Also big apologies for missing Lauren... I'm partly blaming Stuart as he went off piste alphabetically but also my rants just took too long... this show is over and hour, longer tham the actual bee!😂😂😂 I'll try and get him and his pencil back under control next week, right I'm just on amazon ordering more slippers...🩴🥿🩰😂
Oh Ting I laughed out loud at your comments on the crochet challenge but unusually I agree wholeheartedly with you as a crochet and knitter the hours of work being cut up made me gasp with horror. The sewers did the best they could with this and Mia’s was very good. Loved the no waste pattern challenge though. Fab review as usual.
I enjoyed this week's episode. I have a ridiculous number of tote bags-- probably 30 or 40 of them -- which I have accumulated from going to conferences, or getting as "gifts" in return for a donation, or something like that. I will never use them up, and I have far more than I could use at one time for a big shopping outing, or for a lifetime of shopping. I think the point of this challenge was that when you have so many bags, it makes sense to turn them into something that you potentially *could* use, rather than having wasted the carbon it took to make the bag and then never using the bag. My problem is that the bags I have all have printing on them, indicating what conference they're from, so they would never be suitable for any other purpose. As for the made to measure -- Ting's point that "you wouldn't do that" is inaccurate. *He* wouldn't do that to a crocheted blanket. Yes, someone spent many hours making the blanket, but whoever the original recipient was has cast it aside. The point was to remake and reuse. People take handknit sweaters, felt them, cut them up, and turn them into mittens and hats all the time. Or they buy hand knit sweaters at thrift stores and then frog them in order to reuse the yarn. Given how successful Mia's garment was, the challenge could clearly be met successfully. The challenge was about understanding the current crochet fashion trends and then finding something suitable that could be used to make a fashionalbe garment, as Mia did so well.
Hey Roxanne! Lovely critique comment to read and you put the point across perfectly for the M2M. I wish I could have said it like you put here. I'm totally up for this. I'm now trying my own remake of a table cloth....Stan Clothing style on instagram.....amazing work he does with old quilts and table cloths. Stuart
I could not argue at all with the comments regarding the crochet blankets. I nearly cried thinking of all the work involved. In 1974 I actually crocheted my first wedding dress. It took 5 weeks. It was from one of the woman's magazines and I was so proud of it. When I left my 2nd husband in a hurry, I had to leave it in the loft. When I asked for it back (even though I would never wear it again) the ........... had given it away! All I am left with are photos, a small amount of the wool and the pattern. I just couldn't see the point of this challenge as most of them would be unwearable anyway or perhaps I am getting old!
I prefer unpicked to the actual sewing B this week! 😂 1. A domestic machine is not suitable for sewing crochet 2. Those who crocheted were at an advantage 3. Just Why would you cut up a crocheted blanket???? 4. Those tote bags looked new! 🩴🩴🩴🩴 I don’t have a slipper emoji, but seeing as it’s summer I’m throwing flip flops
Yes, this weeks show has gone down well for so many reasons.....as for your point 4....so true....those cotton totes, looked pristine, rather than a little faded and dirty brown from being washed and srcunched in a box etc from years or use!
There have been a few pieces I rescued from an accidental felting experience. But I hand sew them before I cut anything. Great for bags, belts, pillows. Memorable pieces that did in deed and fact take months off of my rotator cuff.
Really entertaining video and I must admit the thinking behind the challenges this were seemed bizzare! I thought Ting would have had at least 10 slippers this week. As a person who loves crochet I was appalled at the M2M and I am another who makes tote bags from used fabric/clothes rather than the other way round trying to be environmentally responsible.. Looking forward to watching you both next week.
Ting you are spot on with everything you said. I was so upset about seeing the blanket’s thing and I can only watch what’s going on with this channel. I’m in the US. I would love to have the pattern or dimensions for the zero waste pants.
I have crocheted for over 55 years. I love that the donated crochet projects have been up-cycled to create new, beautiful garments. Much better than tossed in a landfill or used in a dog cage.
Laughed out loud at your commentary. So enjoyable. The pattern challenge was interesting, but I felt the show went downhill from that point. I felt SO SORRY for the sewers having to create a made to measure outfit from old crochet blankets. Unfair and RIDICULOUS!
