Sewing Bee 2024

[ThreeWordHarpy]

I expect there will be a thread in the crafts forum, but only posting this here because my usual sewing social media channels have gone a bit bananas because one of the contestants is a DEI director, has they/them pronouns and a drag persona/alter ego. https://www.williamgee.co.uk/the-great-british-sewing-bee-2024-air-date-and-contestants/

Aside from the central casting cliche, (the usual Love Productions approach) I wish the contestant luck and I look forward to seeing what they can do in the sewing room My main point that any discussion on the program itself is going to be impossible until and unless that contestant is eliminated. Interestingly, it seems that people are a lot less “be kind” than they were for Matthew last year. Or maybe the moderators of the FB groups I’m on haven’t yet swing into action with the ban hammer…

They used to have space for people who sew like you and I. We're not often shown insides of garments so I suspect they're up against it in terms of finishing. I couldn't do it, and it's my job!! I actually wish they'd dump the stupid "turn an umbrella into swimwear" middle challenge and give them more time on the first pattern.
My sewing students vary, from precision perfectionists to "I want to wear this tonight so I won't bother pressing the seams" - both make things they're proud of and enjoy wearing and I'd say the latter group were the largest by far.

@CocoapuffPuff That's interesting- I guess it may also depend on how long you want the garment to last. Each to their own and it's great that more people are learning to sew. I love a bit of hand sewing too which it seems is not very popular these days (DM (83) who taught me many moons ago is still horrified at the thought of machine sewing a hem!).

The youngsters are used to fast fashion so to them, it's normal to whizz it up and head off. I'm like your mum - hand sewing hems is deeply satisfying.

I watched it wondering whether they had to fill a list of criteria for the contestants? I also wondered about the man who got sent home, were there more able women who could have taken that space?

My DM is a sewer, and fits the usual older demographic. She is appalled by the standard, and thinks it’s just a race against time. I actually have done more dress making recently, and enjoy Sewing Bee.

GBSB is my favourite annual programme and I was disappointed by the first episode. Hoping that it improves and I didn't so much mind the contestants more that I don't think the skills are necessarily there. I too have never seen a pattern challenge where no one manages to finish it.

They said they chose an A-line skirt because that was on the first ever episode. However, the pattern on the first episode had 3 pieces to cut out, not 7, had a zip and no waistband, and they had 3 hours 30 min. This season they had 15 minutes less time, more cutting, more sewing, top stitching, waistband plus buttonholes. All in denim which the machines seemed to struggle with, particularly for the buttonholes.

They seemed set up to fail to be honest. I’d have thought by now they would be able to set appropriate timings for the various challenges, but perhaps there’s been a change in production team members. It would be very interesting to know exactly how much input Esme and Patrick have v the tv team.

I totally agree, he is flat and without spark. He is probably a diversity hire so suitability for the job is irrelevant, sadly.

!00% agree @ThreeWordHarpy

i think that’s out of order to describe Kiell as a diversity hire. I like him, I prefer the hosts that aren’t wacky and he seemed to have a quiet empathy about him. The type that would talk down anyone having a meltdown if they were having a bad day. Best host for me was Claudia, and he seems to be the closest we’ve had since then.

I like Kiell, too. He can do whacky but he's keeping a lid on it.

EDI guy actually seems to be one of the more competent ones, though that's not saying much. The pocket on those red dungarees he's wearing is rather wonky.

I also like what I've seen so far if the new presenter. It was always beyond me how the previous contestants kept their patience when Sara P and, before her, Joe L were constantly interrupting and cracking bad jokes when they were stressed and racing against the clock.

I like the new presenter.

And is not like it’s totally random he got the job given he was a contestant on one of the celeb sewing bees a couple of years ago.

Both rude and wrong.

He talked about how he got the job - Patrick WhatsApp’d him and asked if he wanted to do it for a year while Sara Pascoe’s on maternity leave. He’d been a previous celebrity contestant and Patrick liked him.

I don’t see how it’s rude and wrong to prefer a comic over an actor, surely it’s a matter of taste? There are plenty of funny comics who aren’t white (Romesh, Daliso Chaponda) if you’re implying this is subtle racism. Either of those would be great, though maybe they wouldn’t want the gig. Comic doesn’t equal white you know.

In total agreement with all you have written !

I really wish they’d drop the “transformation challenge “, which has become increasingly gimmicky, and allow the sewers a decent chance of completing two garments to the best of their ability.
Early days, but I quite like the new presenter who doesn’t make it all about him ( I’m looking at you , Joe ).

I suspect it's referring to him as a "diversity hire" is what is being referred to as rude and wrong rather than a poster's preference for a comic over an actor.

Oh, ok, well that wasn’t me. I read both as applying to us both. I don’t have any problem with the guy, just like a few jokes along the previous Sewing Bee/Bake Off model, just me by the sound of it!

I’m loving Kiell, but then I love Ghosts.

I didn’t notice who they/them were. There was the drag artist in the red dungarees and there was also the Scottish person who made the dreadful cream denim dress who said they were ‘queer’.

I think the new presenter is cute. Patrick is no longer my eye candy as he and Esme have a Captain Peacock/ Mrs slocombe vibe going on. (Blame the producers)

Hope the sewing improves.

This is so true. I couldn't put my finger on it, but this is what they remind me of now too. 😂

I won’t be able to unsee that now!

Joe L would have been Mr Humphries and Sarah P would be Miss Brahms. I suppose Kiell will have to be Mr Lucas.

Yes always a gay man, but rarely a lesbian. And yes it is a shitty cliche tick list.

Whereas I object to "Rose". I am sure they are a perfectly lovely person but if the TV production company wanted to be truly diverse they could reflect the amazing history of the potteries and hire a real woman for the job.

Rose really, really isn't a perfectly lovely person.