Sewing Bee is back

[Cocolapew]

Wednesday 24th May at 9pm 🥳

I loved Clare Bradley, the chest doctor who rocked 40s style. She was brilliant, and such a lovely person.
Did sterling work during the pandemic as well.

Yes there was a kimono challenge. It was v complicated I seem to recall!

That was good but I enjoyed the one in 2020 (highlight of the week in lockdown). Clare won but it was touch and go between her precision and skill and Nicole's (?) style. Liz (sewing punk on Instagram) was also in it.

Not really on topic, but I'm intrigued by the increasing use of sewists instead of sewers - is it to prevent them being confused with the town drains?! I've noticed it elsewhere, and I wonder if it's because of the illogical pronunciation of the embroidery-type sewer. Very interesting watching language evolve.

That's the reason but it's quite logical as in pianist, typist, receptionist. On the other hand golfer, Baker, knitter. I suppose it's what sounds right.

Kimono-'inspired'. Strictly speaking it was more of a yutaka….like a dressing-gown, a simpler robe. But yes, nice.

Argh, Yukata, not Yutaka….Yutaka's a boy's name 😂

She was my favourite, too.

I've made traditional yukatas, they're quite difficult as there are lots of measurements to do. Graph paper was needed.

Yes, not saying it’s easy, exactly, Rebecca, but easier than a true kimono!

I loved Bletchley Clare too.

She was the bobbins. 🥰

I was thinking the same @LadyAddle - when did sewist start?

I just loved all those fabrics on West African week, so colourful and cheering. I thought Tony not the postman did a good job, he's under the radar a bit.
On another note - why does Patrick dress so badly? He could look amazing in nice trousers and a shirt, or a neat jacket. His clothes are dull and ill fitting, which surprises me.

"Bletchley Clare.... She was the bobbins...."

Love it @ArcaneWireless 😀
( and she was ).

I didn’t give her that name - someone fabulous on here did. But it was so perfectly her!

I loved her style. She knew her style and rocked it.

I'm not sure when sewist started. I've started using it since i dragged my machine out right at the beginning of the Covid thing when my daughter asked me if i could make some for her and her colleagues as they work with vulnerable adults but couldn't get any more when they ran out.

And i rediscovered the fun of sewing (not clothes for reasons). I watched a LOT of YouTube videos to get ideas of things to make, and then subscribed to an Australian woman (forget her name, but she has an aesthetic not unlike Bletchley Clarie) who runs an online sewing school teaching vintage methods. She always uses that term and then i realised other people do and i just adopted it. Not really sure why.

I think Patrick wears a lot of vintage suits , I think he commented that one belonged to his grandfather once. Though he could alter them I suppose.

I think it's great if Patrick wears vintage, but he needs to re fit. Also better trousers. Plus he wears a combination of a rather dull grey and dull navy. I just think he could up his game. Esme nails it. Not a willowy young thing, she wears interesting and well fitting outfits, great colours and accessories, sharp hair and glasses.

Thank you, @Maireas - i have often commented to my DH that Patrick isn't really a good advert for tailoring sometimes with his suits.
I do wonder if it's because he looks like he has lost quite a bit of weight?

Nice article about Clare here - https://thechap.co.uk/2020/10/29/clare-bradley-british-sewing-bee-champion-2020/

Possibly, @Brefugee , but in his role I think he should present himself better.

Clare Bradley has a lovely Instagram

Clare's instagram is brilliant. I love that she still has her bee makes and gets her seam ripper out and remodels them. She also rations her fabric purchases and repairs until things fall apart. Such discipline!

Claire reminds me a lot of my granny in her attitude. She made some quite fab creations in the war from fabrics they already had, her own (deceased) father's suits etc etc. Saved a parachute once (my grandad was in the RAF) and made lingerie with it after the war etc etc. It was all about repair, remodel, recycle with her generation which washed off on my mum's generation for the most part.

He could get rid of that stubble, too.

Moustache - ok

Beard - melt into his arms

Clean-shaven - as above

Stubble - YEUCH!

@Brefugee she sounds amazing. What a role model to have.