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…

Just thought to add, my DD attended a wedding and had her bridesmaid dress converted into a two piece top and skirt - absolutely beautiful and wearable together or as separates. I would love the sewers to do something practical like that, but not make something silly and unwearable.

Have either of you applied to go on these shows and been rejected?

Tonight's episode is about Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Hoping that we see some good alterations and ideas.

As noted in the main sewing bee thread in Telly Addicts, Pascha appeared to be wearing a suffragette badge tonight. https://collections.womenslibrary.org.uk/museum/museum-object/1645022/

Well, just watched episode five. Talk about disappointing. As others have said what was a good series with some really talented previous contestants (those already mentioned and also the fabulous Chinelo who was able to do freehand cutting; Juliet; the Italian guy; the posh show jumper lady and quite a few other standouts) has degenerated into an embarrassment.

The “garment of the week” was an overworked crumpled mess that could have easily got someone sent home in a previous season. However the BBC’s obstinate insistence on having the full deck of diversity markers (viewers don’t give a fuck about) before considering basic competency resulted in piss poor results. Multiple unfinished and badly finished garments, complete waste of expensive materials. Reduce, reuse, recycle my big fat arse.

Patrick Grant seems to be struggling to make positive comments. Pasha seems the most competent to me this year. I really hope they rethink the casting next year and look at skill first. The first few seasons inspired a lot of people to try sewing. Sadly this season won’t.

I wonder how many people who have applied and been turned down are sitting at home fuming because they know they could have done better. Yes you need a bit of variety in your contests but they also need to be decent.

Perfect summary @redalex261.

@OutOfTheHouse I've thought about applying for this in the past but I'm not fuming, I'm thinking I had a lucky escape. No way would I want to be associated with the bonkers challenges, unrealistic expectations, wastefulness etc. P & E do still show some recognition of true skill and craftsmanship when it's on display, but the constraints of the show are such that this rarely happens.

We watched episode 5 last night and I came to the thread hoping for discussion about the last minute fabric change for the Nehru jacket. Surely choosing a fabric, then deciding someone else has chosen a better one, is very poor Sewing Bee etiquette? I thought it was a sign of Georgie really losing her nerve. But also, as the judges pointed out, a dangerous strategy, as it leads to direct comparison. So it was only karma when the original was so much better than the copy.

It's a shame the diversity casting is apparently getting in the way of many of you enjoying the show, but honestly, it's been that way since the very first episode of the Bake Off and is absolutely standard for this kind of show. If you want pure sewing (or baking) content, there is plenty of it on YouTube. If you want a rigorous baking or sewing competition, go to your local county show. There is a format for these programmes that is designed to make engaging TV, and expecting them to change it now is just wanting a different kind of programme really.

I am a white, middle aged, middle class woman who has twice got very close to getting on Bake Off. I know I'm a better baker than some who get on the show. But actually, my demographic was raised to sew and bake, and has always had the opportunity to do it. It's fair enough to give people from different demographics a chance, and it would be very dull if it was just 12 white women fighting it out for the prize.

It's the same with the time limits. A true sewing or baking fan would rather watch them have enough time to do a great job. But the jeopardy of a tight time limit is absolutely standard for any kind of creative challenge on TV. We have 3 days to transform this garden....totally arbitrary, but it draws in a wider audience.

Also, be careful assuming you or your talented sewing friend would do better. It's very different doing it under time pressures and in front of a camera. The whole thing is as much a test of character and stamina as of skills.

But I have been absolutely hooked since the very first days of Bake Off and will happily watch the same formula whether it's cakes, sewing, wood, pottery or even dolls houses!

Well, that's us telt

Ha ha, sorry. Obviously I'm a bit over invested.

Understandable as you clearly love the shows. I like the concept, but find the execution lacking now, although it was much more interesting years ago.
Maybe there just aren't enough decent home sewers left who are willing to put themselves in front of cameras. So maybe that leaves us with Inexperienced or adequate or even mediocre sewers with big personalities who tick particular diversity boxes, who can handle the pressure. It's a pretty small pool. I think they're well into the shallow end now, and have been for a few years.

The last skilled, truly truly skilled person in my opinion, was the 40s loving doctor from a few years ago. Her skills came from working with vintage sewing patterns - few to no instructions and complex construction methods based on traditional sewing and tailoring. Wish I could remember her name.

