Sewing Bee back tonight

[Dottiethekangaroo]

I have just seen this in the newspaper. I am so excited, brand new host too.

and iron it. Please god they never seem to iron the patterns

20 minutes to read an plan sounds like a very good idea, a bit like bake off (which I've gone off) I'd rather see people encouraged to do well and show their skill rather than humiliated-for-titillation because they've been asked to do something unrealistic in the time. Producers should remind themselves that these shows are popular because they are nice and a break from some of the shallow shite that pervades television these days.

@Brefugee I've never ironed a pattern. It's never occurred to me to do so! I just smooth them out, pin at key corners and use lots of pattern weights.

on that thick paper? I'd worry that it would make too much difference to the pieces i cut out in terms of size. I have never not ironed a paper pattern!

Yep! Regardless of the paper (I print most patterns myself and stick together) I never iron. It hasn't caused any problems yet, and I've sewed everything from jeans/trousers to skirts/dresses, tops/jumpers and jackets/coats. Most of my patterns have been used more than once and are folded (into A3 pouches) in between, with no issues at all.

I don't think for the pattern challenge it makes much difference provided they make sure there aren't huge valley/mountains in the paper. For something like the M2M where it needs to fit then it makes sense. That said, I've never ironed a pattern (although I rarely use a proper paper pattern TBH - I'm not that kind of sewer)

.

Disappointed Pasha didn't get GOTW. M2M leggings are difficult and hers were excellent. I wouldn't have done a leotard as they are tricky to fit well. Alex played safe with a running kit but in week 2 that's sensible. You don't need to win just to stay in the top half. Comfort seemed underskilled. I don't understand why any contestant who hasn't sewed stretch materials, followed patterns or used an overlocker ( not singling out Comfort here) bothers entering this. Are they just desperate to be on telly?

more to the point: once you enter and are accepted (and even before) you should be practising on a variety of fabrics and machines (they always have to use an overlocker several times, and coverstitch machines always make an appearance)

Sports week is always A Thing - so stretch fabrics, power mesh etc etc are vital to practice on.

I iron my pattern pieces and material now. I didn't use to but I didn't use to prewash my fabric either and making sure my material is washed so it won't shrink further (most materials shrink by at least 5%) and ironing material and pattern before cutting make a huge difference to the pieces fitting together and the garment fitting properly

Agree, it's like people who go on masterchef and have never spatchcocked a chicken or filleted a fish. You know you'll need to do it at some point so learn in advance.

Was the GOTW the one where the power mesh ordered had no stretch? I'm trying to justify that strap newing short and that's the only way I can - although it should still have been sorted out.

No, that was Luke's. The GOTW was the one with the asymmetric mesh overlay that dug into the front of the shoulder.

I could remember the item, just not who had the problem fabric (they need to find a way around online ordering - the problem became obvious during covid but they could take all the contestants to a big warehouse now). I was just trying to think of a way to excuse the bad fit!

I'm not sure I'd know where to go and buy fabric from a shop now. The local shops (department store and Fabric Warehouse etc) have all closed. I use mainly recycled fabrics and offcuts from charity shops now. If I want something specific I have to take a risk with eBay etc.

Joining for the next episode.

there are a few fabric shops where i live but they are not fantastic. One is for quilting fabrics which is ok for when i make non-clothes.
For clothes there is a shop, and a factory outlet for that same shop that have truly awful selections of viscose blouse material, not bad cotton and good linen fabrics. And i discovered another one that has a good selection of sweatshirt stuff, also the cuff stuff etc, and some ok other stuff but... i don't know if it's me or modern fabric shops, most of it is hideous. Either the actual fabric, or the design (often garish flowers or abstracts).

TBH most of my clothes (99%) are black so it could just be me.

The only place near me that I can think of off the top of my head is Hobbycraft.

There will be places in London I guess but you have to know where they are.

The last thing I made where I had to buy specific fabric was a Britney Spears air hostess outfit for DD 😂.

i got a bit giddy in Hobbycraft when i was over in UK last time. and i will be going again next time, so i expect i'll need a little lie down afterwards.

We are very lucky where I live as we have a huge haberdashery and a huge fabric shop with sewing machine sales. I have a friend who works there running courses on how to use your new machine. She’s applied for SB but was told she wasn’t allowed as she was a professional.

I buy all my fabric online and haven't had any disasters yet. If I was concerned about pattern/colour/weight etc, then most places send out samples.

For anyone who wants to buy online, Fabric Godmother, Sew me Sunshine and Guthrie & Ghani all have huge ranges and showcase their fabrics well. They're all small, female owned/managed businesses too, and I like supporting them.

We do have a nice fabric shop where I live, but it only has a small range. I have picked up various bits there, but I wouldn't rely on it to know I could DEFINITELY get what I wanted (which I know I could from G&G when I go there).

I'm lucky in living in a city with an excellent family owned fabric shop that also has classes and even has Sewing Bee final parties. I also buy stuff online, mainly Wattle and Slate ( only sells fabric intermittently and you have to be in the Wattle and Slate VIP facebook group but I love their fabrics) Liberty and Spoonflower. Spoonflower is US though so I only order large amounts from there when I can't get what I want in the UK. I'm in to bag making at the moment and using Country Cow designs ( a couple based in Cornwall) for my bag designs and hardware.

For those who thought the judges were overly fussy about the colours being obvious enough on the golf and marathon kits , here is the Belgian Euros kit!

https://x.com/JulienHoez/status/1796570701249626295

If Roy had added Union Jack/team GB type patches to his skirt and top like that kit has, it would have been fine though.