New Sewing Bee Series to start this week ...

It was a GP local to the maternity home who was called in the middle of the night; I remember being fascinated by seeing his stripey pyjama bottoms poking out from the bottoms of his trousers.

The midwife's comment on my GP, who put the stitches in after DD was born, was 'Good heavens, he went at the job as if he was stuffing the Christmas turkey'

When I had my first, my OH was of course with me, but he also happened to be a doctor at the hospital. The person sewing up my episiotomy called him round to the "business end" and they discussed exactly where to put the stitches - I felt like shouting "Hang on a minute, we are not here to create made-to-measure fanny!!"

Deedaa

Grammaretto when I was being stitched up by a doctor after DD was born the midwife told me not to worry because his hobby was leatherwork. I wasn't sure if that was reassuring or not!

When DD1 made her appearance in hospital at 2am on a Sunday, the midwives realised that my GP was in the building at a social event. They went to fetch him and up he came in full evening dress, three sheets to the wind. He announced he wanted to do my stitches, asked for the biggest needle with the biggest eye and took forever squinting at it before getting it threaded. To be fair, he did a decent job, but I think I'd been fully anaesthetised by his whisky breath anyway.

I've just had a little look and this is what I found about next Wednesday - it's okay, no spoilers.

In week nine, the sewers will go back to the 1940s and will be asked to make the glamorous and thrifty styles of that decade, including trousers known as “Oxford bags” and dresses inspired by Dior.

I can't wait to see it!

www.gathered.how/sewing-and-quilting/sewing/the-great-british-sewing-bee-your-complete-guide/

I haven't bought a dress pattern for me since I bought one for a Vogue shirtwaister umpteen years ago (think shoulder pads and Dynasty).
I was very proud of that dress but only wore it twice.

It's still in a spare wardrobe somewhere.

The great thing about patterns is you can buy them from all over the world now. It has expanded the styles available so much - each designer has his or her own look. I have vowed not to buy any more though, until I have sold some of mine on

Callistemon

Oh, it's come up with a $ sign - is it an American site?

The founder Jenny Rushmore and company is Boston, MA based but UK retailers stock her patterns. List here:

www.cashmerette.com/pages/stockists

If you visit the US website you can change the currency down at the bottom of the page.

Deedaa
Same here, almost. My nose was being stitched by a dermatologist and I asked her, jokingly, if she liked dressmaking. "Oh yes I make all my children's clothes" was her reply. The stitches were extremely neat for which I am grateful.

Grammaretto when I was being stitched up by a doctor after DD was born the midwife told me not to worry because his hobby was leatherwork. I wasn't sure if that was reassuring or not!

I like the programme too. I always think Oh goodie it's Wednesday and this series has been fun so Joe must be OK.
Raph ought to win for all round ability and imagination but Serena is consistently a great sewer. Doesn't she want to be a surgeon? Good training .

A site I came across as a spin-off from watching Sewing Bee was www.lekala.co/

They sell sewing patterns, but more important, it is possible to design your own dress and feed your own measurement in and print off the pattern onto A4 sheets that you stick together.

You go through each element, for sleeves, for example, length, arm/bodice fit, cuff finish and so on with skirt, top etc etc, feed in your measurements and abracadabra.

Obviously, if you want something really mad like Farie's single wrap round sleeve, you will have problems. But DD made me a dress using it, and I am very happy with it.

Oh, it's come up with a $ sign - is it an American site?

Off on a tangent and maybe this would be better in Arts and Crafts but I'll post it here in case it's of interest to anyone.

The owner of my local fabric shop posts a regular video-tie in to whatever is current on Sewing Bee - similar patterns, fabrics, that kind of thing.

In her video about recycle week and the denim made-to-measure she mentioned what I think is a newish company called Cashmerette. They have patterns for sizes 0-28 and sometimes 32 with cups sizes from C-H.

Hope this is helpful for curvy Gnetters who like to sew.

www.cashmerette.com/collections/cashmerette-patterns

I coped with Joe till this week and thought he went OTT.

grannyactivist

Joe Lycett’s silliness is obviously underpinned by warmth and kindness, so I’ able to cope with him prancing about. ?

Me too.

I’m able!

Joe Lycett’s silliness is obviously underpinned by warmth and kindness, so I’ able to cope with him prancing about. ?

M0nica

I love Jo Lycett, he is kind and supportive and gentle to all. Unlike that ghastly woman who preceded him, who clearly held all the contestants and even the idea of needlework in total contempt.

Actually, I don't mind Joe but he needs to rein it in a bit.
It's not all about him
He's in danger of turning it into the Joe Lycett show.
Less is more.

I love Jo Lycett, he is kind and supportive and gentle to all. Unlike that ghastly woman who preceded him, who clearly held all the contestants and even the idea of needlework in total contempt.

I didn't mind Damian either - I think a lot of what he said was tongue-in-cheek and he enjoyed getting a rise out of Esme. In fact, his total irreverence was a nice break from all the tears and nerves displayed by some of the other sewers. I don't think he expected to be there for so long - his transformations were generally a disaster, he didn't read pattern instructions so often missed out some details and the only two made-to-measure garments I can think of that were good were the child's raincoat and the check dress (which to me didn't meet the brief as a party dress).

Who knows, maybe Rebecca's win this week will boost her confidence and she will do something extraordinary next week. I liked her gold dress and it met the brief but it wasn't really out of the ordinary design-wise.

Ditto your post, Sparklefizz!

Am I the only one who can't stand Joe? His humour is awful.... how old is he, 5? Esme in particular has rolled her eyes at his so-called jokes in the past. I'd be really irritated if he started leaping around next to me if I was trying to concentrate.

I liked Damien. He always had a smile on his face, very easy-going even when voted out. He hadn't got a clue about fabrics for women - his last week's cocktail dress was made of tweed (but very well fitted on his model), and his Dreamgirls dress gave rise to Patrick's wonderful comment "Nothing says disco like brown upholstery material!"

Rebecca is very competitive and her dress of gold was gorgeous, I thought. I am glad she finally came top after always being pipped at the post. Raph is very creative but his gold fitted jumpsuit didn't actually fit very well in the crotch as someone has already pointed out.

It will be touch and go between Serena, Rebecca and Raph for the winner.

I do agree that being able to work at speed is a significant element of the process and that Farie seems incapable of ‘upping her game’, but that doesn’t stop me from feeling for her when every week she just can’t keep up.

Me too. I bet she is a fantastic seamstress when she isnt under such pressure and doesn't have to rush.

Damian had to go this time, though the dress he made last week was his best ever and looked good on the model. I liked him, because he surpassed his expectations and learned a lot in the process. I predict a whole new wardrobe for his wife! Serena is a medical student so I'm glad her stitching is so accurate!