Sewing Bee 2024 thread 2 - 5 down, 7 to go!

[SoupDragon]

The other thread was getting too slow (and we were running out of space faster than the thread on a bobbin)

I agree with the representing all possible groups. Think I’m going to enter next year as I can’t cut out or follow a pattern, can’t shorten a straight pair of trousers evenly/neatly and even buttons I replace look a total mess. So I could represent a whole new category as a contestant with -zero sewing ability. And I can fit a few other groups simultaneously as I’m old, a bit eccentric, have an invisible disability and from an ethnic minority group . Don’t see how I wouldn’t get in and get through to at least the semi finals .

I agree. Most of the UK are white and heterosexual, especially up here in Scotland. 1 contestant every year being a bloke who likes drag seems disproportional. Where are the gender critical lesbian sewers? I know more of them. It does seem to be more about identity politics box ticking than sewing excellence.
I don't want anyone discriminated against because of their sex, colour or gender identity but I don't want positive discrimination on these grounds either, or personality wackiness. Please can I just admire excellent sewing and see inspirational finished garments

tbh i wouldn't hate a programme that started with 10 novices which taught them to sew for a week, and at the end of that week had to produce a garment - until there are 3 left and they get given a brief, then have to source the pattern, fabric etc and make the final garment to be judged.

Possibly also including a transformation (something i do is make round necked-men's t-shirts into slight v-necks by stretching the collar into a newly cut neckline. Or shorten the sleeves of this shirt for school - or reverse the worn-out collar on this otherwise wearable shirt - etc etc).

Make that happen, please!

That programme sounds great @Brefugee
You should pitch it to a tv production company asap.

'Most of the UK are white and HETEROSEXUAL'?

You'll never work for the BBC.

@Brefugee I even have the name for you 'sew far, sew good'

Where are the gender critical lesbian sewers?

Isn't that Ailsa?

Although she mentioned it once in the first programme and not since I don't think!

I imagine that a lot of the people who sew nowadays do it because they can't get the clothes they want in the shops. That would include people who like to dress up including drag, people who make clothes for a hobby like dancing, women who want practical, comfortable clothing with pockets, people who are inventive in the way they dress so those people are likely to be represented. Not so much the old school sewers like me who learned at school in the 60s and take their time although I definitely come into the "comfortable with pockets' category.

There's an element of box ticking but that's because it's an entertainment programme, as opposed to an instructional programme, and needs to have a wide appeal. That's not to say a more instructional series wouldn't be welcome too.

Ailsa is referred to as they/them.

It doesn't seem to have been mentioned as a "thing" like drag always is though. I think it cropped up in the first M2M when she did a dress with "hardware" on it...?

Ailsa is self described as 'being part of the queer community in Glasgow'

So, uh, not gender-critical. I would assume.

The thing about drag (whether performers who sew for themselves or someone who sews for their boyfriend like the earlier finalist whose name I forget) is that it's key to why those contestants are sewing and hence why they're on the show. Drag is fundamentally about clothes, so it's not just a random "fun fact" about you.

If I were a contestant and I bred Persian cats as an all-encompassing hobby then I'd expect that to be mentioned once or twice on my time on the show. If I bred Italian greyhounds and made adorable handmade coats for all of them to keep them warm then I'd expect it to be mentioned far more frequently.

Not on the official Sewing Bee insta biography (where I assume the sewers' preferred pronouns would be used)

Ailsa...⁣
🏠 Grew up in the Scottish Highlands and now lives in Glasgow.⁣
🪡 Describes her sewing style as contemporary, sustainable, modern and experimental.⁣

Luke uses they/them though...
Luke...⁣
🙌 Works as a diversity, equality and inclusion director.⁣
🪡 Was taught to sew by their grandmother when they were eight.⁣
💄 Has a drag persona, Selma Skreams. ⁣

Pronouns she/her are on her Instagram and on other (non-BBC) contestant biogs. ‘Glasgow-based queer sewist'. I'm assuming she’s not gender-critical on the grounds that she subscribes to pronouns.

OK we can do this, people, let's get a pitch together.

a few years ago there was a gay man who made clothes for his drag artist partner. I remember that he made a drag outfit of sorts for his male model and maybe even got garment of the week. To the accompaniment of a lot of complaining online (twitter was aghast) because how hard is it to M2M a fitted dress for a man against making a fitted dress for a woman? (was it leather, or faux leather or something?)

But blimey he could sew and he had great ideas (I'm ok with diversity, but i do want people who can sew and have great ideas more than i want diversity). One of their projects was to make something out of old jumpers, and he got a load and made a fantastic dress. I wish i could remember his name i'd like to check his instagram.

One of my favourites was the Logistics Corps Colonel who made ballgowns for mess balls for his wife. he was in the final.

I am clearly skiving. It was Matt Gage from series 6.
I have also found out there was a German version and am trying to track down eps. I am super excited about that (2015 - not sure how many they did)

I’ve watched from series 1 and when you look back there was so much more attention to technical details - viewers were shown how a particular technique like invisible zip, lapel collar, slit seam in a skirt etc were done. It was very interesting to watch and the completed garments were definitely wearable.
At the beginning it was a show about the “12 best amateur sewers who applied” It’s not now.
I agree with those of you who have said the standard is lower this year.
In these days of more awareness of waste, it would be much better just to give them more time - could still be edited to fit the hour long programme!- and actually complete the garments.
Ive been an amateur home dressmaker/sewer since teenage years in the 60’s and 70’s( buy a couple of “yards” of cotton at Derby market Saturday morning , run it up on mums machine and wear it out in the evening!) being fortunate enough to learn proper sewing skills at school.
The most important thing I learned was to take your time and not rush anything!

how hard is it to M2M a fitted dress for a man against making a fitted dress for a woman? (was it leather, or faux leather or something?)

I remember the arguments about that on here! It was a leather type look I'm sure - had a sort of diagonal top with straps and buckles (making it even easier to fit!).

their attitude to waste is a bit weird. They are careful (eg the bomber jackets) to emphasise that the fabric comes from deadstock - but then they don't have time to finish the garment, or to bodge it so badly it can't be saved.

Having said all that - i do like to watch. I love Amber Butchart's (sp?) little segments, and every now and then they do explain a sewing term or Thing (welted pockets for eg)

their attitude to waste is a bit weird. They are careful (eg the bomber jackets) to emphasise that the fabric comes from deadstock - but then they don't have time to finish the garment, or to bodge it so badly it can't be saved

And in a past series they were happy to let people butcher perfectly good hand-made granny-square crochet blankets, some of which were really nice as they were.

butchering the blankets is ok in my book (i got some lovely tablecloths from my mum last week, but then she wanted them back after i told her about what i wanted them for because "it's a shame to cut them up" even though they have been in a cupboard for 30 years and never used)

I did think that one of the contestants made a blanket specially though.

Blankets and tablecloths languish in charity shops though. It's great that people can see a use for them.

I do like to read the comments of those of you that can sew. I can't sew for toffee but I agree with everything you say here! Even my DH is fed up with the lack of sewing ability and unfinished garments. He loved the crocodile.

I did think that one of the contestants made a blanket specially though.
I'm 100% sure she did. It looked brand new and all she had to do was unpick along the Seams. She won GOTW if I recall.