Great British Sewing Bee is back on 15th July

[BlackAmericanoNoSugar]

I'm looking forward to it.

I think they could do a challenge of making a dated frumpy garment look contemporary. Not making a whole new different garment but major alterations to the fit and finishes. It would be interesting

I agree that many transformation challenges are “party outfit” focussed where as in reality most women are unlikely to run up a wacky party outfit and more likely to transform something into a cushion or something less visible. The idea of everyone living a life of parties is weird too. I think changing a neckline inserting an invisible zip or doing a line of buttons and button holes would show the seeing better but be less interesting to non sewers than party outfits no one will ever wear

It's become more of a design challenge over the years. I sew, and I find I barely pay attention during the transformation round - but I suppose non-sewers wouldn't be very interested in the transformation rounds of the early seasons (putting patch pockets on a skirt etc).

I think the emphasis on design started when Esme joined as a judge. Before that it felt more like a home sewing contest.

That's a good idea! It would also be useful to viewers who might have stuff in their wardrobes that could be revamped or brought up to date. Think of all the ways jeans have changed over the years!

The transformations I've done have included buying a larger size dress from a charity shop and fitting it with darts / changing seams, turning a man's shirt into a baby outfit, turning old baby clothes into a memory bear.

Possibly those are too standard and the program makers want something a bit more novel?

that would be even better.

also they are home sewists, so while i liked the first ep's m-t-m - the emphasis on structure and form was more Project Runway than sewing bee. Gaynors was much better as something someone would actually wear to an event in our hum-drum UK lives, the winner with the shoulders was more like Met-Gala-Aspirational and a bit theatre for me.

Maybe i have grown out of the show?

ETA. yes upcycling a garment is good, there are countless TikToks of "i made this man's shirt into 2 summer tops" and given a bit of time to actually see someone do that, is far more interesting and useful to the average punter I'd guess. Especially younger viewers.

One of the finalists (the one whose boyfriend proposed at Mood fabrics) was good, upcycled loads of duvet covers etc, but none of her outfits that i have seen have anything other than the most basic shaping, if at all. Using darts, changing necklines, etc would be much more useful for people who are looking at her and thinking "yes, i can learn to draught self-designed clothes" but don't want to have the shapeless look - that definitely suited her with her tiny very slim shape.

That would be much more sustainable than what they are currently doing which is so wasteful.

Another good idea. I could do with inspiration for a few things in my wardrobe (which I made myself originally).

How come theres no rattling on about being straight, going to straight clubs and pubs blah blah blah. Imagine if some bloke on there was going on about how much he loves the 'ladies' and how not gay he was.

Yes - and imagine if he went on to talk about 'slutty' clubs etc!

Agree with all of this conversation.

I am a complete non-sewer (can't even sew on a button - seriously!), but I enjoy watching the sewing as well as the design. I've been working my way through past seasons and do think the format has changed more to the design. This also happened with Bake Off - early seasons concentrated on the baking whereas now it's more about the 3D design elements. Maybe producers are influenced by all the Insta, TikTok social media ways of presenting ideas.

I really like the idea of altering and/or repurposing an existing outfit rather than taking a perfectly good top etc and then ripping it apart to make something new. Definitely seems more practical for the people who are watching the show for sewing ideas rather than as a spectator sport (like me) :)

"I find I barely pay attention during the transformation round" I'm the same. It's the point in the programme when I clean my teeth and put my pyjamas on.

I recorded the programme and when I watched it, I fast-forwarded through the pointless transformations.

People have been sent home after coming first in the transformation challenge. I think the aim is frivolous entertainment. Let's make curtains out of used sandwich bags for lolz etc.

I don't love it but I feel that if we go back to genuine sewing challenges like s1 viewing figures might dip

i always have the feeling that the transformation challenge has lost its way and that it really is just filler now. Winning that challenge is usually neither here nor there.

I would rather they scrapped it and just had 25 min task 1 and 35 min task 3. They could spend more time explaining how the garment in task 1 goes together as that bit is far too fast. I think task 3 should focus on things ordinary viewers would wear if they were sewn as well. OK one catwalk week but with athleisure it should be things several people might wear to go to the gym then pub not one wacky friend with a niche hobby. The sort of garments I would then think "oh I'd like to make one of those and pay attention to the Fold Line youtube the day after it where she finds similar patterns to those used in the show, rather than thinking "I know no-one who would wear that"

I'd be happy for them to skip the makeover challenge and replace it with a history/education segment on the design challenge that week. For example - athleisure - where it originated, why it has become so popular, iconic examples, particular fabric and sewing challenges associated with it etc.

For the record, I have no issue with flamboyantly gay contestants and male models in dresses. Quite the opposite - it all adds to the rich tapestry.

There used to be history segments and I do miss them.

oh yes, i loved the history segments.

I really like the idea of 3 challenges though because you get the pattern challenge to see how good they are at following instructions (and experience with patterns helps there)

<aside> But flipping NORAH! they never iron the patterns, and then cut out even the smallest pices with a big rotary cutter </aside>

The mtm shows how they handle making garments for a specific person - that is a skill worth having and worth learning about (from watching)

Something like "update this blouse" or "replace this zip" or something useful would be good in the middle

ETA: even something like showing how to put in a set in sleeve or an invisible zip or show how to do even gathers, box pleats etc etc
I remember the girls who did needlework o-level at my school had to do things like that, just show they knew a particular technique (I remember one time they had to do smocking)

I did needlework O-Level and remember the smocking. Thankfully I had my mum to help practice with. @ShoAndSew

Getting a lesson on invisible zips was done once if I remember rightly. French seams as well. I think it was May Martin who was in the first 3 or 4 series.

Me too. Amber Butchart was fabulous - so stylish and so knowledgeable. I wish they'd get her back on.

I liked those little bits, and she was great.

Don’t the history segments come back when there are fewer contestants towards the end of the series? Am I imagining that.

I quite like the transformation challenge to be honest though it never seems to count for anything.

So funny! Thats exactly what I do, its the intermission break!!

That's also what I used to do in the history bit. They used to have sections like that in Bake Off and I didn't like those either. I'm just not keen on history.