Great British Sewing Bee

I agree, Baubles, the tasks have been more outrageous and many of the garments more catwalk than everyday wearable. But the level of cooperation and friendship was better than usual. Neil really shot himself in both feet this time. On his previous record, he should have been a winner.

I just had to sew as a teenager. My mother's home-made dresses had tight sleeves and a wandering waistband so I set to and made them myself.

I'm good with a pattern but not so creative which is what you have to be for Sewing Bee. They were under so much pressure to be creative that the judges forgot what dressmaking was all about. To make dresses! Not lampshades to walk about in. Matt's was an ugly shape in a ugly material and not something you could ever sit down in. (Imagine!!) Lorna was the winner of course but she was not allowed to win because they wanted to give the men a chance to win. After Neil blew his then Matt got his chance.
I think they have to consider the time factor if the show can continue. Give up wanting clothes made in half the time necessary. Put an end to the shouting 'just 15 minutes left!' and let them finish in a reasonable time. A good sewer needs time to make a perfect garment.
Anyone who has made clothes with small children knows that from getting started at the sewing machine and it being time to collect them from school there apprears to be almost no time at all. I felt for the contestants who struggled as I'm sure that they make lovely things at home.

I was fascinated by that japanese garment. I'd love to have a go at it, I think it would work in all sorts of fabrics and be very wearable.

At least in the final the competitors managed to finish the garments, but those in the last two challenges showed in theory could be done if challenged but left me wondering why any one would ever want to do so, since the results were so hideous.

I thoroughly enjoyed the last two years but I felt this year it had become a mix of 'Extreme Sewing' and a horse race.

I think The Great Sewing Bee' should be like Time Team. Have a deadlines to give the show edge but otherwise concentrate on process rather than sewing against the clock. Time and again competitors were criticised for bad finishing and wobbly and cobbled sewing, which was clearly caused by unrealistic deadlines and was needlework of a poor standard the competitors would normally consider unacceptable.

I want to see challenges that enable the competitors to complete beautifully made garments in the time set if they are well organised, know what they are doing and do not have any disasters and for the judges to have to look and compare and judge well-made garments.

This bit.ly/19n8IBK will take you to Matt's blog. Interesting to see that they had to keep it a secret for nine months.