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Yay! Sewing Bee is back!

777 replies

Roussette · 17/02/2014 13:43

Does anyone else watch it? Or is it just me...

I love it because it reminds me of another life when I used to sew (before the DC's came along and before I lost the footpedal to my sewing machine in a house move).

The contestants are just so talented and I like the beardy man judge too. Anyone else?

OP posts:
SunnyL · 01/04/2014 21:00

Do you think they might bring back our favourites next week as models?

storynanny · 01/04/2014 21:02

I missed it! Thought it was on at 9 for some reason, despite all the other weeks I have watched at 8pm. Is it repeated during the week?

coffeeinbed · 01/04/2014 21:02

Oh!
I though Lynda might win.

DebbieOfMaddox · 01/04/2014 21:03

Don't think so, storynanny, although it'll be on iPlayer.

storynanny · 01/04/2014 21:08

Ah yes, I forgot about Iplayer. Thanks

ImAThrillseekerHoney · 01/04/2014 21:22

Talking of taste, does anyone else remember the lovely middle aged woman from the Midlands in the last series? Fabulous sewer, great technical skills but dear god her taste in colours and fabric Shock. Clearly hiding behind the door when aesthetic sense was handed out. Such a pity because the things she sewed would have been lovely if not for the gopping (excellent word) colour/pattern schemes.

DebbieOfMaddox · 01/04/2014 21:25

I am always pleased to hear other people say gopping, because DH is convinced that I have invented the word (as is my spellchecker, apparently).

storynanny · 01/04/2014 21:34

I love the word gopping too, almost as much as discombobulation

JimmyCorkhill · 01/04/2014 23:32

ImAThrillseekerHoney do you mean Sandra?

I'm gutted Lynda was eliminated Sad. She was my favourite.

Tabby1963 · 02/04/2014 07:52

Was very Hmm about Chinelo's sleeve fabric choice but my word I think she did pull it off. So upset for Lynda when she had a meltdown about the fabric error. I felt that she wouldn't recover from that and, sadly, was proved right.

What a lovely lot of contestants this year though. I don't want any of them to leave!

ImAThrillseekerHoney · 02/04/2014 08:20

Yes, Sandra. I guess she was last year's equivalent of Linda (not that Linda is noticeably lacking in taste, but she filled the same motherly, "regional", funny but insecure role). Immaculate sewing, and a lovely human being, but dear god those fabrics.

I do think it's a better lineup than last year. Ann was such a total ringer that she overshadowed the others. I moaned a bit this year that the men seemed weaker and there to make up the numbers but Dave was better than last year's men I think.

MiaowTheCat · 02/04/2014 08:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 02/04/2014 10:35

I thought Chinelo's choice of fabric/pattern for her sleeves actually worked for the design that she did - that sort-of standing up at the shoulder thing. I did think, though, that the judges would look at it and instantly know it was hers - it was a very 'Chinelo' fabric.

I am so sad that Lynda has gone - she was my favourite. Although I like Heather and Chinelo almost as much. I am a bit less fond of Tamara, though I thought the yoga outfit she made was technically very well done and showed an awful lot of skill. If she hadn't done well in that challenge, it would have been her going home, though, as she didn't do well in the first two challenges.

Did anyone else think Chinelo's dress was pretty, but it was a shame about all the frond-y frayed bits hanging off some of the layers? I think I would have trimmed those off - but maybe she didn't have time. It was definitely a nicer, and more classic dress than the original.

I wish I could learn how to make patterns from favourite garments - I am overweight (a lot) so I don't find it easy to find clothes I like, that fit, in fabrics I like, and when I do find something I love, I keep it for ages, and mend it far beyond the point when it really should be thrown out - and then mourn it when it is gone.

LIZS · 02/04/2014 10:44

was surprised Chinelo wasn't picked up on the fraying fabric layers , there were even some threads hanging off. Heather's shift dress really didn't fit well.

difficultpickle · 02/04/2014 10:49

I would imagine those layers wouldn't stop fraying ever. Tamara pulled it out of the bag with her yoga two piece and Lynda lost it with her dress. Until then I was sure Tamara was going home.

Ds really likes Tamara but she just irritates me beyond belief. No strong feelings either way about Heather or Chinelo.

dawntigga · 02/04/2014 11:08

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius it's a good video.

I like Tamara, I think she's quite cool ::wanders off to be in a lonely Tamara fan club:: Wink

I do think the challenges are to difficult in the time frame given. I hope that next weeks couture challenge will be longer.

LuffsClaudiaAndTamaraTiggaxx

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 02/04/2014 12:22

Oooh - thanks dawntigga!

Strawdolly · 02/04/2014 13:06

You'd need to cut organza with a soldering iron thingy or something of that ilk, to stop it from fraying. The threads would drive me spare not that I could ever wear a dress like that

Sad to see Lynda go, she's so lovely Smile

Whatfun · 02/04/2014 20:11

SDT. My mother used to make patterns from clothes she loved. She waited until they were so worn they were unwearable. She would then unpick the garment and use the pieces as a pattern template. It worked very well.

TunipTheUnconquerable · 02/04/2014 20:18

I made my best-ever skirt by copying an existing one (denim, which I copied in lovely chunky black needlecord from Libertys). It's all common sense really, isn't it - remembering to allow for the seam allowances and darts etc.

My mum's friend at uni found a very expensive coat in a shop which she couldn't afford and went in with a tape measure and copied it by measuring the seams when no-one was looking! She called it her 'gloat coat' because she gloated every time she wore it.

It was a great idea for a challenge. They've been really imaginative with the challenges this series; you can tell it's all been planned by people who really understand sewing.

Lambstales · 02/04/2014 21:06

I love the story about your DM's friends 'gloat coat'. I could imagine that happening in those days.:)
I wonder if shop assistants would even notice nowadays. They certainly wouldn't think that it was for making your own!

TunipTheUnconquerable · 03/04/2014 14:32
Smile You'd have to have a pretty good skills to start with, wouldn't you - you'd have to have a very good idea of what shape the pieces were and how it all went together. The newspaper method Tigga linked is much more foolproof.
DebbieOfMaddox · 03/04/2014 15:45

But even a very relaxed boutique would probably say something before you'd managed to draw up the whole pattern with that method...

difficultpickle · 03/04/2014 16:29

A friend of mine copied a wedding dress from a posh boutique. It was an exact copy. She took photos when they weren't looking!

OwlCapone · 04/04/2014 07:57

I've just fight up on iPlayer. I'm sad that Lynda went home as she was my pick for the winner. However, she had a nightmare week this week and Tamara managed to save herself.

I think it might now be between Tamara and Chinelo. I think Heather is being too "safe". I think they have all been very closely matched in skill in these last few rounds.

The Copy a Garment challenge was inspired. It's a great skill to have.