You guys crack me up. When Stuart said “you could see it from that point of view” and Ting just went “no”, I nearly fell off the chair laughing! “Mixed bag” “come on Chuckles” it was hysterical. I agreed with everything Ting said about the M2M. As a person who crochets and I have made blankets, it made me want to cry. I get the point that they were in charity shops (where? I have never seen a crochet blanket in a charity shop - do we think the Production team sourced them. You can buy crochet second hand blankets on Ebay etc) but it was still very sad to see them cut up. I think a lot of the finish garments still looked like blankets. Good point about the weight of wool Ting. I thought Tony’s lighter wool worked better than the others. I don’t think the pattern for the Zero waste trousers looked good. Just huge and baggy - agree with previous comments on here about zero waste means you just wear the waste and look like a sack of spuds - don’t get me started on how badly they missed the point on sustainability.
I still can't get over I cracked a joke.....Think I was too busy laughing at my own joke...my brain just isn't wired for thinking or even telling jokes, so I was well chuffed haha.
What a week! I liked the concept of the zero waste trousers but most of the legs were too wide to make them a garment I’d want to wear. Presumably that could be fixed by using a different width of material. I agree with the comments that the tote bag round was more wasteful than continuing to use them as bags. I didn’t like the M2M round. I agree with Ting that if you wanted a crochet garment you would actually crochet one! Who in real life would think of cutting up a crochet blanket and making it into a garment? I don’t know how they prevented them from unraveling either so respect for that! I liked Asmara’s coat. She said it was going to be a Regency coat so I think the design was for a cutaway coat with the white flowers being like the closure across the front and also looking a bit like a cravat. They didn’t really work because she put too many on and they were too bulky. Patrick was unduly mean to her. I agreed with the choice of Mia’s suit for garment of the week. Matthew’s time was rightly up. I think the problem he had with his machine was because he tried to shove too much bulk through it but he didn’t seem to understand that. He’s had a few issues with his skill level over the weeks eg shonky darts on his swimming costume and mixing incompatible weights of fabric in his boubou last week so he’d gone about as far as he could go. I reckon Fauve and Tony R will be the next two to go but any of the others could make it to the final. Great show once again so thanks to you and Ting for giving us a good laugh on a Friday afternoon
Thank you Stuart for mentioning mine and Sue's conversation on our cheese and X preferences. :) you made my bedtime viewing! You are both very welcome to visit and have a chat if you're ever my way 🇨🇦 Canadian Rockies are bucket list worthy!
Aww Wonderful! Anytime - that's what so good about these weeks of coming together, chatting about this show we love so much, in so many ways. As for the rockies, oh, they are high on my bucket list for sure....I'm a hiker and love it....I want to do that cool train that goes through them and you can sleep and look out of the bubbles at the top....east to west or just the rockies. So at some point I'll be there..... :)
Great week, Ting was right though you can’t cut crochet , when someone has painstakingly crocheted every stitch! But Ting your hilarious, thunder thighs 🤣🤣🤣🤣 and Stuart sitting there trying to think of something polite to say, you two are better than the Morecambe and Wise show 🤣🤣🤣👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼😘🥰
Hello all. After the triumph of last week's episode, I suppose we had to crash down to earth. I've been reading the social media comments about RRR, and there have been a number which have been, shall we say less than positive. I will never understand how it can be sustainable to cut up those beautiful, hand crafted blankets, many are practically heirlooms, to make into clothes for a competition. No one is going to wear those clothes - so they may now end up in land fill. Matthew cut up his late grandmother's hand made blankets - at which point, I just cried. On a positive note, I really enjoyed watching the pattern challenge. I would like to make this pattern myself - how nice it would be to get a set length of fabric, knowing that not one scrap will be wasted. THIS is what sustainability should be about. Like Ting, I was concerned with Lizzie's choice of check print, but now I think she was being very clever. The main pieces of the pattern were straight/ rectangular shaped, so lining up the checks would have been relatively easy to do. The overall effect however looks complex - easy bonus points. Again, I agree with Ting about using the bags for the transformation challenge. If they used factory seconds, or old and/or slightly damaged bags, it would have made sense. Using new and useable bags to turn into 'tops' is not sustainable - it's a waste! Vicky's top - Not sure what Patrick was on about. Yellow and blue do go well together - otherwise someone