Sewing Bee - all the buzz, none of the sting!

[ArmWrestlingWithChasNDave]

A thread for discussion of Sewing Bee with no criticism of the contestants' personalities, mannerisms, or looks - just their sewing and designs, please.

Who's everybody's favourite for the win? I think Brogan's going to get it, but I'd be happy for any of them to win.

Aww amazing series!

Love Sara. Love Patrick. Love love love Esme!
The choice of playlist is 👌🏻

Annie was a worthy winner, but they were all great.

Think I will have to rewatch from the first series on iPlayer now to fill in my Wednesday nights 😁

It's been great overall but I was a bit underwhelmed by the final made to measure (as I have been in the past I recall). Not sure if it was the brief or the use of family and friends as models, but none of the jumpsuits were that great. Annie's was by far the most striking and if it fitted like a glove it would have been stunning, but on her model the bodice looked a bit too loose and too low on the bustline. She'd be forever hoiking it up.

Debra's fabric choice was very hen do at the Pleasure Beach, maybe it would have looked nicer in a more glitzy fabric. I loved her Morpheous dress. Could see Kylie wearing it back in the day (or even now, why not).

Man-Yee looked a bit costumey but lacking something. The cape was a bit meh, and the waistline needed a bit extra. It was Cosplay without the embellishments.

Brogan had a bummer throughout. I did love her own outfits over the course of the show. Not always my taste but she wore them so well.

That all sounds really harsh but I did enjoy the wholesomeness of it all. Annie's really blossomed over the course of the show too so I'm glad she won, though I did think Man-Yee would edge it.

I though the updates were a bit flat this year. Other then the man who runs and his brocade tuxedo, everyone seemed to have done a very Smiffy’s-looking Hallowe’en costume.

They don't seem to meet up, like the Bake Off people do.

They do. It's in their Instagram posts.

For example: www.instagram.com/p/Cef5JMbqjyF/

So happy that Annie won. Not only was she a very creative sewer, but lovely with it.

I was blown away by one of Esme’s designs being in the V&A.

Had not noticed Annie was pregnant.

Sarah Pascoe was good, not me, me, me. Funny but not OTT.

Wednesday evenings will seem so empty now 😩

Happy that Annie won; I think she deserved it most based on the past few weeks. Still think Marni was given the boot unfairly.

Love Sara!

I was a bit late to the party so might go back and watch the several series I missed.

DD and I couldn't believe they overlooked that!

As DD said - too uneven to be properly tailored but not uneven enough to be asymmetric - def. the best idea, though.

I wondered if it was because they pay for their own material for the final, or something like that. This way they have a wearable dress for someone they know so aren't too"robbed".

Just guess, though.

They definitely don't have to pay for their own material!

I think having family and friends as models is just a way to make the final more special than all the other made-to-measures.

A worthy winner, I thought, after a quiet start. I loved almost everything Man-Yee produced, but I didn't feel that she was experiencing joy when sewing, she seemed to put a lot of pressure on herself.

What a fantastic final. Annie absolutely deserved that win. She really grew as the weeks went on. The win could easily have gone to Man Yee or Debra too , but Annie's final piece was extra stunning. Brogan appeared to be out of her depth this week , I was shocked to hear that she'd never sewn with lycra before , but the four of them made for an amazing show.

Congratulations to all four , for producing so many beautiful garments. My main memory of this series will be seeing lots more of Esme's design work , I hope that continues.

See you all again next year and thank you for the threads.

Happy with the result though any of the top three could have won.

There needs to be a decent film made about Esme.

Right. I was going on the finale, which didn't show that, unlike the Bake Off one.

I have never sewn with lycra either as I loathe it. Don't think that I even own any clothing made out of it either.

@dillite fair enough! I guess I just assumed that most sewists had tried a little of everything , especially if you were entering a competition.

How do you sew stretchy fabrics like Lycra and jersey without it stretching?

Carefully!
A lot of it is how you feed it through the machine, plus using stretch stitches and ballpoint needles.

Pretty much what I thought 😂😂

I've only used scraps to make masks and it grew even over that small size.

Having an over locker really helps as well with stretch fabrics. You can make simple stuff without the need for a regular machine.

My lovely friend sent me a copy of Esmes biography to take on my holiday. I’m really looking forward to reading it, she’s so inspiring. The amorphous dress features in it.

Ooh, I’d not seen that she’s got a book out, might put it on my birthday list, she seems so interesting and knowledgeable.

Esme's book is also on Audible, narrated by her too.

It was such a lovely programme and it was really difficult I'm sure to choose a winner as there was so little between all of them. I still think Marni and Christian were short changed re 4 in the final. They should have been there too.
Congratulations to Annie and happiness to her and her new baby.
Congratulations to Brogan too re her baby news. Wishing her all the best.