New Sewing Bee Series to start this week ...

I’m able!

grannyactivist

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

Me too.

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

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

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

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.

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 .

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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/

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.

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!!"

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'

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.

So happy for the three finalists. I think it’s a hair to choose between Raph and Serena to win, but Rebecca may just come through with something exceptional on the night.

I agree about those two grannyactivist - they have different strengths and you just don't know which will matter most on the day. Sad to see anyone leave even more today but it was the right choice. There was one point - the final trousers - where I could hardly watch.

I think the garment of the week decision was the right one and will have boosted Serena's confidence.

Rebecca's transformation challenge was better than the wedding dress made by Raph (imo); the pleated front of the bodice was interesting but not mentioned. It seemed unfair of Esme to mark it down seemingly because she didn't like the colour.

Next week should be interesting.

It seemed unfair of Esme to mark it down seemingly because she didn't like the colour.

Yes, I thought so too, Callistemon. In fact I liked it best out of the transformations.

Esme wouldn't like the blanket I'm crocheting - autumn moorland colours!
But I'm not giving it to her anyway ?

I liked that transformation very much

Yes. I thought that as well, but it hasn't stopped her getting through to the Final.

I could never work out why Farie, never grasped the principles of time managment. If I knew this was a problem. I would have been practicing at and setting timetables, anything, to try and get garments done.

She was otherwise such a good sewer. My money is on Raf, he has that certain creativity that Serena sometimes lacks. On the other hand, she is just such a good sewer. But then Rebecca, might be the dark horse who suddenly gallops past when the winningline is in sight.

Loved Serena's transformation dress tonight but wished Raf had won outfit of the week. I'd like him to win next week. ??

It's between Raph and Serena, but it's Raph for me in terms of his unique designs.