Sewing Bee week 4 - Corsets & Kilts!

How are we at the quarter finals already?! There definitely aren’t enough rounds of the Sewing Bee, it needs to be at least 12 weeks so that we really get to know more about the contestants, I feel as though we’re only just starting to figure them out. Plus, more weeks would give us more wonderful clothes to look at and dream of making ourselves.

So, this week’s challenges: A 12-panelled boned corset, then 80s power suits for the alteration, followed by a six and a half hour kilt. Goodness! Talk about tough! But as usual, the sewers did themselves proud.

Apparently the trick with the corset pattern was precision (according to May) and a fairly firm fabric. Neil’s and Lorna’s were absolutely gorgeous – brocade and jacquard in glorious deep reds. Deborah and Matt picked the same blue cotton which turned out to be not quite the right move, resulting in a ‘ripple effect’ and Ryan braved pattern matching with vertical stripes. I loved  Paul's fabric and binding combination, it was as pretty on the wrong side as the outside, and Amanda went all out to impress with own-made bias binding. Sadly this back-fired as she ran out of time to finish. First win to Neil with Matt and Paul rounding out the top three – come on girls, don’t let them trample all over you! The pattern for the corset is in the new book, but I think I probably need a lot more experience and practice before trying that one!

Neil's corset via Great British Sewing Bee

Next up, the alteration challenge and a mind-warping array of 1980s power suits – think double breasted, shoulder pads, insane colours galore! There were some interesting ideas this week – Lorna designed a maternity top and skirt, Deborah re-worked a jacket, Matt made a strapless dress out of a skirt, Amanda also made a jacket, Paul a sleeveless top, and Ryan and Neil both went for dresses. Poor Ryan really struggled with this one but the other sewers all helped encourage him. Neil triumphed again with a beautifully shaped cerise pink sheath dress. He really is a very good sewer, if becoming a little jokingly predictable – Matt’s aside of “this is getting boring now” after Neil’s latest challenge win made in good humour. Ryan came second but poor Amanda was last again.

Finally for one of the most fabric and labour-intensive challenges ever – a kilt. Wonderfully modelled by Patrick throughout the show! Most of the sewers picked traditional tartans, with Amanda and Matt choosing to make a woman’s version which required more shaping at the waist and hips. All the contestants had acres of pleats to work in precisely, with military discipline needed in the pattern matching. Paul however went for a more modern approach with glittery denim (who knew such a thing existed!!!) and a studded hem. Lorna struggled with the timing and didn’t manage to put in the stabilising waist lining for her kilt, and Ryan’s turned out a bit long (for Patrick) and with a riskily small amount of coverage at the front wrap (for May). Matt’s darts at the front of his kilt-skirt didn’t quite fit right, and Amanda struggled to get her waist lining to sit neatly on the inside. That just left Deborah and Neil to battle it out with very similar looking men’s kilts, both of which were absolutely brilliant. Neil just swung it again with Patrick’s praise that he would wear it himself, and Neil got himself another Garment of the Week. Again, the pattern is in the book, but probably not one I’ll be attempting any time soon!

Deborah's kilt via Great British Sewing Bee

The cruel twist this week was a DOUBLE ELIMINATION! Two people had to leave and in the end it was Amanda and Ryan. Amanda really hadn’t had a good week coming last in all the challenges, and Ryan had been up and down. I think they are both really good sewers but in the heat of the competition timing or precision had let them down – Amanda vowed at the end of the show never to make anything under time pressure ever again!

via Great British Sewing Bee

So next week’s semi final will feature Neil, Matt, Paul, Lorna and Deborah – the first time ever there’s more men than women still in the competition! I’m rooting for the girls, but I think Neil will definitely be there in the final. The subtitle for next week is ‘Leather and Lace’ (jackets and skirts) and I can’t wait to see what happens!

Oh, you might have seen on Twitter I got my copy of the new Sewing Bee book this week and have been flicking through and planning what I’d like to make. I’ve got some leftover printed cotton that will just about make a sleeveless top, I really fancy having a go at the Capri trousers, and I’m definitely hunting for some gorgeous fabric to make a Walkaway dress when I got to the Knitting & Stitching Show next week! I’m really looking forward to it, and have booked to do a workshop learning how to work with jersey knits and make a t-shirt. Helpfully it’s pay day this week so I’ll have plenty of pennies to spend on pretty things! Is anyone else going? Maybe I’ll see you there!