The Great British Sewing Bee 2021

[Daisy]

I'm just catching up with this series - I've watched the first two episodes.

As someone who can hardly sew a button on, I'm fascinated by the whole process. Is anyone else watching it?

[Plantaholic]

Yes Daisy, I love the programme

[Shemadee]

Yes I’ve watched it since the first series. Needlework was probably one of my least favourite lessons, but I am in awe of the participants. No matter how experienced they are it’s a struggle when there is limited time.

[Oma]

Love it , I made a lot of DD clothes when she was small and my own ,
I cant thread a needle these days but love to watch how they get on

[Gemini]

Daisy, for some reason I cant bring myself to watch it!
Needlework, followed closely by PE were my hated school subjects.

I love dog programmes although have never owned a dog or wanted to, and love programmes about emigrating to Australia even though I would never do that.
Maybe I need to overcome my 'phobia' and try one episode?!

[Grauntie Mag]

I love it. I must say I preferred Claudia Winkleman as the host though. I’m not sure I could rise to the transformation challenge, I’d panic! 😬

[Daisy]

Shem - that's exactly how I feel about it. I didn't actually have proper needlework lessons at school - one term in the first year and I was useless. I haven't got the patience or skills to sew, but I'm in awe of people who have.

Grauntie - the transformation challenge is one of my favourite parts - some of them are so clever, not only with the sewing but the design as well. I've noticed that the eventual winner is often someone who doesn't panic when things go wrong! But there's alway an exception, so ..... next year? xx

Gem - Yes, try an episode. There is such a variety of people taking part and at the beginning you start wondering who will make it through to the later stages. I find I can't watch a lot of dog programmes. It's ok if I'm on my own and I can shout at the humans though!

[Nanto2girls]

I've seen bits of it. Didn't really like needlework at school. Maybe because i didn't like the teacher.
Just after we got married,hubby bought me a sewing machine. I never knew why.
But, i did make a lot of my own skirts and dressess.
I always bought material to make my own curtains,never bought ready made ones.
Sewing machine has long gone now though.

[Daisy]

Nanto - I actually have a sewing machine - it's my second one. The major thing that put me off in my brief experience at school was having to do things 'proper' - tacking stitches had to be a certain length (I don't know why) and things like that. But I found I could make a great flared skirt from about 3 yds of fabric - gathered or pleated - with a waist band and even a 'patch' button hole for the button. No zip - a few press studs. All sewing sins around the waist covered with a wide belt. Job done, and great for wearing over half a dozen net petticoats. I've made very basic curtains, also maternity dresses when I was expecting DS1 (summer, so no sleeves, easy fabric etc). But I think you can get away with taking such liberties when you are 15 or 16 - not now though.

Did your MIL sew? If so, perhaps that's why your OH bought you a sewing machine. My OH assumed all women were like his mother, who could sew, knit, crochet, alter clothes, mend anything and make a great job of it. I must have been a great shock/disappointment!!!

I think horrible teachers put a lot of us off all sorts of things when we were at school.

[Lizzie48]

I have recorded it and will watch later on. My sister was a tailoress, she loved sewing at school and the sewing teacher (headmistress) had the nerve to tell me I would never be able to sew like my sister!! Well, I was the one that did all the dressmaking over the years, my sister would do alterations but never dressmaking.

[WeeGranny]

I watched it for the first time last night and quite enjoyed it. I have a sewing machine which was my Granny's. It's in a walnut veneer cabinet and I've dated it to 1952! It's a treadle one and I really haven't used it much over the years. It was the one thing I wanted from her house and now I'm not sure why!

I used to do a lot of sewing when I was younger, own clothes, childrens clothes, curtains, cushion covers etc. Now I wonder where I got the time to do all these things!!

[Daisy]

WeeGranny - I bet your Granny's old treadle is a collector's piece these days.

Glad you enjoyed the programme - I watched episodes 3 and 4 last night. A couple of the sewers were lucky to survive, I think but I thought the Men's Jacket was a very difficult challenge!

[Plantaholic]

I didn't do any sewing until I met my OH, his mother made her own clothes and had a lovely treadle machine. I had to choose between neddlework and art and I chose art. My DD hated needlework at school, she used to bring the skirt she was making home, I would put it right ready for the following week.
I think even if you do not sew or hate it, the the Sewing B is worth a watch. I love those programmes, like Pottery Throwdown etc.

[Daisy]

Plant - did your MIL teach you to sew or did you just pick it up as you went along? I bet your DD was very grateful for your help.

[Gemini]

Plant, my mum did for me what you did for your DD!
I would spend a whole lesson trying the thread a machine or somesuch, mum would do the actual needlework at home between lessons.