Great British Sewing Bee 2026

[LIZS]

Back on 14th July at 8pm

I agree that Anna's MTM wasn't convincingly Disco. I liked it but thought Heather's more fully answered the brief, but as the judges said, it had some sewing/fitting flaws.

In terms of actual sewing skill, I think that Beth might have the edge on Anna. Both sewers are very creative and technically good. Can't see them not getting to the final! (Famous last words...)

No one has mentioned the kaftan? That and Heather's were far and away the most disco to me. I could see what they meant about the bottom but to me the kaftan was made by someone who actually understood disco, rather than someone copying disco. Before we saw their designs , I pictured a dress a bit like the kaftan.

Some of the models had been more discoed up!

Anna's legs should have been in a more see through fabric. The fact it was all one fabric seemed boring. There was actually a lot of sci fi stuff in the 70s so I didn't mind that so much.
Beth should have made hers in something like sea greens and turquoises .What she made looked late 60s hippy era. And the Pan's People look was right - just the colourways were all wrong.
I hated the trousers on the Rebecca's and thought red was not a good choice. Red isn't a very disco colour to me. I think the same as I have before- that Rebecca does not know how to make clothes that flatter and fit her busty model. I suspect her problem this week was that Rebecca would rather serrate her eyeballs than go to a disco.

I don’t know about them loving Anna, I thought last night’s show was actually uncomfortably edited to be unfavourable towards Anna - showing the others helping each other out with issues whilst Anna gave side-eye, and more than one reference to her having taken something someone else wanted.

My favourite outfit was the rainbow sequinned kaftan.

Anna was a bit grabby last night. As soon as she knows the task she's eyeing up what's available and runs to get there first.

She is usually helpful to others and last night leant out her fray stop, to be fair.

I usually love her designs and her ambitious ideas. She deserves extra credit for taking risks, I think..

I think that Rebecca (is she the one who made the red outfit, I’m dreadful at name) made something that she could imagine herself wearing.

I am not sure about that but she deliberately made something classy rather than disco disco which is OK )as it was inspired by Studio 54) but it was oddly frumpy - partly the colour and the fabric but mainly because it wasn't right for that model . Everyone in the 70s seemed so thin but there were more bust flattering looks about (eg the kaftan style).

ETA- Rebecca's model never looks like she likes what she is wearing whereas Anna's model always looks delighted so that may not do Rebecca favours.

I did think they were applying 21st century tastes to a 20th century style. But twas ever thus.

Loved the cone bras! They looked so comical as a set.

The judging bothered me last night. I think I’ve been feeling that Esme is the judge and Patrick is the one who discusses the makes all series but it seemed particularly apparent this week. In the second challenge, it was clear that Patrick thought the first team had won based on his comments but Esme decided she liked punk and so the second team should win. They then had to put in some explanations between the judging and the result to try to explain why the second team should win. Similarly with the made to measure, if Esme doesn’t think it’s sexy or is in a colour she personally doesn’t like (rather than an inappropriate colour) it will never win. Anna is a great sewer but I think she’s helped along by Esme’s liking her style.

I couldn't understand why they didn't pick up on the fact that Anna's was extremely tight over the bust. It really looked quite uncomfortable to me.

I also couldn't understand why they suggested Beth's wasn't disco - that Pan's People look was the epitome of disco.

The colours were totally wrong on Beth's?

I disliked Anna's silver costume. It looked like a late 90s version of 70s disco.

I loved Heather's outfit, that should have won pattern of the week. The kaftan was good but I really didn't like the massively oversized beret or hassles, just slightly fancy dress style.

I thought the team challenge was a good change this week, having a cohesive overall look but individual creations. Like project runway but much less aggressive!

Sad to see who left, but she had struggled a bit. I enjoyed watching what she made.

Heather's outfit was spot on and properly disco. The cape was fabulous and very clever.

The kaftan was my favourite. I don’t understand what they didn’t like about it. Was it just not complex and fussy enough? I agree Anna’s outfit was more Barbarella than disco. I also don’t understand why the kpop punk outfits won. The girl who left ( can only remember « gingernut ») maybe didn’t execute hers as well. Although I love pockets I agree that for slinkiness the Abba style outfits shouldn’t have had them and should have had a more hidden zip. Agree the models facial expressions help.

I thought Heather’s outfit nailed the disco brief, but I do see that she hadn’t sewn it particularly brilliantly. I loved the fluffy coat thing! Beth’s was probably the most wearable but I agree the colours were not quite right. Rebecca’s dress was very well sewn and the story of it being Studio 54 vibe probably helped. I didn’t like Anna’s at all. It looked uncomfortable and the top just looked like a triangle that had been tied on. I think Emma’s kaftan was very disco but she had problems with the length (she had to take the binding off I think and so it was shorter than she intended) and the hat was giving shower cap vibes. Adele had the right idea with the ABBA theme but I think the execution let her down and she was too far behind already after day 1.

I don’t really think any of them both hit the brief and sewed well. Probably I would have chosen Beth’s outfit as GOTW as it was the right style and was well sewn. I think if Heather hadn’t messed up
her fit she should have won it

Maybe that's what the judges wanted, though? An updated version of disco style.

Emma's kaftan was amazing

I loved Emma’s kaftan but the length was wrong. It was my favourite though. I always love her fabrics and colour choices.

It would be nice if we saw the actual brief...would be fascinating!

Catching up. Yes, I think Emma's kaftan was really excellent but just wrong in terms of length. Not in tune with genuine 70s vibes.

No, apart from the fabric, it looked more like a beach wrap and the hem length at the back was bad.

But those kind of beach wraps are called kaftans and are totally a 70s vibe!

Was the brief 70s Disco or just Disco? I genuinely can't remember. The introduction suggested Disco arose in the 70s but I remember going to youth club discos in the late 60s. In the mid 70s, when Saturday Night Fever came out, it became much more glam of course with the flashy clothes. I went to one once (Streatham Bali Hai) and hated it. I sympathise with Rebecca.

I agree, Esme is a very emotive judge whereas Patrick is much more objective and professional. I think Esme could do with making a bit more mental effort outside of her own preferences, she's a lazy judge.

Yes, to the team challenge judging. Patrick's comments definitely suggested the other team had won.

And agree with a PP about Anna looking like KT Tunstall. I've been saying that at home all along.

I remember Streatham Bali Hai!