Sewing Bee 2024

Oh that's interesting @MontyDonsBlueScarf.

I too had the impression that the sewing skills are sadly lacking. However as Patrick said that an A line skirt featured in the first ever programme, I checked it out. It turns out that it was a significantly easier pattern - front, back, zip, hem, that's it. Buttonholes and topstitching take forever so to do this year's skirt in the same time is a significantly harder challenge. Patrick and Esme must be well aware of this and I wonder why they've chosen to do it. Or perhaps they've been overriden by the producers.

Rose from TGPTD has made some absolutely vile comments on SM, particularly to lesbian organisations because Rose is one of those new-fangled male lesbians. Misogyny writ large in that one.

All of the reality talent shows (Bake Off et al) want a diverse demographic to make it easy to tell contenstants apart, have different back stories and have people to root for. I know two people who made it to the final castings of these programmes and both weren't selected as there was someone else who fit their demographic in the mix. One was specifically told she'd have been picked in a different year. THat's just telly, I guess.

I was also struck by the low standard of garments produced in the pattern challenge. It looked as if Esme and Patrick were too. I don't think it was all down to lack of time as I got the impression that many (even most) of the contestants were struggling with basic pattern comprehension and basic - albeit tricky - skills. And no I'm not great either at top stitching and zips which is why I wouldn't dream of putting myself forward for a competition, let alone a televised one.

Do I think it was a coincidence that the young woman who won the other 2 challenges came last in the pattern one? No.

I didn't watch the show 10 years ago but I'm wondering if, in order to attract ( and also not humiliate) a wider demographic, they're having to rejig the challenges to favour creativity and risk taking over solid sewing skills, and whether the group losing out are the older women who were taught sewing in school?

The timings of the challenges mean that most of the contestants just waste material. But i think the audience like looking at something brilliant, or something dreadful but not a load of okay items. The best sewer/baker/potter can meet the time, the rest are producing something we all think we could do better than.

Why don't they give the contestants a bit longer in the challenges, especially the final garment.

The denim skirt challenge was a mess. Give the contestants more time in the final challenge too, so they can produce proper finished garments, and show the judges exactly what they can do.

I agree OP and even before the contestants were announced, I knew there would be a drag artist. I get the point of diversity, but having sewed for the past 40 years, I can tell you that at least 80% of the people I meet in my local fabric shop and haberdashers, are middle aged or elderly women. For once it would be nice if this was acknowledged. I'm not suggesting that the line up is purely this demographic but why oh why does every programme of this type have to be a carbon copy ticklist.

I'll still be watching because I enjoy it but as a pp mentioned it is definitely not 12 of the country's "best amateur sewers" - I seem to remember one bloke saying that he'd never made a dress! To me that is like going on Bake Off and saying you'd never made a cake! It always amazes me that people have the nerve/confidence (depending on your pov) to apply for things when their knowledge is so limited. I guess it works though or we wouldn't keep watching it.

Oh yes. As a trained pattern and clothing maker, I cannot tell you how often I've chuntered at the telly. "What do you mean, you've never put in a fecking zip???"

I think their ability to handle pressure is awesome, but the sewing is frankly mostly poor, mainly because of the stupid timescales I expect.

True. The painted canvas into a garment challenge was quite bonkers.

See also Mastermind, which now has to have a 2 minute chat at the end with the winner. Just answer the questions and fuck off.

There, got that off my chest

Exactly this. It's not really about sewing any more.

@ThreeWordHarpy : So I fully support the idea of showing that sewing can be for everyone, I just wish Love Productions didn’t appear to have a casting list with established “types” that appear every year.
So true. It seems it is the same clicheed types every year now. I remember years ago, they had a man who was a lieutenant-colonel in the Army, who just did his thing with the sewing machine without being either gay, a drag artist or a gendered person. I think he either won or came second.

' Rose ' was making vile comments on X regarding a vulnerable sick woman who refused to have a trans male looking after her. He quickly retracted the vile comments but I'm sure there's screenshots out there...
How he's still on TGPTD I don't know

Reminds me of the Victoria Wood 'Mia Farrow selecting children in the style of Countdown' clip.

All these shows probably have a tick box list that is used, it's obvious. It's not about the UK's best amateur sew-er. It's about the best sew-er out of a carefully curated diversity approved, group of people preapproved and selected to participate in a lightweight, fluffy TV show that pretends to be a competition.

If anyone is a doctor, they'll win.
If anyone cheats by copying vintage patterns and claiming they drafted it themselves (2 previous entrants), they'll receive high praise indeed.
If anyone designs and makes for a drag artist, self or a pal, they'll be fabulous.
It's predictable.

Agreed, I like these programmes but you can see the Demograohic requirements a mile off. There have been negative comments in MN about Rose in the Pottery Throwdown, they have apparently made questionable comments on SM or somewhere-or-other. Sorry, can't remember details but I remember reading it on MN quite some time ago

Yes, that’s why I said I also know a lot of elderly women who sew.

The great British sewing bee walks into a bar...but what's the punchline?

I don't know why anyone is surprised by the tickbox casting on these shows, every single one runs to the same pattern:

• Retired man.
• Retired woman.
• Manly man who also does baking/sewing etc
• English person.
• Scottish person.
• Welsh person.
• Irish person.
• European person.
• Female student.
• Gay man.
• etc.

I think this is more reflective of who you know than the sewing community! Many, many sewers (definitely most sewers) do not fit into the 'LGBT/queer/alternative' subculture, but are broadly as a poster describes them upthread!

Was Matthew the rather sweet one who put harnesses on absolutely everything but was actually a bit shit at sewing?

I wouldn't be surprised - assuming they're a gender-addled grievance gerbil - if this new one is similar.