had better tell the Ukraine, Sweden, Barbados and IKEA that they need to change their flags. Ting you are spot on about the M2M challenge - nothing further to add. I'm sorry that you had to watch that, I was awful for me, and I can barely crotchet, so I can only imagine how you and any one who crotchets must have felt. So we've gone from arguably the best episode ever, to the definitely the worse in the space of a week. The contestants did a great job with the tasks given this week, and any 'short coming' has nothing to do with them. Another point, this is the SEWING bee, not the Crochet bee. I love the idea of merging skills, but that last challenge, you really had to be a near crochet expert to create anything good. But the contestants were and are being judged on on their sewing skills. This challenge belittled the wonderful craft of crochet and I doubt there will be a huge rush of learners to the local crotchet group. I am literally angry at the complete and utter waste of these materials. At a time of economic crisis, (excluding the current heat wave of course), there must be hundreds, if not thousands of people in this country alone, that could have made use of a hand crafted blanket. I joked that I was making slippers, as I just knew this episode would be especially controversial. But for me, sadly, all my fears and expectations were exceeded. I am surprised Ting only threw 4. I threw 6. PAIRS. (2 for the concept, 4 for the TC, and 6 for the M2M) The only saving grace was the pattern challenge, otherwise, I will not reflect on this episode with undiluted fondness. BTW I believe Neil from Series 3, episode 4 was first to do triple on GBSB - PC - Boned corset, TC - Power suit to Cocktail dress and M2M - Traditional Kilt. Ah, the good old days! Take care :)
I agree with your points and especially about the fact this is a *Sewing Bee* not a crochet bee. It disadvantaged those sewists who don't crochet, and that's not really fair...
As always, a wonderful comment to read looking at the challenges. you threw 6 pairs! Yeah, I thought Ting would have thrown more, perhaps because he threw 2 at the title alone last week, he got a lot out of his system haha. As for the triple....WOW! that's Sewing Bee knowledge! Thank you for this info. I'm now going to Iplayer to watch and research for this weeks unpicked. I haven't seen all the early ones, other than the first one and bits and pieces of others.
Unless a crocheted blanket was make of lots of granny squares, it would be better undoing it and either crocheting or knitting something else. Mia was the only one who understood granny squares and how they work. I thought Lizzie's red cropped cardigan completely clashed with the dress.
Another entertaining video 👏 👏. I'm also inspired to make a zero waste trouser Stuart and to give serious consideration when placing pattern pieces on fabric to ensure I'm not wasting fabric. Totally agree with Ting, the made to measure didn't make sense to me and was going to cause issues with the sewing machine.
Just caught up on this after a very busy few days interrupting my enjoyment of your show 😂 I thought the pattern challenge was just about ok, but they looked too shapeless. The transformation, as usual, was utter nonsense! I’d be more inclined to make a tote bag out of an old garment, not the other way round! I couldn’t believe my eyes or ears when they explained that final challenge. Poor old Betty, I bet she couldn’t wait to get back to Strictly 😂😂 I did think that Mia’s was by far the best outfit and deserved to win. I liked Lauren’s too. I could also see Tony R’s outfit being worn at Glastonbury! I agree with Ting about the editing, we’re not stupid, we don’t need all the drama, we want to see more of the sewing!! Thanks for another great show guys 🤩🤩
Hello from the US. Another great episode. I love your shows. Tig was salty over the blankets…that said I have never crocheted in my life. It looks as time consuming as sewing. I loved the garment of the week. Enjoyed this episode a lot. Normally I don’t. Thanks guys for a great recap.
EDIT Saturday: Yup - We missed Lauren's fabulous M2M, good spot everyone. Clearly got muddled going alphabetically as I try to challenge Ting on why I thought the M2M brief was a good one haha. Your comments are just wonderful. So many lovely points for, and against it all, whilst never forgetting the hard work the sewers put in! Thanks All. Stuart
I would wear these pants in a heart beat. I love the shape and the look. It would be lovely to see this show IRL the use of the totes was wild. Ting, I realize not in this situation, but I have cut up a granny square blanket due to ruined bits and reused the good squares to make pillows. some were scary. I am going to go back and watch the others so fun.
I think Lizzie actually had an advantage cutting out the plaid fabric, as Stuart said, since she could follow the lines. The real problem would be if it were printed lines that didn’t quite follow the grain! As for the crochet… it has been years since I’ve done any, but my sister has just finished a blanket and would NOT be pleased to see it cut up on television! In any case, crochet is crochet and is definitely not meant to be cut and sewn.
