The Great British Sewing Bee

I'm sure in the first series, the contestants began their big project at home and arrived with it half finished . They spoke about their influences and seemed altogether more informed.
It is too repetitive IMO. Though I was impressed by the trainer's last time
Sarah Pascoe. Is she a comedian? You can't tell.

I recorded this week's and am watching it now. I liked Joe last year, I like Sarah this year. They're a nice bunch of sewers. I particularly like Annie and ManYee.

I missed the first part last night as we were out, but the duvet covers weren't very inspiring.

I'm looking forward to my favourite week - children's garments - next week. I thought they might have been cancelled due to filming during covid. It's a shame there aren't really any wacky creators left to go crazy for the kids, but hopefully it will be fun.

I ll have to watch again I fell asleep don’t even know who went out
Ahh old age eh!

I enjoyed last night. I really like all the competitors who are left in. I like Brogan but I wonder if she's a one trick pony. All her garments are very similar in shape/design to me.

I still enjoy it but I’m sorry Sara pascoe adds absolutely nothing to the programme except a bit of irritation. Joe Lycett had empathy and charm.

I am more impressed by the sewers as the weeks pass. Turning 2 coats into a new wearable one. I know, why? but they were inspired. And the patchwork.
How did they make the fabric? It was cleverly not shown.
I can do without Sarah P. She's very sweet but what is her role exactly?

The patchwork jackets were incredible last night. 96 squares before you start to sew your garment! I agree that Sara is not doing much other than announcing how much time is left. She's not really talking to the sewers much. Looking forward to childrens week also.

I've watched every series of SB and loved them all but this series just doesn't feel right somehow; a bit lacklustre and flat. One or two of the challenges have seemed odd too; sewing trainers and making 2 coats into 1 came across as being desperate to find something that hasn't been done on the programme before.

I'm finding Sarah Pascoe increasingly silly and irritating and her "funny interventions" are just awkward. Come back Joe!

Always watch the programme, and I too miss Joe, wish he would come back.
I love the programme and thought the challenges last night were very difficult and the contestants did really well. What skills they have.
Felt rather sorry for the young man who went home, I just felt with a little more time he would get there, but obviously there isn't time on a competition.
Can't wait for next week.

Chewbacca I am with you, this years SB seems to lack excitement. Last nights 2 coats into one just struck me as a waste of 18 good coats. None of them were fit to be worn at the end, most of them looked weird and were badly made.

As for the dress of the week...... several people made far nicer and wearable long dresses from their duvet than the red and white confection that looked more like a dressing gown than a dress.

I m afraid that this series is beginning to become a characature of itself. And looks like some comedian's send-up of it

I agree that this year's SB seems very lack lustre - even Esme and Patrick seem very subdued. I know Patrick has had quite a stressful time over the last couple of years, so maybe that's why. Maybe they are missing the antics of Joe.

The contestants don't seem to have melded as a group yet either - they all seem way too quiet/nervous. Brogan is the only one who really stands out for me so far, as an individual.

I thought the quilted patchwork was a brilliant addition - I'd like to see some bag making too. I still love this programme - it is one of the few programmes I watch live as I can't wait! (Another is" Gentleman Jack".}

Oh what a lot of miserable Gransnetters some of you are!
I am enjoying this series as much as ever - I find Sarah as amusing as Joe was and think Esme and Patrick are as good as ever.
And last night I loved the patchwork jackets!!

Not miserable at all. I still enjoy the programme but Sara pascoe is not remotely amusing…. 6 people agreed with me at this afternoon ‘s outdoor activity! They all preferred Joe!

I agree that Sara Pascoe isn't amusing. She seems to pick the last few minutes when sewers are panicking to sidle up with stupid comments.

I loved the patchwork jackets and thought the sewers did well in such short time. The transformations of the coats were rubbish. There didn't seem to be one that was half decent.

I didn't agree with the winner of Garment of the Week either.

Brogan sews very well but all of her sewing looks the same with the "milkmaid look" - flowery, flouncy and with puff sleeves.

AreWeThereYet What stresses has Patrick had over the last couple of years?

I love this programme and continue to be amazed at the achievements of the contestants. I've not sewn clothes for years now but I still have my sewing machine and might be tempted to give it a go once more. I too prefer Joe and they do seem to be a 'loose' group rather than a 'tight' supportive one. It's certainly a more challenging series I think this time. How they keep calm I don't know.

No, not miserable at all. In any series of programmes some will be better than others. I have watched seven series of SB and enjoyed them and I am still watching this series, I haven't turned it off in disgust or because it is too boring.

AS for Sarah Pascoe, she doesn't bother me the way she seems to bother some. I hadn't heard of her before SB. She is clearly not a comedian the way Jo Lycett was. I presume she is a professional presenter. Anyone is better than Claudia Winkleman(?) or who ever the first presenter was, she did at times have me close to switching off.

I know it’s entertainment but they don’t really show all the construction of the garments, what the inside looks like, I presume they are all unfinished , was the back of the patchwork jacket plain or quilted as well? We weren’t shown that. It annoys me when Esme or Patrick says “ this is beautiful “ - and you can see puckers in the seams or the zip not finished properly. The coat challenge was rubbish - they don’t have butch enough sewing machines to sew thick fabric and it showed. We all know Brogan can do puffed sleeves, I think she’s my favourite at the moment sewing wise, but needs a bit more creativity in her designs. Her duvet dress was rather Laura Ashley but nicely made.

I'm by no means a patchwork expert, but it's important that the lining is as flat inside as the patchwork is outside. Did anyone spray glue the 3 parts of the sandwich together which saves time, and keeps the lining flatter?
A lot of time was wasted on the mitred corners which are really awkward to do well, but nothing on the joining of the beginning of the bias binding to the end on the 2 sleeves and the main body.

M0nica

No, not miserable at all. In any series of programmes some will be better than others. I have watched seven series of SB and enjoyed them and I am still watching this series, I haven't turned it off in disgust or because it is too boring.

AS for Sarah Pascoe, she doesn't bother me the way she seems to bother some. I hadn't heard of her before SB. She is clearly not a comedian the way Jo Lycett was. I presume she is a professional presenter. Anyone is better than Claudia Winkleman(?) or who ever the first presenter was, she did at times have me close to switching off.

She is a comedian! I started to read a book she wrote for book club. Gave it up.

Now that does surprise me. On the other hand she does just clown around, but I never did like clowns, not even as a child.

Sara Pascoe is a standup comedian, panellist: HIGFY, QI, Would I Lie to You, 8 out of 10 cats etc and a writer. I like her.

I'm enjoying this series as much as any other and have enjoyed the new challenges e.g. making trainers and patchwork & quilting which they haven't featured before.

Really good to see Gill win Garment of the Week. Like Esme, I thought it looked terrific on the catwalk. It sounded like she may have earned extra "points" for it having been a family duvet which had once been used in her home rather than bought from a charity shop for the task i.e. using what you already have.

If I could change one thing about the programme format, I'd get rid of the transformation challenge. It rarely results in anything wearable. I agree with others that this week's was a waste of good coats. I don’t know what I'd replace it with though. Ideas?

sparklefizz Patrick Grant's dad died during lockdown, and he was reported as saying he had had a 'hellish six months' prior to doing the SB. He converted one of his companies (collectively with other local companies) to make scrubs during the pandemic and worked with them, so he was probably a lot busier than normal over the lockdown period, on top of mourning his dad.

Sarah Pascoe irritated me more than ever on this episode, she brings nothing to the programme for me other than p’ing me off ?
I agree that the transformation challenge rarely produces anything decent and I reckon very few people would ever try that at home!