I can’t believe it’s over! I came home from a choir
rehearsal last night to watch the final (I was running a bit late but had set
it to record so was able to start later and catch up) because I couldn’t wait
to see what happened, but now I don’t want it to have finished so quickly! I
really hope there will be another series with a few more episodes. (Apologies for no pictures in this post, but there's plenty of images from the show on Twitter and elsewhere).
The final three contestants – Neil, Matt and Lorna – were
clearly all so supportive of each other, and actually not too competitive against
each other. They’ve all had their strengths throughout the weeks so it really
was anyone’s for the taking, and would come down to the last garments.
For the last three challenges Patrick and May picked a
pattern challenge with no diagrams and minimal instructions that apparently
turned into a Japanese-style draped top; the alteration was to change and add
structure to a Grecian-style pleated full length dress while keeping it as a
wearable garment; and the big finale made to measure challenge was an avant-garde
show-stopping evening gown.
The origami top only had one pattern piece and is one of
those that once you figure out which parts join where is a real lightbulb
moment – the explanation we as the audience got with a diagram made total sense
once you saw it, but for the sewers faced with a really peculiarly shaped piece
of fabric it was quite a brain teaser. Poor Lorna really struggled to get her
head around it, but the boys with their engineering backgrounds helped explain
it to her which was lovely to see – they both said they’d rather compete
against other finished garments than leave someone to fall behind. Lorna’s
fabric choice was absolutely gorgeous though, a fabulous cerise satin, although
it was hard for her to work with being so slippery and having a bit of stretch.
Matt chose a really fine georgette in a floral which looked really pretty, but
again he had difficulty manipulating it where he needed it to go, and didn’t
get the bias neck facing quite right. Neil straightaway got to grips with the
mechanics of the pattern, and had chosen a sensible fabric (a fine cotton I
think) so was able to spend a bit of time making sure his finish was good. In
the results, Neil’s top came first, Lorna second and Matt third, although Lorna
said she didn’t deserve second as she wouldn’t have finished at all if the boys
hadn’t helped her. I quite like the idea of this kind of top, I think they’re
quite flattering, and now I’ve seen how this one was put together I perhaps
might not be too terrified to have a go myself.
Challenge two – the alteration. A gorgeous selection of
dresses to choose from and three very different ideas. Matt shortened the skirt
on his and added some stiff lining to work into a waved or fluted hem, and
changed the neckline from straps to a halterneck and neatened the back. Lorna
mainly used to the skirt of her dress to create a new higher neckline with a
tie collar, and added hooped boning to the skirt to create a lampshade shape.
Neil went completely off the wall and chopped his dress into a short skirt and
then attached lower leg trouser pieces by boning straps – this prompted Neil
and Claudia to coin the term ‘skanklette’ (skirt with ankles) to describe the
creation! May and Patrick’s reaction was brilliant, Patrick was nearly speechless
but appalled, although they were both impressed with Matt’s and Lorna’s
dresses. Neil somewhat predictably in this case came last, and Lorna finally
got another first place with Matt in the middle. Still an open field, although
Matt looked a little vulnerable with a third and a second place so far.
The finale round gave the contestants seven and a half hours
to create a show-stopping avant-garde gown for a surprise model. Not really too
much of a surprise because we know they’ve done this before, but it’s lovely to
see they sewers’ reactions when their family come in – Neil and Matt’s wives
and Lorna’s daughter-in-law. The boys have both made things for their other
halves before (we’ve seen clips in other episodes) but Lorna hadn’t made her
DIL anything before – but she said she wasn’t worried because anything would
look beautiful on her (Awwww!). All three had really pushed the boat out with
their ideas for this challenge – Neil and Lorna were using commercial patterns
but adding their own twist, and Matt had drafted his own diamond-shaped skirt
to attach to a corset bodice. May and Patrick had their reservations about all
three (of course) – they weren’t convinced that the combination of fabrics Neil
was trying to put together (although I loved his idea of using his photos of
Afghanistan as inspiration for the colours), Patrick nearly had palpitations
over Lorna’s idea to add fairy lights to the hem of her pink and lime green
gown, and Matt’s skirt structure was cause for concern. All three sewers did
fantastically well with no major dramas this time and the three finished
dresses looked amazing. Lorna’s fitted strapless dress with high-low overskirt
looked really striking, although the judges picked up on mi-matched seams at
the back, and didn’t think the pink tulle hem worked very well. Neil’s was a
beautifully draped shape, although his slinky fabrics meant he’d had to add in
extra pleats to stop one side dragging to the floor which May didn’t think had
been handled quite right, and his lining peeked out of the slashed back. Matt’s
dress was amazing, and didn’t swamp his five foot two wife Gemma – the corset
fitted really well and the structure of the sequined skirt held up well with
the boning, the only criticism was that the skirt seams needed a better press
and there was a bit of puckering around the zip.
At this point it’s lovely to see the whole group of sewers
from the series come back and chat about what they think of the finalists’
creations. However, in the haberdashery Claudia, Patrick and May were deep in
debate trying to pick a winner. They base their decision solely on the garments
made in this final round – which I’m not sure I entirely agree with given the
spread of challenge winners in previous weeks – but ultimately it came down to
the very final dresses and which one they thought best met the brief and was
the best executed. So with everyone gathered in the sewing room, and the three
finalists hugging each other for support, the winner is announced – it’s Matt!
His face was an absolute picture as the realisation that his name had been
called sunk in. I’m really pleased, his final dress was stunning, and overall
he has been consistent throughout the series with some beautiful makes. I think
Lorna is a wonderful sewer and made some gorgeous things, although she
sometimes played it a bit safe, and struggled with some techniques new to her.
Neil has been brilliant every week, making some incredible things, and has been
the most successful contestant ever in terms of challenge wins, but I think
this week he tried to do a bit too much and it didn’t quite pay off.
My favourite bit is the montage at the end showing what all
the sewers have been doing since the show was filmed, and it’s lovely to see
they are all still sewing. I’m sure a few of them will go on to bigger and
better things in the sewing world, just as Tilly, Lauren and Jenni
have done.
So it’s all over for another series, and I’ve loved every
minute of it, it’s been great to join in all the conversations on Twitter, and
I’m so inspired by the new book to get on with making some new things for
myself. I’ve now got a tonne of fabric to work my way through thanks to my trip
to the Spring Knitting & Stitching Show (watch out for a blog post about
this soon) and the acquisition of a couple of amazing sets of vintage curtains
from my Nan’s house. Watch this space for what I get up to! Happy sewing
everyone!
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