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Sewing off

The Seamstress, Stanley Reed, 1941.

Anyone watching The Great British Sewing Bee? (I love Patrick's suit.)

16 April 2013 in Art, Handmade, Textiles | Permalink

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Yes, I'm watching it and surprised to be loving it. Not excessively competitive, a lovely mixed group of people and a little bit of education and enlightenment every time!

Posted by: Moira | 16 April 2013 at 09:23 PM

Super people and very enjoyable, and I'm learning too! I shall be sorry when it's finished.

Posted by: Cornflower | 16 April 2013 at 09:39 PM

Yes, even my daughter (17) joined me for most of it and she doesn't understand English very well - but she's training as a seamstress so was interested in the level of detail! The challenges are similar to what she will encounter in her practical exam in 2 years' time (it's a 3 year apprenticeship in this country).

I loved that Stuart always turned up looking very smart, too. All lovely people and a great mixed bunch, sorry to see any of them go, as they all have their qualities. I do squirm for Lauren, though, who gets so anxious!

Posted by: MelD | 17 April 2013 at 07:22 AM

Yes, we are really enjoying it. Dressmaking is a skill I've never managed to acquire (1970s girls' grammar school to blame). How useful it would have been to learn the life skills that were so frowned on then

Posted by: Liz Davey | 17 April 2013 at 08:33 AM

Good luck to your daughter, Mel - she will be so skilled by the time her training is complete.

Posted by: Cornflower | 17 April 2013 at 08:40 AM

It's been years since I made any clothes, but the programme has me wanting to do so again.
While I learned from my mother, my daughter is teaching herself (including pattern drafting) from books and online tutorials.

Posted by: Cornflower | 17 April 2013 at 08:47 AM

No, but I like his suit too. Why am I not on this list produced by my tailor? Sniff! presumably if I was Brian Cox ...

Posted by: Dark Puss | 17 April 2013 at 08:52 AM

Perhaps if you find a boson which is then named after you ...?

Posted by: Cornflower | 17 April 2013 at 08:58 AM

Haha! I'm not in the same league by a million miles.

Posted by: Dark Puss | 17 April 2013 at 11:27 AM

I've been watching avidly, as I used to make lots of my own clothes, even as a 1960's grammar school girl. My mother made a lot of her own clothes and encouraged me and my sister to make things for ourselves. I made my own wedding dress when I married 30+ years ago, made clothes for my sons when they were tiny, and made curtains, bedspreads, tablecloths etc for the house. I still make some clothes - recently finished a pencil skirt. It is a very useful life-skill, as well as being a satisfying craft.I don't think I'd like to sew against the clock, though, as the contestants have to.

Posted by: Janet | 17 April 2013 at 01:06 PM

The time-pressure is great, but they mostly seem to cope very well, despite having one eye on the clock.
I agree, it's a great skill to have, whether for making clothes or soft furnishings.

Posted by: Cornflower | 17 April 2013 at 02:29 PM

Yes though it's Patrick's perfect side parting that does it for me!

Posted by: Liz | 17 April 2013 at 05:01 PM

He does look immaculate.

Posted by: Cornflower | 17 April 2013 at 08:12 PM

I'm absolutely loving it too. Did anyone else notice that wonderful scarf that Ann was wearing last night - it looked as if it were made of granny squares but, eyeing it more closely, I think it was actually some kind of fabric printed to look like granny squares. Whatever it was, I wanted one like it.

Posted by: B R Wombat | 17 April 2013 at 08:32 PM

I shall go and look at it on iPlayer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01s1h0y/Great_British_Sewing_Bee_Episode_3/

Posted by: Cornflower | 17 April 2013 at 09:06 PM

I've also been able to watch it thanks to YouTube, and love it! Very inspirational for a novice sewist as I am. I also noticed Ann's scarf and I think it is indeed made of granny squares. Isn't she just wonderful?

Posted by: Miriana | 21 April 2013 at 07:46 PM

I wonder if Ann knits and crochets as well - she is certainly a very talented lady and full of energy.

Posted by: Cornflower | 23 April 2013 at 09:26 PM

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Please note

Sidebar book cover thumbnail pictures are affiliate links to Amazon, and the storefront links to Blackwell's and The Book Depository are also affiliated; should you purchase a book directly through those links, I will receive a small commission. Older posts may also contain affiliate links to one of those bookshops. I am not paid to produce content and all opinions are my own.