New Sewing Bee Series to start this week ...

Serena is an excellent sewer but I think Raph has the edge as he is so creative. I was glad to see the back of Damien and I thought his dress was dreadful.
As for Joe's banter, it is a bit hit and miss and when he flirts with Raph the poor chap looks a tad stricken.
I love this series.

I think Joe is great. He really takes an interest in what the sewers are doing and he's very good with them when they get upset.

I don’t watch this but I follow several YouTube channels and I love the ‘Refashionista’ make over blog. I love watching progs like this ?

I much prefer Joe to Claudia Winkleman.

Grandmabatty

I've felt Damien was on a shoogly peg for a number of weeks and definitely it was his time to go. Rebecca's dress was beautiful but Rafe's was a creation and I felt deserved garment of the week. Serena is a consummate sewer but plays it safe. I think Fari might go next.

Rebecca's dress was exactly the right garment in portraying the film Dream Girls. It was a knockout.

I didn't think Raph's trousers fitted properly at the crotch (is that word allowed on GN?). I can't think of one more appropriate.

It annoyed me when they all said it was wonderful sewing etc when you could see pulling on the seams in the satin on practically all the garment, Serena's was particularly obvious in one seam of the bodice, yet that wasn’t mentioned. Yes, with time and care this can be avoided, usually by very lightweight interlining or seam tape, especially on the zips, didn’t see any of them using that. I know they don’t give them enough time to finish properly, but why gush on about how marvellous it is when they don’t give a few tips for avoiding the obvious mistakes. Raph is my favourite from a design point of view, but I think the judges will choose Serena.

Serena is the better needlewoman, but I think it will be close run thing. She has had days when she has done worse rather than better - and the same applies to Ralph. Bt it only needs Rebecca to have an exceptional day........

Rebecca could well be the dark horse.

Sewing Bee one of the best, enjoy the interactions between all the contestants, seeing the clothes they all make, good fun, and wish my sewing was half as good.

Every week I feel more and more sorry for Farie. If the competition was simply a sewing/design competition I think she would win hands down, but it’s all about speed.

I think Esme is rooting for Serena and Patrick for Ralph, but all four of the remaining contestants are very skilful.

The imperative to work quickly is a problem in all these sort of shows.

grannyactivist When you play a game, you follow the rules, all of us can say if the game had different rules we could have done better. I would be quite good at tennis if I didn't have to keep the ball between the white lines.

Farie recognised very early that her time planning was poor and she needed to watch the clock and plan how much time she allotted to each part of garment making. If she didn't realise, Patrick and Esme have told her many times. She acknowledges the problem, but seems incapable of learning the lesson and adapting her garment making strategy. That in itself is a weak point, just like Damian's incapacity to obey instructions.

At the end of the day Sewing Bee is a tv programme and its prime purpose is to entertain and draw in viewers. People like a competition and anyone entering knows the rules.

Hadn't really thought of it that way MOnica but you are quite right. If you have a problem with following instructions and / or speed then you can't expect to be indulged. I agree grannyactivist that Patrick favours Raph and Esme Serena. May the best sewer win !

Don’t get me wrong, 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.

I liked Damien’s attitude at the end when he was saying that he’s learnt so much from the programme. He knew he was on borrowed time and was pleased with how far he’d got.

I think Serena is the stronger technically, her finish is usually flawless, but she shows less imagination or artistic flair than Raph.

We shall see (what do I know anyway!)

Sewing Bee is the only tv programme I watch now; I love it! And you can now go onto iPlayer and watch every episode right back from series 1. My goodness, it's changed since Claudia Winkleman and May Martin were in it.

I absolutely love this programme, it’s lovely to see the sewers’ skills develop and also the relationships between them all. Joe has definitely gown on me and Esme and Patrick are wonderful. I don’t mind who wins, Serena is good but so is Raph.

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!

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.

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.

Ditto your post, Sparklefizz!

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.

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.

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.

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