormous bow) dress with the grey, angled puff ball at the bottom. Shame it wasn't garment of the week.
Sorry can't remember who made it?

Yes danni I thought the burgundy dress was very smart and looked great with the coloured tights. I didn't like the blue and silver. But what do I know?

DanniRae I loved that one too. It was Liz the Goth. The model wore it well which must help.
The winning one, Nicole's shimmering blue looked straight out of Dynasty. I don't think people here wore quite such showy clothes but like LullyDully says What do I know!.
You must have been quite a dresser Puzzler perhaps you still are?

I didn't watch it last night, and now I'm regretting it!

I like the programme very much luckylegs, even though, like you, I'm useless at sewing.

I like Joe Lycett too but I do agree that some of his smutty remarks are not really very funny. This sort of humour seems to be very popular now and, for me, often mars a good programme. For instance, I thought the After Life storyline was great but some of the humour was gross, ditto Fleabag (which I also enjoyed but could have done without the explicit sexual material). It reminds me so much of children who think they are very funny when they say the words poo or fart.

Patrick held up Liz's dress as if it would be garment of the week, but it wasn't. Pity as it would have boosted her confidence. Very glad that Clare won the makeover challenge as she always seems to be runner-up, or in her words 'the bridesmaid'.