Well done once again Stuart and Ting. I was crocheting a Grannie square blanket while watching so totally agreed with all your comments. Both of you had very valid points. As teachers you are experts on critiquing fairly. Not an aimless waffle which others can sometimes indulge in. Thank you for all your hard work. Bye the way, love you pencil work Stuart. Guess another teacher skill. Catherine Australia
Aww Catherine, this has made my day. Pleased that this comes across. It's all about the assessment criteria isn't it - that's what the discussions should be based around and it's then that which get's analysed and critiqued. We try our best as you know, sometimes we are not sure of the criteria so then it gets muddied. As for the pencil! haha yeah, the wonders of digital tech.....Teaching PE, Drama, Art and being able to easily pinpoint, rewind, highlight, zoom etc, was good for the students to see what works and what doesn't etc. So I had to have it in our discussions. It's such a good tool. :) Stuart
Ting, I appreciate your explanation of crochet as I've never done it. I'm sorry you were so incensed. I hope you don't have prolonged trauma as a result of this episode!
First time commenting here I think, Sara from Ireland. I am confused about sizing with the zero waste trousers, are they supposed to be one size fits all? Agree wholeheartedly with Ting in his disgust at someone spending hours and hours crocheting those blankets only for them to be cut up. I'm a long standing knitter and more novice crocheter and them cutting into the blankets made me feel a bit sick 🤢. Love your show!!
Hi, not sure if l missed it but l couldn't see you discussed Lauren's M2M .. l thought the trousers were inspired and though E&P liked it.. l thought the edging looked messy on the midriff. However I am totally with Ting, using crochet was a very poor choice... See you next week 🎉
The pattern challenge was pretty good, but... is all that awkward bulk in the finished garment *really* so much better than having a few offcuts? The transformation was around its usual standard: some good skills on display, but the concept was odd. If we have a surplus of tote bags, we mainly need a supply chain solution. The made-to-measure? Sewing crocheted pieces is a physical mismatch. A contestant could have saved the day if they'd sent away their sewing machine and fabric shears, divided their blankets into pieces by unravelling a few joins, reshaped the pieces (and closed any modesty-threatening holes) with new tight lines of crochet, and seamed them together with crochet. That would have been legendary. But nobody did it. Re triples in previous series, there's also Charlotte's 2-garment triple in the series 4 semifinal, where her zero-waste duvet cover transformation got 2 parts of the triple. (And for the other part of the triple, it was one of the great pattern challenges: the modern Japanese skirt with the Long Curved Lapped Seam of Doom!)
I’m with you Ting, as a crocheter it was tragic to see the blankets cut up. The remnants would have been thrown in the bin. One of the contestants even used their daughters’ crochet baby blanket and cut it up. Those are made to pass down through generations.
Here it is! Week 4 - RRR Week. Much better than previous RRR weeks? All was going so well too until the M2M round. What did you think of the brief? Ting hated it and couldn't watch whereas I loved it! To cut up crochet or to not cut up.....that's the question! Team Ting or Team Stuart for M2M? Let us know in the comments!
Gentlemen, you owe me a new monitor! Starting from the made to measure round, I was laughing a lot and lost some wine.... Stuart, I appreciate your attempt to provide a counterpoint and a balanced view about the use of crochet blankets, but as someone who took a whole year to crochet a scarf, I'm with Ting on this 🙂. It was painful to watch handmade crochet be cut up. And I think as well it was not fair to the sewists, those who has knitting or crochet skills were at an advantage, and those who didn't were at a disadvantage and that's not fair for a *Sewing Bee*. What was really being judged here, Design? Sewing? Crochet? Arguably crochet is just big knitted fabric but I think the approach to stabilising edges has to be quite different. I will have to go back and rewatch it, but I seem to think Matthew was breaking needles because he was folding over the seams and going through 4 layers at once?? When matching or overlapping edges and then zig zag stitch might have been better. (idk, will need to check). I am also a member of #TeamCrochetConspiracy, I think that the blankets were at best presourced before filming and the contestants would have picked beforehand and known what they're working with. I've been through most charity shops in South London and there's not that many crochet blankets (or patchwork) around. I think the production team sourced them or sourced some of them at least (didn't somone cut up family blankets? 😭). The blankets were very nice and new looking for the most part, I certainly didn't see any bobbles. Tony W had the best choice of fabric, such a shame about the chevrons. And I can't imagine how long the jacket fabric took to make... All in all, I understand what they were trying to do, but I don't think it was fair, and I don't think it was right. Especially when you can make the same garments by crocheting them! 😤 (final edit: this is a bit niche but there's a quilt centre/museum in Wales and last time I visited they had a deconstructed example of a late 19thC/ early 20thC handstitched quilt, and the inner layers/batting were actually crocheted blankets and I think that has to be a better way to recycle than chopping them up)
Hahaha this is wonderful to read Anna...well, not about your monitor though haha. A wonderful comment analysing the episode. I did try didn't I for M2M in putting the other side across....However, we never had a debating soc at school or uni so my skills aren't as honed as Tings at debating!!! As for the hashtag hahah. As for the final edit and the museum in Wales with the quilt with crochet blanket inside instead of batting!!! WOW!!!! Great idea of reuse and recycle!!!
