Anyone else going to join me on the Sewing Bee watch?

[flubba]

A bit excited about it

:o

Are you going to go for it Rue. Please say yes.

?

Go Rue.
We'll be nice about your topstitching.

i wanted lauren to win purely because i felt it would help encourage younger people to take up sewing, appeal to the yoof a bit more. there's no doubt over ann's skills, i just felt the things lauren made, i would wear.

Hello ladies - only just managed to catch up on it so had to avoid this thread while I watched it so I didn't see who won. I agree Ann deserved to win, though I would have liked to have seen Lauren win - that dress was beautiful, though her bag was a bit dodge :)

So RueDe - you applying for next series ? :)

Overall Lauren was let down by her lack of experience. Before the series she'd never made clothes for anyone except herself. She'd never made fly-front trousers. She'd never made a man's shirt. It's a tribute to her natural talent that in spite of that she gave Ann a close race, but winning outright would have required a truly immense learning curve and a lot of luck.

But I'd like to see where Lauren's skills are when she's been sewing for seventy-six years, not least because that would mean I was still alive aged 95...

I've found Lauren's blog, by the way.

Gosh - I've finally finished reading the thread and just finished watching the final. It's really inspired me to get sewing again and I've even cut out a toile for some trousers as I'm an extremely odd shape.

Was also wondering if there would be a take up if I set up a Bee in a village hall in north Oxfordshire?

Nice idea Pigeon ~ I'd come if I lived close enough! :) I've thought about trying to do something similar, the only problem you'd have is everyone would have to lug their stuff their every time you meet.

I'm glad Ann won. It was the only possible outcome really - she was the best seamstress by miles. Yes, she had a head start in terms of experience, but mixing very experienced with less practised sewers was the format, and the best person had to win, full stop.

I can absolutely see that her skills are dauntingly good and that Lauren was a better role model in terms of her willingness to take on challenges, but as someone said, there were loads of things Lauren had never made before and which really showed up her tendency to panic and be slapdash (and burst into tears). In a way Ann's experience showed most in her calmness and careful preparation, again as has been said.

My real beef is with this nonsensical claim that they were 'Britain's best amateur sewers'. They weren't - they were a group chosen by the TV company - only from the self-selecting bunch of people who'd applied - who'd be as 'entertaining' as possible. Britain's 'best' sewers would all have skills similar to, or even superior to, Ann's....which wouldn't make for good telly.....

Have just watched it on iplayer - I can dare look at Facebook now. So pleased that Ann won but it was a brilliant final with compliments to all three. I think I'm going to hunt down Lauren's shop. I'm also quite chuffed that all three are local to me in the Midlands - I wonder was that the production company or are we the heartland of stitching expertise? (It always used to be said that Nottingham's girls were the best turned out because they all worked in the clothes trade)

I really hope there's another series and a few more craft and stitching shows to come rather than all that desperate cookery.

I think I'd struggle to think of a person I know with better sewing skills than Ann - my mum would be up there with her though!

I have not watched the final yet but am delighted to read that Ann won. It would have been very helpful if we had an insight into her techniques eg the hessian padding in the jacket, levelling out uneven shoulders or the precise tacking which had me intrigued.
Does anyone have the book? Does it give advice?

Pigeon - when you get your perfect fit, copy out your pattern onto cardboard.
(not boxes, but the thicker crafting card- you can get it in sheets from art shops).
then you've always got a Block and you can alter the design next time if you want.

i knew ann would win - she was consistently excellent throughout.

Ambridge - exactly.
my mum is better than Sandra.

my mum is also from Nottingham

she can do amazing things with scraps of fabrics.

I think you're probably right about the Midlands, actually. It seems plausible. Even though hardly anyone works in the clothing industry now, these skills very much do get handed down through the family. And if there are more keen sewers there will be more fabric shops, more evening classes, more chance of having proper sewing teaching at school, so even for someone who doesn't come from a family with inherited sewing skills, it will be easier for them to pick it up.

oooh, is that Lauren's shop?
I looked at her fabric shop online the other day.
how lovely :)

right, what's the thing called that they make the rouleou straps with?

Effie you need a book that is called something like an insight into couture techniques. Can't remember the author...am sure Google will:)

I went to a baby wearing sling meet this morning and came out of it with an order for a reversible sunhat like the one DS was wearing, and an enquiry about whether I'd considered offering sewing lessons

Just need to get this baby out and see what happens I guess! It's lovely that there seems to be so much more interest though.

UniqueAndAmazing - just use very thin piping-cord and zipper foot.

Attach end of cord VERY securely to end of bias, then tuck cord inside and seam using zipper foot, pulling the bias as you sew.... then pull the cord through.

Pin one end of turn strap to ironing board- then 'hover steam' and gently pull and roll (like you would a rolling pin) the steamed strap.

This makes a very even rouleou strap. Then

thanks Cate, but I really want to make the straps.

oh, i see what you mean!
sorry

i read it as using cord for the straps instead of rouleu!

I totally missed the entire of the 2nd half of the 2nd sentence.

Unique it's a loop turner you want . They are on Ebay.

Yes I didn't explain it well :)

The cord is used a size guide... makes it a very even strap.
By steaming, pulling and rolling - you can make the most skinniest of straps.

You do need to be care not to catch the cord with the zipper foot when sewing the lenght though.. so this method is better for more experienced sewers :)

I am an experienced sewer

It's my birthday in a week, and a loop turner might have to be on the list (along with the crochet book and the bias binding maker thingy)