Sewing Bee is coming back!

[NutellaEllaElla]

Wednesday 27th April, 9pm, BBC 1.

I'll be away for weeks 2&3 which is unfortunate.

I agree. You would think it would be obvious and it gave previous male contestants who made drag outfits an advantage.

I bet they do. "Oh, I practised loads before coming on" doesn't fit the expected narrative though.

Looking at Brogans insta she has indeed made several identical looking dresses before which does seem a little unfair.

I think they are simply showing a fashion trend so they can't really exclude garments on the basis that it suits some better than others. I guess she lucked out with it but I've seen shirring used a lot in the past couple of summer seasons and it's quite an interesting technique. She seemed to be helping the others with it too but telling them about the tension to use.

I love that about this show - contestants help each other.

Were they made before or after filming though? I'm trying to work out when it was filmed.

Sara Pasco had her baby in February so I guess September onwards going by bump size and progression 😂

as an aside, she's improving as a presenter each week. Much more relaxed.

I loved her Sara's rainbow dress. Annie was also pregnant in the show and has just had her baby recently.

I suppose it's just luck whether or not the task set suits your style and expertise. This week it was Brogan, maybe someone else next week.
She did seem to dominate the episode, though, and I feel as if I hardly know some of the others.

I've completely changed my mind about Sara now. She's very funny and seems to have a good rapport with the contestants. Now that minor aggravation has vanished it's so much easier to relax and enjoy this series. The Sewing Bee is wonderful therapy.

Do we think the judges set the challenges long before meeting the contestants? If not it seems grossly unfair to set the first dress as a challenge. Even though I like Brogan and think her finished garment was lovely!

I’m caught up.

Love Marnie and loved her sporty smockjackety thing. (If you can make one in ‘fat’ I’d be obliged Marnie flower…)

No doubt i will get blasted but I don’t love Brogan. She’s a grand sewer but I’m not loving her.

The person that fiddles around with the footage doesn’t seem to love her much either.

Whenever someone does well, the camera cuts away to her looking like she’s slightly resentful. Or like she’s chowing down on a pincushion full of pins and a slack handful of thimbles. 🤷‍♀️

I’m warming to Sara too. She’s settled into it a bit and it shows. 🙂

I'm another Sara convert - really glad that she's so much better in the proper series!

I imagine challenges get picked ahead of time, and I'd wager the people picking the patterns are different to the ones choosing the contestants so they wouldn't know either way.

In the past being able to make a certain garment has gone against some contestants. There was the lady last series who made beautiful clothing for her grandkids, but the challenge on there to make something very similar I think she ran out of time so couldn't finish it. It's the same with bake off. How many times have people said oh I bake that every week, for it to go wrong?

Steve and Cristiano seem to be separated at birth! My dd thought there was only one of them as was getting confused by the accent, or lack of.

Brogan does have a saccharine sweet voice, slightly grating, but she can't really help that.

I am warming a bit more to Marnie, but she does irritate me for some reason.

I think the right one went this week.

It is a shame they don't have a much wider range of makes each week, for both men and women. There have been some gorgeous mens items in previous years like the tie and the waistcoat.

Thank you to the pp who said what the pattern and fabric was for Man Yees dress. I may even attempt it

Oh, and forgot to say, I am loving Sara Pascoe. I wasn't sure when she was first chosen to replace Joe, but I think she is perfect

yes Sara has grown on me too and I like her. I love the sewing bee!

Brogan is a fantastic sewer and I expect her to be in the finalis.

I'm afraid I find the little bo peep act grating though.

It’s between Brogan and Marni I think.

So glad Joe L has been replaced. He wasn’t funny, just irritating.

I agree about Brogan and Marni.

I quite like Joe but he is better doing other things. I've always liked Sara Pascoe and think she is ideal.

I'm not sure about my finalists yet. I think Man Yee is up there. I also think
Cristian is an outside runner.

I think Man Yee has real flair and has been quite adventurous. Her bodice fitted really well and I loved her organza dress in week one. I suppose it depends on how versatile the contestants are. There’s usually men and children’s weeks that might prove a bit more of a challenge for some.

Christian could be a bit of a dark horse. Haven’t seen much of him so far so he might be in for the long haul. He's certainly the most competent of the male contestants.

I think Marnie produces really well made outfits but find her stuff a bit frumpy. Saying that I thought the same about the doctor that won in 2020.

There does tend to be a bit of dilemma towards the end with the contestants that are technically really good, and those with the best designs.

I've been away for 2 weeks and have just caught up! Thoughts:

How do the contestants cope when they come across something they’ve never done before? Like shirring (I always pronounced it shurring but what do I know?! Marni said it my way too so I’ve no idea now), the first time I did it I watched youtube instruction videos and I had to open up my machine, get the tiny screwdriver out and manually adjust the bobbin casing, it took ages! And involved lots of google troubleshooting and swearing!

I love the hammock challenge, the contestants made some lovely quirky clothes!

I don’t think Marni’s got a lot of taste to be honest but it’s clear she has good skill. I like Brogan’s makes. I always think the Sewing Bee needs to be more overtly about skill because we’ve had project catwalk for design so we don’t need that? Poor Steve’s in over his head with the dress. You gotta love his confidence for applying and going through with it though.
Man Yee’s doing well. Yay for Deborah’s GOTW. I kind of want to make a matching summer two piece now!

I think Marnie produces really well made outfits but find her stuff a bit frumpy. Saying that I thought the same about the doctor that won in 2020.

Heather from season 2 (I think) was like that. Pulled it out of the bag with an amazing M2M dress in the final whilst her main competitor stuffed up.

For the sake of domestic harmony I think I'll have to watch the final episode of Derry Girls tonight. I'll miss the running commentary on here but will catch up tomorrow. Have fun!

I’ve heard it’s really good Captain but I’ve got one or two to catch up on yet.