The zero waste pattern is very on trend and enjoyed this round. Didn’t get the crochet M2M. I thought a couple handled it well but none wowed me! Shame Matthew went home he was one of the creative ones it will be a duller place without him! 😢
Dutch fan of the show here, and now also a fan of your aftershow! The Reduce Reuse Recycle week could look a bit further for material, like scaffolding canvas or neckties. Cheers!
Week 4. Entertainment score 10/10. In touch with reality score 0/10. I don’t get ‘no waste’ sewing generally - it seems you retain the waste fabric as part of your garment, and look completely hideous, just to save throwing it away. But Oxfam will take your scrap textiles and recycle them, surely a perfectly acceptable green solution? Transforming tote bags into garments is ridiculous; it’s the opposite of what people do which is to make tote bags out of unwanted garments. Who would want to wear something sewn from a grubby, worn old tote bag? As for the made-to-measure… totally entertaining but totally ridiculous. By the way, you didn’t discuss the camel-coloured outfit with brown chevrons (was it Lauren?) which I thought was definitely one of the better ones.
I like the kind of zero waste garment making that maximises efficiency in the layout of the garment, but the idea that one should scrap all notions of shaping a garment in order to reduce fabric waste is counter-productive...
So interesting I'm watching this episode for the 3rd Time! Project Runway is now running- Very Good watching. There is at least a promise of "Making The Cut' our there.
Ah, Ting's slippers are going to be wore out. 😮 I think the crochet blanket controversy is similiar to designers cutting old quilts to make coats. Yikes🙈 perhaps it will remind people that a lot of work goes into those items and should be looked after and repaired instead of cutting them up.
Yes exactly - they are just creating waste and rubbish. Recycling is not about the 'challenge' of making one useless thing into another. Genuine recycling is a bigger challenge: what is an effective use of this unwanted stuff? In a circular economy, garments should be at the 'upper' end of the cycle, using durable fabrics, suited to seasons and weathers, made into items that can be worn regularly for several years. Scraps and used garments then become lower grade materials suitable for cleaning, backing, stuffing. After that they may be shredded and go to compost - preferably in your own garden or local allotment.
I had to look it up, but my hunch was correct, that Neil from season 3 (one of my favourite contestants ever!) had a triple in the episode about structure. The pattern was corset, MtM was a kilt. He was also first in the transformation challenge. I still wish he had won the sewing bee...
I seem to remember hearing that they couldn’t let him win - something to do with being in the military. I’ve never forgotten his pages and pages of planning notes for the kilt, nor the fact that he took his machine to the front and repaired uniforms, he was a very special contestant.
The transformation challenge really irritated me, I get Tote bags as Ting stated for their sustainability and if I ever get a hole in one I’d be more likely to use it as part of patchwork item rather than an item of clothing
Think Lizzie comes into her own when she's winging it. She's very creative but sometimes doesn't do so well when following patterns. Was a good episode but the M2M was bonkers 😮
Those blankets were much better quality than anything I’ve seen in a charity shop. Mia’s matching white bits were suspiciously well matched for colour, considering they were supposed to have been found in charity shops. Even whites don’t always match. She still deserved the win. I agree that it was a bit ridiculous as a challenge but if it is in a charity shop then it’s not unreasonable to make it into something else.
Aww Margaret - I thought I may have had you on my side of this argument hahaha. Looks like I've clearly lost this debate. Not many on my side! hahah. Has it rained at yours yet?
