Great British Sewing Bee 2026

[LIZS]

Back on 14th July at 8pm

Red dress worked for me. Halston inspired, cut on the bias, draped and asystematic. You only need to put Halston and Studio 54 into google to see that it was on brief. I like Beth and I like her designs but she did seem pre-occupied with what SHE would wear which was nothing to do with the brief. I think it was the fabric rather than the shapes though. The sheerness of her trousers and the shape were bang on - it was the muted earthy palette that took it away from the brief.

I had another look at Anna's garment last night. It does look a bit astronaut, but the cut of the trousers was clever and beautifully exectued - the back was also really good. I wonder if the stiffness was the reason it looked at bit fancy dress?

But anyway - as I said upthread - I still haven't got over Pascha not winning S10 so I'm refusing to root for anyone.

Exactly. Here’s Bianca J in 1978 wearing Halston at Studio 54.

Yes, I thought it was really unfair for them to keep on about 'guest at Studio 54' and then say an outfit that Bianca Jagger would genuinely have worn at Studio 54 wasn't disco enough.

If what they wanted was sparkly space pirate they should have said so.

Halston?

that's the one, i see several pp have made the point much better than i did.

Beth's was fab, but more (festival) daywear than disco for me.

Just caught up watching - it was Heather who offered the fray stop. I didn't know this existed, how useful.

It was a bit Sarah Brightman - I lost my heart to a starship trouper or Automatic lover DeeDee someone or other, circa 1978

Or Metal Mickey

No better place to leave this:

https://fivebooks.com/best-books/sewing-alison-smith/

I think it’s weird when Beth and the red dress one just ignore the task

I don't think they ignored the brief at all - I thought both fitted it beautifully. Esme just hates muted tones and solid colours. The fabric, style and cut were beautifully 70s disco in both Beth's and Heather's made to measure. Different inspiration (Pan's People and Halston) but both suitable.

If it's not 'punk' (our first Sewing Bee Drinking Game prompt - second is a name drop... we could get hammered some weeks.) or very revealing Esme is disposed against it. Her personal preferences override the actual suitability.

I agree they didn't ignore but I still think red was an odd choice. (and horrible actually - it it was Halstonesque fabric it didn't look it) ánd that it didn't suit the model at all . This is a MTM challenge but I am sure they don't want to make comments about whether it suits a model's body shape for obvious reasons : but it didn't and that's not the first time that model has been put in something that doesn't suit her shape. I experience this myself as a busty person. I think something looks nice and then make the mistake of looking at a picture taken sideways on.

Someone on here will know this - how do they match models to the contestants? Beth, for example, has a lean, tall model very similar in shape to her which must help.

I think Thingy (why do I always forget her name? Opera singer!) would be so much better with the busty model.

Fame is on HBO Max/Now TV btw so I had a happy, rainy afternoon watching that yesterday. And yes, darker than I remembered.

I find it tiresome and inappropriate. I feel she's unable to be objective.

Very, I still remember the bit with Coco being forced to take her top off.

I forgot Sewing Bee Drinking Game prompt number 3 - Esme says in a loaded voice "shame" which is pass-agged for "I hate this and will vote it down."

As in "shame about the length"; "the zip isn't flat. Shame"; "you didn't choose a contrasting thread for the hem, which is a shame."

We had to exclude Patrick's "but overall a good effort" because we were pissed after the first round.

yes I agree now on reflection! I watched the guidance again and it didn’t say it had to be glittery

And the girl going for the termination and the child SA on the stairs. Those scenes are still with me and I watched it in the 80s.

And someone who was going to throw themselves in front of a subway train?

I like it when she says' That's a Big Shame'.

Yes, that was the girl who was told she had to leave the ballet class as she just didn’t have ‘it’.

They try to match the model to the sewer - not exactly obviously but they ask for your measurements and try to get close.

I don't think they do that exactly. I do remember a contestant in a previous series saying that she had specifically asked for a larger model with similar measurements to her so that the contestant could re-wear the clothes she made for M2M (and may be practise a little more easily). Now, whether Rebecca has done the same, I don't know. I also don't know whether the judges take into account the technical difficulties for sewing for different models - it certainly doesn't get broadcast.

And of course, many male contestants make M2Ms for men when there's a choice.

Esmé saying “That’s a shame” is so gutting - and then they pan to the sewer who always look like they’ve been punched in the stomach.

Well, in this case they have very much failed with Rebecca!

I was talking to friends about last week over lunch and the waitress joined in the chat and said that Anna's outfit looked like something Gary Glitter would want.

I wasn't fussed about it but that's harsh!