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

It does seem a shame that the programme is reinforcing the idea that in order to sew you have to be female or gay. I am intrigued as to the process of choosing the contestants in the first place.

I agree that the dungarees were not their finest hour - mostly did not seem to fit very well. But they are tricky to get the fit right. And the smocking was not very impressive - my mother used to do it by hand and it was immaculate. The smocked dresses did not seem to hang well either.

OK - I have finished grumbling!

Yes I think that grammaretto in fact they were better as sleeping bags imo

I loved the smocked dresses though they are never given enough time!
I wasn't so impressed with the fancy dress from sleeping bags. It goes against the grain cutting up perfectly good things to make others or is it just me?
The dungarees were not brilliant. They had plenty of time but they didn't fit properly or maybe dungarees don't look that good on anyone even lovely little children..

Smocking!! Reminders of childhood. I had two very favourites I used to wear both made of lawn which was a good material for smocking. Our smocking used to cover the whole of our chest to our waist though. They were bought though - mum couldn’t sew for toffee.

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.

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

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

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

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.

LullyDully
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.

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.

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.

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.

It was rather saucy Luckygirl

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

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

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.

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.,

Esmé. I loved her dress and necklace last night

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

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

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?!

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.

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

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)

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