Great British Sewing Bee 2020

[LIZS]

Returns Bbc1 22nd April 9pm

In the first few minutes when the contestants were introducing themselves I thought they had been chosen for their 'characters'. I make all my clothes and some of my friends and family had urged me to apply, I didn't, but think I would have been too boring anyway. My reason for not applying was the time pressures, and not wanting to go to London or even be on TV at all (so definitely boring), by the way, it's not sour grapes.

I think the man who made the mustard yellow tea dress is on course to win (can't remember his name) and Claire (1940s lady) is my personal favourite.

I do think the early episodes until we properly learn their names shows up the characters more. But then the hard work starts, and they have to have flair and artistic ability and I start falling in love with some of the outfits they make!

I agree, I think it will get better and the proof will be in the sewing.

I thought some of the tea dresses were lovely. I'd love to see them all again. Is there anywhere you can see photos of them all ?

The creative challenge winning design was ghastly.

I don't know the names of the contestants yet, but one lady was wearing a beautiful flowery tea dress herself.

I think the dancer should have gone.

What did people think about the time allowed for the first challenge? I normally think the sewing bee timings are very tight, but 3.5 hours for a wrap skirt seemed very long. And some of them still didn't get the buttons sewn on properly.

3.5 hours for a skirt is quite long, they only had 5 hours to make a coat in the last series. Admittedly near the end.

Good point, 3.5 hours was enormous for a really quite simple pattern (3 seams, 4 darts, 2 buttons, not even button holes) compared to pattern challenges in previous series.

Dancer should definitely have gone imo. The fact that he didn’t suggests that there’s more emphasis this series on flair/wackiness rather than ability/skill. Previously the first few weeks have been about getting rid of those who can’t sew, no matter how artistic they are; the balance shifts a bit as the series goes on, because, by then, we all know they can all sew. He put a zip on inside out fgs AND got the skirt the wrong way round.

He put a zip on inside out fgs AND got the skirt the wrong way round.

But Angillia had similar issues plus her "transformation challenge" was not a transformation at all. Despite being very simple it was badly sewn. Dancer at least attempted an actual transformation and I think that is all that saved him.

The bottom spot was always between those two and, barring disasters or an exceptional turnaround, I would expect Dancer to go next week.

Every year there are disagreements about who goes out but I always think they pick off the bottom contestants correctly even if the order might not be quite right. It's rare that the wrong people end up in the final few.

In the introduction to the programme don't they say these are the best home sewers in the UK and they want to narrow it down to a winner , or words to that effect ?

They always say 'these are the country's best sewers/bakers/whatever'.....clearly they aren't; they're just the people they pick for the show from the pool of applicants. There must be dozens if not hundreds of highly expert home sewers or bakers out there who'd never dream of applying for the GBSB or Bake-Off. The wrap skirt was an easy make for a reasonably competent sewer and 3.5 hours should have been ample.

They want people with a degree of ability and flair plus a screen personality, who can cope with increasingly difficult challenges, but there'll always be a natural point where some of the chosen contestants can't go any further. I'm not putting the sewers down, but I think the programme-makers quickly learned their lesson after Ann in series 1 who'd been sewing for 75 years and could do anything!

Bit random, but does anyone know where Nicole's tiger top is from? I absolutely love it!

I have caught up.

Most of the tea dresses were amazing - I am not sure what was happening with the cold sleeves on the pink one... It looked as if they were cut out with a pair of kids safety scissors. In fact all of his offerings looked as if he had not quite mastered cutting out.

Matt and Peter are going to confuse me - I have them in my head as the hipster twins. I am going to have to find out a way to split them because I think they will be in for a while.

Hopefully Peter will always wear loud shirts and I think Mike has one of those big holes in his ear doesn't he? I didn't know his name but you're talking about the one with the drag queen partner, right?

That is the one … They need the portraits up on the website, like they do for strictly.

Claire (1940s lady) is my personal favourite.

Mine, too!

I love her style.

Just caught up with this. Hoping to find my (very basic but hopefully improving) sewing mojo after a hiatus of about 4 years. New sewing machine acquired, Calico on order!

Love the wrap skirts. Love Vivien Westwood but not keen on the shirt to dress ensemble.

Really looking forward to the rest of the series.

They need the portraits up on the website, like they do for strictly.

Yes! I need a crib sheet. With space for notes 😂

I think I'm going to finally make the lining for a crocheted and then felted messenger bag I made a few years ago. It is big and roomy but needs organisational pockets for small things.

I've found my people!
I also thought 3. 5 hrs was a lot for a wrap skirt with no button holes. I'm very new to machine sewing and clothes making but I know I would get it finished with time to spare! The tea dresses were gorgeous

I suppose it was the first challenge and they all have to get used to the space and the haberdashery.

Do you think they have some taster days to get used to everything before filming?

I have found a gallery of the contestants on BBC website

Peter with the faces skirt has glasses, Matt doesn't but Mark does. Mark is the non hipster bearded one.

I normally think the sewing bee timings are very tight, but 3.5 hours for a wrap skirt seemed very long

Agree, but maybe they're being kind to them in the opening weeks? It's a nice antidote to the Spanish version I was watching where they are given far too little time, are only allowed to be in the haberdashery once (if you forget thread, tough) and the contestants are sprinting to grab fabric before someone else gets it.

I did think though that they should have a "one fabric per contestant though" after two people chose the same one for their skirt.

Mark is the non hipster bearded one.

The one who almost screams "accountant" at you when you see him? I think he works in a bank.

Joe and Esme do really get on. When he first started the show I listened to a podcast he was being interviewed on. He brought Esme with him after they'd gone out for lunch then ended up boozing all afternoon!

Love Esme (and Joe) she's so duddy.

Thanks for the pattern link @PoshJock