@@TheWoolpatch Mon 19th No rain! I started crochet at school, and i’m nearing retirement now. Mrs P my teacher would have had something to say to Sewing Bee 🤣
Loved this week's analysis. As you both always state, we love the sewers but not so much the briefs. Just my 2 cents here, but I think the RRR week needs a fourth "R". Reality. The producers need a reality check when setting up these reducing, reusing, and recycling briefs. Sewers in the real world do many wonderful things with the three R's in everyday life, and they always incorporate the 4th. What can I salvage? What needs repaired? How can this work with that? Etc. One does not make clothes out of totes and one NEVER EVER cuts up a perfectly good handmade crochet blanket to make an outfit.
Many comments on social media that crochet blankets are sent to landfill. When I was young the rag and bone man collected such items and and they sere then recycled to make paper. Why do such items need to go to landfill? Is it because we are using too much petroleum based yarms? We also used to unpick and re-knit or re-crochet such items as a means of reutilizing the items. Same with the zero waste trousers, you can cut trousers with more shape using the same amount of fabric. Depending on width of fabric all you need is the length required. Ok, bits are cut off to make the shape, but those bits can be used for other projects. With zero waste shapeless trousers you are just carrying the excess waste within the garment. No go for me, just be more economical when cutting out. Use the offcuts to make scrap patchwork. We need to learn from the past, not silly wsys as we saw tonight. The tote bags could have well been made originally from waste, left over, fabric and will last for years so don't need re-purposing. I am sympathetic to the aims but teally not motivated by what we saw tonight. I think GBSB is losing the best of the of previous series, such as maybe series 4 and 5 to 6 or 7. Like many such shows is losing the plot.
If there are any excess blankets around these days, they can be donated to many places instead of charity shops. The homeless, although they obviously wouldn't look after them. With the cold winter we had and people couldn't afford to put their heating on, I'm sure they would have been glad of these blankets. they could be sent abroad for people in need. There used to be a charity shop near me where they would have crocheted blankets, not very big, that were specifically donated having used new wool, but the colour combinations were terrible. They really looked as if the person had gone out of their way to use colours that didn't match.
Well for me this was always going to be a controversial topic - and I ended up with more slippers than Ting !! The highlights was the idea of a zero waste pattern for the pattern challenge BUT the pattern they chose was way too unfitted , I’m sure popping in a few waste darts or pleats to give shape wouldn’t have used any more fabric . As for the pockets I think I would have trimmed the pocket pattern piece to create a pocket former and pressed the fabric around that . Ambers historical piece was great and definitely added to the show . Negatives - The transformation challenge was contrived nonsense - cutting up what looked to be unused bags to make mostly unwearable tops .. why ??? And as for the made to measure, some of the blankets looked pristine and not from a charity shop , wouldn’t be at all surprised to discover they were made for the show , I agree the concept was flawed as ting said surely you’d just craft your garment using crochet skills ( off to look at ravelry ) and cutting up the blankets was just criminal and totally disrespectful of the skill and hours spent making them . My final four will be Lizzie, Tony w ,Mia and Asmaa . Thankyou again for another lovely show
The pattern challenge this week was quite interesting, I wonder if everyone measured the same way, given that the legs looked so different for some of the makes? It's an interesting idea but I wonder how comfortable those trousers would be, given the symmetrical crotch curve and lack of hip shaping. Guess that's why they were on the male mannequin...
I take the programme as entertainment like any other elimination programme out there. The difference is the lovely contestants and the fact they are skilled in and enjoy sewing. Some more than others. I don't wish they would NOT do something no more than I wish the bakers wouldn't make a fancy tiered cake... the whole point is to put some challenges out there and see how they do. The characters come through and their stories - it's the formula to make an entertaining series for the public. It isn't fly-on-the-wall St Martin's fashion college or Dior TV - it's a gentle feel good programme because in the end there's no £100 000 great prize or contract for business - there's no greed, just a desire to sew and the pride of winning - we have our favourites and get involved. But criticism of the show's format detracts from it. Just enjoy the ride. For me it's a joyful switch off from the day - and the additional channels about it are fun. I do sometimes wonder what the judges REALLY think. The fashion industry is not known for its kindness LOL but kindness does come through. I do enjoy constructive banter though and fully applaud the virtual slipper.