It was Claire. I follow her on Instagram, and her skills are amazing. She limits herself to buying the equivalent in fabric of wartime clothing coupons allowance, so she's often making over or mending her clothes, and she puts so much time and care into her makes. I follow a few people who use couture methods, working slowly and carefully to make absolutely beautiful garments. I find that much more inspiring than someone with a drag queen persona producing a nasty 'edgy' garment in a couple of hours.

Thank you!!!

Can you share her Instagram handle please?

I'm the same re proper sewing. Full disclosure - I studied fashion and focused on traditional couture techniques, so the slapdash format of the show really gets on my nerves, despite knowing they're doing the best they can in the time. I'm still in the couture world professionally so really, the show isn't for me. But when a talent like Claire comes along, the joy!!

@CocoapuffPuff it's clare.bradders. I also follow abbymats, she doesn't post that often but her skills are awesome.

What's frustrating is that, as regards race or ethnicity, sewing really is genuinely diverse, as a trip to my local market stall would confirm. And yet those women, who I see scrutinising the fabric and haggling with the stall holder in two languages, would never be selected in a million years. I don't think the BBC could handle them. They possibly don't even even know how to find them.

You're a peach, thank you

It's the same with the time limits. A true sewing or baking fan would rather watch them have enough time to do a great job. But the jeopardy of a tight time limit is absolutely standard for any kind of creative challenge on TV. We have 3 days to transform this garden....totally arbitrary, but it draws in a wider audience.

It doesn't have to be like that though. Bake Off wasn't to start with, it was a gentle baking show where the first challenge was to make a Victoria sponge. And that was it - plenty of time, no "Sculpt a face out of it" or whatever. It became successful because of that, not despite it.

The producers were always trying to film people crying etc - Sue Perkins said in her autobiography that she or Mel would stand in front of the cameras and swear profusely to stop the footage being usable. Bake Off was already losing its edge on the BBC - the last good year was the one in which Nadiya won, after that it was all "kerrrazey" challenges and ridiculous time scales - but the move to C4 and different presenters killed it off completely. And it was the endless desire for "water-cooler drama" that did it.

I'm going to be really sad if Sewing Bee goes the same way. Why isn't it enough for something/someone just to be quietly good?

I also liked the Army officer except for his truly awful 'skank' trousers. That was true diversity, not a gay man making drag outfits. Have there been any lesbians on the show making lovely clothes for their partners?

@ReadySteadySew Like you I will watch regardless. I agree the time pressure and sometimes daft challenges are necessary for cliffhanger excitement. No-one is asking for 12 white home counties types to be selected, (who may not be the best sewers) but surely an above average standard is necessary to make the competition worth watching? They could then select a good mix of applicants from differing backgrounds for the human interest angle. As they did in the first few seasons.

I loved the age cover of the first few series. Ann, who won series 1, was well into her 80s, and one of the other finalists, Lauren, was in her 20s. I loved that. And yes, the army officer was great too, although I didn't like his style. His wife did though, and he sewed for her. I dislike the middle challenge intensely now. First middle challenge was to customise a grey skirt. They all got the same skirt and access to the haberdashery. That's what people do in real life. We don't make ponchos from paddling pools.

No-one is asking for 12 white home counties types to be selected, (who may not be the best sewers) but surely an above average standard is necessary to make the competition worth watching?

Well, just look at Sky Portrait/Landscape Artist of the Year. The contestants come from a huge range of backgrounds, some professional artists and some amateurs. They’re all good artists (though I’m increasingly quibbling with the final choices of the judges, but that’s another issue). It’s very, very popular and rightly so.

A little while after that started to be a clear success, the BBC began on a rival painting contest show. Some were good but many of the contestants were, I’m sorry to say, embarrassingly bad and, at best, middling amateur level. They had two mentor/coach-types and then their efforts were utterly torn apart by two judges, and just to put the boot in further they had a vote from members of the public! it was a mess imho and I couldn’t see the point in watching something that seemed to be about delighting in people struggling, getting increasingly inhibited, and being criticised.

I like to see people who can do things well competing against each other. I don’t care if they’re above my own level and some TV exec doesn’t think it’s ‘relatable’.

Can someone link this thread to the bloody BBC??