Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Telly addicts

Great British Sewing Bee 2026

392 replies

LIZS · 01/07/2026 17:06

Back on 14th July at 8pm Smile

OP posts:
BookShark · 15/07/2026 13:06

Showing my age here, but all the comments about it being a "Sewing Bee first" that they were making clothes for themselves - that wasn't right, was it? I'm sure they had to make trousers for themselves in one of the earlier series, and it all got a bit personal as they had to measure each other.

Liking the fact that this week was what I would call "proper clothes". The last series seemed to be going down the Bake Off path, of making something very spectacular, but not something you would ever actually wear/eat. I like to watch it and think I could do that (badly), whereas all the avant-garde stuff just loses me.

N4meChng · 15/07/2026 13:26

I think this was one of the best first episodes of sewing bee. I liked the contestants and the tasks - even the middle challenge was something I could imagine doing myself, instead of just creating more waste.

@PickAChewim sure you’re right that it wasn’t the first time - I think it was the series with the police man and yoga instructor?

PickAChew · 15/07/2026 13:35

That should have been to @BookShark but, yes, it's been done once before.

simpsonthecat · 15/07/2026 13:41

thanks for the thread. I really enjoyed last night's episode which is unusual for a first one!
I loved the outfit for themselves.

Hexiegone · 15/07/2026 13:43

I don't know whether nothing was said when they said the apple collecting bag was too like an apron or if it was edited out but I thought it was a good make as it suited the job it was made for. And there wouldn't have been as much waste as some of the others.

Halsall · 15/07/2026 13:52

Hexiegone · 15/07/2026 13:43

I don't know whether nothing was said when they said the apple collecting bag was too like an apron or if it was edited out but I thought it was a good make as it suited the job it was made for. And there wouldn't have been as much waste as some of the others.

I’ve got an apron with large pockets specifically for putting picked fruit in - not exactly a bag but the concept is out there, I think.

AgentPidge · 15/07/2026 13:53

That orange jumpsuit with the tigers on it is from Oxfam. It's lovely fine cotton. I know, because I bought the pyjamas for DD in the same fabric.

Fiftyandnotsonifty · 15/07/2026 13:57

I predict Anna for the win

TorturedParentsDepartment · 15/07/2026 14:00

BookShark · 15/07/2026 13:06

Showing my age here, but all the comments about it being a "Sewing Bee first" that they were making clothes for themselves - that wasn't right, was it? I'm sure they had to make trousers for themselves in one of the earlier series, and it all got a bit personal as they had to measure each other.

Liking the fact that this week was what I would call "proper clothes". The last series seemed to be going down the Bake Off path, of making something very spectacular, but not something you would ever actually wear/eat. I like to watch it and think I could do that (badly), whereas all the avant-garde stuff just loses me.

I've given the last couple of series a miss just because of that - this one seemed to be back to where I like it - garments that are just about feasible for people (who are slim, young and good looking but that's par for the course) and that the backseat sewers among us can nitpick the technique on... I've done loads of understitching recently so I was having a field day!

Binglebong · 15/07/2026 14:13

It really annoyed me that they said bags had to be for a specific purpose but the judges weren't told what that was. Like the apple gathering bag - that is a standard design for them. In the end a rucksack that wasn't for anything specific did better than ones that were great for what they were designed for but it wasn't obvious to someone who didn't know.

Binglebong · 15/07/2026 14:14

BookShark · 15/07/2026 13:06

Showing my age here, but all the comments about it being a "Sewing Bee first" that they were making clothes for themselves - that wasn't right, was it? I'm sure they had to make trousers for themselves in one of the earlier series, and it all got a bit personal as they had to measure each other.

Liking the fact that this week was what I would call "proper clothes". The last series seemed to be going down the Bake Off path, of making something very spectacular, but not something you would ever actually wear/eat. I like to watch it and think I could do that (badly), whereas all the avant-garde stuff just loses me.

Yes, very hypocritical when they go on about reducing waste!

Yetone · 15/07/2026 14:34

FeltCarrot · 14/07/2026 20:45

I’m liking Sophie Willian as host.

I’m not! I don’t like unfunny comedians.

placemats · 15/07/2026 14:50

Sophie Willan is a great presenter and engages everyone, she has elevated the show. Alma's not Normal is brilliant and deserved the BAFTA wins.

All the contestants deserved to be there and someone has to go first.

Spoiler alert:

Well done Dawn. Your frustration on the sewing was everyone's frustration.

BookShark · 15/07/2026 15:29

Sophie Willan is fine, I'd like to see her relax into the contestant chat a bit more. Claudia was (unsurprisingly) great for this, and I thought Kiell did a really good job - I'd have happily had him back. But quite frankly, anyone would be an improvement on Sara Pascoe, she was my least favourite of all the presenters so far.

