Great British Sewing Bee 2026

[LIZS]

Back on 14th July at 8pm

I wonder if Patrick has sinus issues/ allergies.

This week was the first time I felt they had awarded GOTW to Anna purely because it was Anna making it. I suspect that, had it been anyone else, they would have been picky about the too-small bustline and the impracticality of the outfit for disco dancing.

Hmm - Heather should definitely have won this week’s Garment of the Week; her outfit was so cool and entirely Disco. Anna’s was more the Martian interpretation of Disco.

Is Anna locked in to win? I dunno. She’s less sure footed when out of her own comfort zone, or when she doesn’t leave herself enough time. It’s entirely possible should might have one dreadful week. (Not that I’m wishing that on her!) But if she’s queuing in M&S in York it doesn’t sound as if she’s been swept off to Paris or Milan …

I liked the kaftan best and thought Anna’s was awful.

I'm not so sure that Anna will win. I absolutely love her style and she is undoubtedly a very good sewer but I can now see Beth pipping her at the post. And I wouldn't discount Heather at this stage either - but she has often struggled with the time limits, usually because her MTM has been over ambitious for the time allowed not because she is slow or less skilled.

eta: I'll be happy for any of those 3 to win 😁

I would imagine next week's challenge - the period costume - will play to Anna's strengths.

(I like her; I think she's by far the most instinctively talented sewer of the bunch, and I would be very happy to see her win)

Rebecca is also very talented. I saw her wedding outfit on Instagram - a white jumpsuit with a lacy jacket/bolero thingy and a veil. Perfectly fitted. Obviously that doesn't count in the competition and she doesnt have the style that Esmé goes for. She makes what she likes.

I thought Beth's disco outfit was very good. Patrick was very impressed with the quality of the make but Esme just cut it right down with "It's the wrong colour".

Esme seems to contribute so little, apart from her personal preferences, but what she does say goes, sadly.

To me, the colours looked similar to the Pan's People photo that was shown. Pan's People was a bit before my time but I just had a Google and earth tones was one of their looks as well as the more sparkly and psychedelic stuff.

They kept mentioning Stufio 54 and the age of disco though which was very much 70s.

Would could be 90% Patrick and 10% Esme and I'd still want more Patrick.

I think she has a bag.

If she has a bag it was very well hidden in her form fitting wedding jumpsuit.

On her Instagram she talks about having requested accommodations including a chair to sit on and some sandwiches earlier in the evening. Before that they were given a meal at 9 or 10pm when they had finished filming which, I think, would be too late for most people.

There have been seasons where someone looked like a clear winner and blew it on their final garment. Am not sure if Riccardo was such a front runner as Anna
but he was very innovative but his made to measure was complete rubbish and that was it.

I can't see the same happening with Anna but you never know.

Just watched on catch up - and I said to DH that I could see Margot Leadbetter at a dinner party in that red dress!

That is true. "Money, Jerry." 😂

You have reminded me of this lovely article about Penelope Keith going to Harrods each week to pick Margo's wardrobe.

www.theguardian.com/fashion/2026/jul/03/all-those-lovely-floaty-clothes-how-penelope-keith-supercharged-70s-style-as-margo-leadbetter

Thank you for sharing that. It’s lovely. I love Margot’s clothes. I have a dress that I think of as my Margot dress.

this is the one : https://ebay.io/m/c0Sz9v

I love Margo. I think it's a progression as you get older from thinking Tom and Barbara are the exciting couple while Margo is mad and Jerry boring, to realising Tom is a monster, Margo is a trendsetter and also very kindhearted and Jerry is the ideal husband.

Yes to all of this!

Definitely and Margo was also so sexy.

Apparently Richard Briars hated the Tom character. He thought he was a selfish arse

Margo is really quite similar to Cher from Clueless. She is fashion forward and effortlessly successful in her niche but has only a vague awareness of life outside of her bubble and is extremely kind and helpful (in her own way) when the need arises.

Wow I love that analogy, thank-you.

I've just seen Anna's silver outfit on another site which I hadn't paid much attention to whilst half watching the programme. I struggle to see why it won garment of the week. If it's because they're pushing Anna for the overall winner I think that was unnecessary, she's already doing fairly well.