Sewing Bee! Mannequins at the ready!

[Roussette]

It's back on Thursday! here. No details of contestants yet. How many men this time? Any?

Ten sewers, six weeks, can't wait!

(Can't think of another word for sewers at the moment, wish I could!)

I agree that Neil's sewing is amazing but I think that other contestants sometimes produce nicer garments.

He also seems to stick to what he knows - I'll make a dress. Oh, I'll make another dress.

I used to really like him but when he said that the 1950s was when 'women were really women' he lost my vote.

I thought they were over-picky about Ryan's corset, and though they didn't like the shape of his kilt it was sewn very well. Paul's kilt, on the other hand, was pretty hideous.

Ah come on Ici - I'd definitely have worn that kilt.

No, wait, it was for a man. Drag credentials creeping through.

Ryan's corset was indecent, though. It only overlapped by about 10cm!

I meant kilt, not corset. Sorry, I've had wine.

Thanks Pigeon. That kilt was amazing.

waithorse I thought he did a fantastic job on the kilt and was actually very sensible to hand stitch the pleats - I'd have done that too as it makes it very much easier to match the checks / lines. Either that or he'd have had to have basted every pleat before machining.

I've been thinking about the sewing terms.

In tailoring we called tacking 'basting' and you'd get a coat up to 'first baste' ready for a 'first fitting'. The coat was basically just the front panels properly stitched together with the pockets finished and then everything else was basted together (including the sleeves) so that if anything needed changing it could be done really easily.

We also didn't have 'tailor tacks' - they were known as mark stitches and would be the first thing to be done once the bundle came from the cutters because everything was marked in chalk and you didn't dare lose the chalk marks or you'd be in big trouble.

So I still refer to basting and mark stitching and everyone looks at me blankly!

and though they didn't like the shape of his kilt it was sewn very well

This may be my Scottish blood coming out but it was really far too long and he had far too little overlap at the front which would make it impossible to wear, you'd be exposing yourself all the time. I think however well sewn something is if it's unwearable it's no good.

Amanda got a big cheer at assembly on Friday but the DDs are now refusing to watch Thursday's episode because they don't want to see her go. DD1 doesn't yet know Ryan left as well, he was her favourite after Amanda.

I'm a bit miffed that they knocked two out this week. If next week is the semi-final, this is going to be a disappointingly short series. Plus, of course, if it was going to be only one elimination, Ryan would survive for at least another week.

I think they did a double elimination this week because they missed one earlier in the series.

Just caught up on iPlayer after being away! Loved the corsets but did feel Ryan's was a bit boring - it looked like it was made out of ticking whereas some of the others were made out lovely fabrics and looked more sumptuous.

I thought my eyes were deceiving me when I saw Patrick in a kilt, I swooned, he can certainly wear one!

Thought Neil's kilt was tremendous. Sorry to see Amanda and Ryan go but did think it was the right decision. I love Deborah at the moment.

They haven't missed an elimination have they? The cheese maker went in the very first week and I think there's been one each week since.

Watching now, think Ryan was robbed and Paul's kilt was lacking. May seemed to rather enjoy patting the guys' kilted bottoms!

I didn't think they'd missed an elimination either. Sorry two went, but agree it was the right decision.

I'm sorry, I think I'm getting confused. I watch too much reality tv, and have got my programmes muddled up!

In the last two series someone was taken ill, and left early so maybe the put an extra one just case.

I'm curious. They say that the third challenge is filmed on a different day when they're all still in the same clothes??? I wonder how it's filmed though, that would be a LOT of sewing in one day- 4 hours for the corset, 90 minutes for the update of old clothes and then 6 hours for the kilt. But I just don't believe they all get up the second day, shower and then put on the same clothes as the day before? Even Claudia, May and Patrick are in the same clothes.

Any theories?

They do that on Bake off too Mine. I figure it's so they don't have to worry about what was shot on what day during the edit. But it does seem odd.

So you mean they really do all wear the same clothes the second day?

I think the garment of the week was Neil's wonderfully swishy kilt wasn't it?

Oh bloody hell, I really should refresh the thread before posting

His kilt was amazing :) It was a challenge that definitely played to his precise engineering skills.

Semi-finals tonight

Which means it's nearly over [wail]