KnickerlessParsons · 15/07/2026 15:36

Fiftyandnotsonifty · 15/07/2026 13:57

I predict Anna for the win

Usually the people who are shown to shine in the early episodes and who seem destined to win, don’t win.
It’s all about the editing.

unfamiliarwithyourwork · 15/07/2026 15:37

Oh, this was an excellent opening episode - went with a swing!

Sophie Willan appears to be brilliant at everything she turns her hand to, and she wears clothes so well. Don’t know if it’s the directing, or her acting skills, but she seems much more relaxed and unforced than some previous presenters.

Grateful for the Radio Times cast list above. It’s always interesting when they film the contestants in their home environments. It’s a shame Dawn has gone - I think that leaves no one over 63, so it’s not the widest age range. I do find the time limits a bit of a bore; it’s how they execute a challenge that holds my attention, not whether they can scramble to cobble things together within unrealistic time frames. (I imagine a good deal of chat about the purpose of the various bags was edited out?)

That said, I would happily wear Anna’s repurposed lace tablecloths summer outfit, or Beth’s Glastonbury trews. Is it odd to be ever so slightly disappointed that most of the women chose ‘a nice summer dress’? (The less said about the men’s made up measure outfits, the better.)

Roll on next week!

Illjusthavethebreadsticks · 15/07/2026 15:51

unfamiliarwithyourwork · 15/07/2026 15:37

Oh, this was an excellent opening episode - went with a swing!

Sophie Willan appears to be brilliant at everything she turns her hand to, and she wears clothes so well. Don’t know if it’s the directing, or her acting skills, but she seems much more relaxed and unforced than some previous presenters.

Grateful for the Radio Times cast list above. It’s always interesting when they film the contestants in their home environments. It’s a shame Dawn has gone - I think that leaves no one over 63, so it’s not the widest age range. I do find the time limits a bit of a bore; it’s how they execute a challenge that holds my attention, not whether they can scramble to cobble things together within unrealistic time frames. (I imagine a good deal of chat about the purpose of the various bags was edited out?)

That said, I would happily wear Anna’s repurposed lace tablecloths summer outfit, or Beth’s Glastonbury trews. Is it odd to be ever so slightly disappointed that most of the women chose ‘a nice summer dress’? (The less said about the men’s made up measure outfits, the better.)

Roll on next week!

Edited

What’s wrong with a nice summer dress ?

CaptainMyCaptain · 15/07/2026 15:53

macaroon8 · 14/07/2026 20:35

They seem like they are able to seem .

Anna or Beth for me to win. I'm calling it now.

Anna.

I really like her style. Beth is good too.

CaptainMyCaptain · 15/07/2026 15:56

CrushingOnRubies · 14/07/2026 20:48

It’s not an outfit I would wear on a warm summers day

I wouldn't wear them myself but they were cleverly constructed using the pattern of the lace.

unfamiliarwithyourwork · 15/07/2026 16:01

What’s wrong with a nice summer dress?

Just not terribly exciting. I wouldn’t have minded innovative design or technical challenge - but Very Ordinary Cotton Frock isn’t worth turning on for.

It’s true the early stars sometimes suffer a surprising failure and find themselves defenestrated before the final. It’ll be frustrating if that happens this year.

CaptainMyCaptain · 15/07/2026 16:03

Hexiegone · 15/07/2026 13:43

I don't know whether nothing was said when they said the apple collecting bag was too like an apron or if it was edited out but I thought it was a good make as it suited the job it was made for. And there wouldn't have been as much waste as some of the others.

I think fitness for purpose could have been more easily judged if Patrick and Esme had been told the purpose

Sidebeforeself · 15/07/2026 16:05

RudolphTheReindeer · 15/07/2026 00:18

Have you seen postmen in the winter? Or there's always that one dad in the playground. We need a name for those shorts 😂

Dorts - Dad shorts!

Olderbutt · 15/07/2026 16:06

I like Anna and Beth atm!

Binglebong · 15/07/2026 16:26

CaptainMyCaptain · 15/07/2026 16:03

I think fitness for purpose could have been more easily judged if Patrick and Esme had been told the purpose

Exactly! Said far better than my attempt

PickAChew · 15/07/2026 17:42

unfamiliarwithyourwork · 15/07/2026 16:01

What’s wrong with a nice summer dress?

Just not terribly exciting. I wouldn’t have minded innovative design or technical challenge - but Very Ordinary Cotton Frock isn’t worth turning on for.

It’s true the early stars sometimes suffer a surprising failure and find themselves defenestrated before the final. It’ll be frustrating if that happens this year.

It's the first episode. You just have to not be the worst to stay in, at the start of the series.

Swipe left for the next trending thread