Yay! Sewing Bee is back!

[Roussette]

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?

Delighted with the final result. Heather has been my favourite from the start, she had me at the first "Chocks away Ginger!"

On another note - who would have guessed ties would be so complicated and does anyone know if it is possible to buy a pattern as I fancy having a go at making one for DH

Free tie pattern here

More detailed tie pattern here. This one seems to come with clearer instructions.

I thought a tie would be easy peasy. Allowing for deliberate editing, Chinelo seemed to hit a brick wall with it.

I must say I don't really understand why anyone would want to make a tie - they must be incredibly fiddly. Mind you, I've always been a bit puzzled why anyone wears them, they really are utterly pointless objects.

Yep. I'd do Patrick in the haberdashery a couple of times in that hour.

I was very judgy when Tamarac got the glue gun out - and to be honest, I didn't think it was a couture dress even before that.

I thought Heather's dress was amazing - the sun ray pleated bodice on a corset top looked so complicated to make, and was absolutely beautiful. I thought Chinelo's dress was lovely too, though I am not a fan of those circular frills on the bottom. I do wonder whether, if she'd not put those on, but had made it a strapless dress, with a column skirt and all that gorgeous embellishment at the top, she might have won.

You can't have a Great British Sewer who can't hand sew, can you?
If I had to choose a dress designer/ dressmaker I'd go to Chinelo though. No question.
But Heather can also hand sew so she wins the competition. I loved her dress at the end.

I didn't see the point of Tamara's dress at all and I did wonder if she'd been quietly encouraged by the programme makers to do something that reflected her personality, to make for a more interesting final - rather than something that showcased her sewing skills as Heather's dress did.
It was so bizarre, Heather's dress was exactly how you imagine couture, and Tamara's not in the least.
Tamara showed plenty of times that she can sew - I'm sure she'd have had the technical skills to do something impressive.

Think Tamara badly misjudged the brief.

I loved the idea of Tamara's dress. It didn't work out, but I thought it was a great concept. I flinched when she too the razor blade out..poor model...

Chinelo's dress was better made, - at least the lace flowers were sewn on!! - but I thought the fishtail and the mesh were dated somehow, and the seams on the mesh were chunky.

Heather looks like someone I'd happily have a glass of wine or two with.
And the dress was lovely. The back was really good, with that chain.

Just caught up with this. I thought Heather deserved it and I did enjoy how she came across. I think Chinelo will be amazing in a bit and she has an amazing eye. Tamara's final dress, though... jesus, that was revolting! WHY?!

I googled Patrick last night & he has led quite a varied life; played rugby for Scotland u18s & u19s, did an engineering degree, worked for a while & then did an MBA with his thesis on luxury fashion brands. His partner is Katie Hillier the accessories designer. His manner very professional.

I've been inspired to sew again thanks to the Sewing Bee. I ask myself "what would May say?" and find myself unpicking less than perfect seams which is very unlike me - I'm usually a "that's good enough" type of person.
I think Heather was the right winner, her dress was great! I really liked Chinelo too.

I'm doing exactly the same Nancy. I've even bought a magnetic seam guide to make my seam allowances more even. Except it's not May I'm imagining scolding me for wonky seams, it's Patrick....

TunipTheUnconquerable if you have a more advanced sewing machine that relies on a chip to do anything you might want to rethink the seam guide. If you're using an industrial or simpler machine go right ahead.

YouDONOTWantToFindOutHowIKnowThatTiggaxx

Tunip I'm sure he would admonish you for wonky seams

Ah. Thanks, Dawntigga.
I'll just use it on the handcranked Singer then....

Having watched it now I can see why Heather won and, like last series, the winner was the person with the best technical skills but slightly dull and traditional in terms of design skills - I guess knowing that now it will be easy to pick the winner next time!

I could see the possiblity of wearing a dress like Chinelo's but would have loved an excuse to wear Heathers (I spent my childhood drawing bustles and crinolines and often get sucked into that section of the pattern books in Fabricland!!) Tamara's was not even vaguely "couture", she basically threw it away didnt she? God knows what she was thinking -if id got that far id have immersed myself in couture and ensure I knew what I was aiming for.

They were definately a nice bunch this time and you could see that they were genuinely pleased for Heather, even Chinelo and Tamara.

I think Chinelo lost it when she visibly panicked over a strange pattern with new techniques, and they realised/saw she isn't able to work it out from a pattern. She has masses of raw talent and flair, but the winner really had to be able to turn their hand to anything and not be fazed byy something utterly unfamiliar. Heather might say "crumbs!" a lot and say she needs gin but she does get on with it, and I don't remember any really bad disasters. Nothing where she utterly froze.

I did feel sorry for Chinelo with the tie, but Heather did so well in the final. And I loved the final dress!

I would like to get a pattern and make some ties. But if I am honest, I already have eleventy-squillion works-in-progress and future projects, and I probably ought to start complete at least some of them before I get the material and pattern for yet another project!

TunipTheUnconquerable just use some masking tape on the deck of your sewing machine at the right distance, cheap and friendly.

MeantToAddThatDon'tKnowWhyIDidn'tTiggaxx

Thanks Tigga. I have done that but I find I obey a lump of metal better than tape. I have a 1/4 inch foot for piecing quilts which is fabulous.

No Patrick tonight