Currently on our TV screens is another reality competition TV show. But not your usual singing competition that has dominated the TV schedule for so long, oh no, this is a sewing competition. Oh the joy! That exclamation mark is completely valid, I have to say 'I love it'.
Image source: The Mirror
The BBC is airing The Great British Sewing Bee on a Monday night, much likely due to the success of The Great British Bake Off. Wouldn't the WI be proud?
Like any other competition format, the contestants are set a series of challenges, judged and eliminated with the final contestant adorned the winner. Challenges have included (up to episode 2, sorry I need to catch up on the current episode 3):
- Sew an A-line skirt
- Customise a shirt
- Create (and design) a made to measure dress
- Sew a pair of mens trousers
- Customise a skirt with the addition of pockets
- Create (and design) a made to measure shirt
The show is brilliant at explaining patterns, how the pattern pieces fit together and specific styling details. I chuckled at the contestants struggling with the fly construction (I remember suffering with this at Uni) and the waistband seam on Mens trousers (my stint as a Menswear garment tech really have taught me a lot). Choice of fabric is highlighted and print placement as other important factors when contrusting a garment.
Image source: sewaholic
Basically, I watch this programme and almost feel like I'm at work (minus the sewing machine) and find it incredibly enjoyable. I have learnt from watching, that I truely love my job and that I miss the creative process and speed of sewing.
I would love to give sewing clothes another bash. My only hindrance being that I'll want a technical sheet for every fabric I choose! You just can't take the tech (or geek, I forget which one) out of the girl.
P.S Hopefully people will develop a new found appreciation of clothing and how it's made from this programme.
Yes, it is now 12 January and does seem a little late to be writing about Christmas, however I made quite a few Christmas presents this year I wanted to share my creativity without compromising the reaction from my gift receivers.
During a rare shopping trip to Chelsea I spotted a brilliant clearance end of a dog print cotton fabric in Peter Jones (the Chelsea John Lewis is called this for some reason). I simply couldn’t take my eyes off the dogs in jumpers print and decided upon making cushions for my brother and sister-in-law who have a pug, the wonderful Nibbler.
I tracked down a pattern from the internet, cushions off Ebay and visited, for the first time, the sewing room at work after a day’s slog. I sat at the sewing machine and immediately felt like I was back at the Uni, minus the tirade of banter and slagging matches that used to bounce back and forth between me and my mates.
On a technical note, the sewing machine was truly outstanding: Brother, industrial, automatic back stitch and an underbed thread trimmer. ‘Glorious’, I thought, I had missed the sturdiness and ease of industrial machines. I confused myself during a few practice runs as to why I kept swinging my knee to the right, until I realised I was on auto-pilot attempting to lift the foot. ‘Duh’. This was the only feature the machine missed, which meant stitching corners was a hassle, but I managed.
The sewing room also contained an overlocker to my joy, however was threaded up in black and with no white threads to be found I decided on increasing the seam allowance instead as the cushions are bagged out and unlikely to fray anyway.
Pins and bobbin at the ready I got started:
The fabric I brought was just under a metre at around £6. Adding the price of the cushions the final cost for these four beauties was less than £2.50 each.
From my previous posts it may be clear I’m a keen knitter. My brother requested I knit a crocodile for him and his wife, but I was more interested in the thought of my unborn nephew playing with it. Unfortunately I only have some work in progress photos:
Another yarn related gift was a crochet collar I made for my secret santa gift at work. I trawled the internet for patterns and made myself the navy one in the below photos for myself. I eventually found a better pattern with a button fastening. I made one version as per the pattern, however there were too may fan shapes within the pattern therefore I ‘tech’ed’ the collar and reduced out 4 fans and started again. The result was much better, I will have to take a snap of my colleague wearing hers and upload for all to see.
Moving on to a creative new year, I received the best present from my secret santa. Place your orders for your favourite dog now.