The correct alphabetical order Stuart is as follows: Asmaa, Fauve,Lauren,Lizzie,Matthew,Mia,Tony R, Tony W, Vikki The picture at the beginning of whose left is in alphabetical order.
I thought the M2M was heart breaking..Asmers blanket was beautiful and was never going to be suitable for a garment. The winning suit was cute but no one would wear it.. I didn't think it was a pleasing episode at all and some of the judging was unfair imho.
I really disagree with Ting on the made to measure challenge. Stuart has it right. The blankets used were in CHARITY shops. They (except the one baby blanket) didn't go to their own stash of blankets and steal grandma's blankets. I was a bit sad at the winning one, in that she took her baby's blanket she was given and made the sleeves from it. I still have the blankets made for my children, and they treasure them. But, if the charity shop blankets weren't treasured by the people who donated them, and if they weren't sold for this purpose to the sewers, what are the odds someone else would have bought them and treasured the skill and work it took to make them? Even as evidenced by the one baby blanket used in this challenge, not everyone values the work the same way. So I saw this as a worthwhile challenge. Just some people didn't have the best plans or choose the best blankets for their makes.
There are just too many comments agreeing with me! I've resorted to liking them, I'll be up all night replying! I think we all agree the crochet was a fail on so many fronts!
As much as I love the Sewing Bee and want it to be a successful show, I don't think BBC1 is the best channel. I think it would be better on BBC2, where hopefully there would be less pressure to be commercial, so that they didn't have to have the stupid time countdowns, less focus on actual sewing etc... If you watch series 1-4, they didn't do that, you clearly saw that some sewists finished ahead of others (and this wasn't edited out like it is now. It was either episode 2 or 3 of this series where Fauve needed to use someone else's machine at the last minute and she could only have done that if they'd already finished). I also think that have 12 contestants is a bit too much. It makes the early episodes very busy, and it's harder to engage with the show. I also agree with the comments that you've both made, it's not fair to have judging decisions made on fabric choice when there's a limited choice and then a free-for-all to choose. Particularly as this favours the able bodied sewists over those with physical disabilities (and I know the show wants to be very accessible so they should revisit it).
I could be mis remembering but did Anne Rowley get a triple win in the first series? I really enjoyed this episode and it wasn't just because we got Amber weighing in. I agree the whole reusing bags and crochet blankets weren't eco friendly challenges. At least Matthew made an attempt at made to measure with the bodice and fitted waist though is garment was poorly made. Let's face it though, crochet garments don't make anyone look their best.
Hi Guys, the editing and the stupid unfunny jokes completed ruin this programme. I think Sarah is hilarious as a comedienne on a comedy show, but all the time she faffs around we could se more of the techniques and styles. I'd love to here more about why they went the way this did with the transformation challenge. As Ting said, the garments won because they could have been made as a crochet item. I think Sam Ryder looks great in his crochet items. I'd love to know whether he can actually crochet?? Looking forward to tonight. Fauve must pick up her skill level this week. xxJane
Also big apologies for missing Lauren... I'm partly blaming Stuart as he went off piste alphabetically but also my rants just took too long... this show is over and hour, longer tham the actual bee!😂😂😂 I'll try and get him and his pencil back under control next week, right I'm just on amazon ordering more slippers...🩴🥿🩰😂
But I got loads of crocheting done while watching it! Except for your rants when I had to put put the hook down to watch you go off on one. 🤣
@@Mcfly3595 LOVE THIS! hahah
Oh Ting I laughed out loud at your comments on the crochet challenge but unusually I agree wholeheartedly with you as a crochet and knitter the hours of work being cut up made me gasp with horror. The sewers did the best they could with this and Mia’s was very good. Loved the no waste pattern challenge though. Fab review as usual.
Stuart, you can not argue with Ting on this. He is right on all points over the crochet 😂😂
Yup, I lost the debate for sure haha
I enjoyed this week's episode. I have a ridiculous number of tote bags-- probably 30 or 40 of them -- which I have accumulated from going to conferences, or getting as "gifts" in return for a donation, or something like that. I will never use them up, and I have far more than I could use at one time for a big shopping outing, or for a lifetime of shopping. I think the point of this challenge was that when you have so many bags, it makes sense to turn them into something that you potentially *could* use, rather than having wasted the carbon it took to make the bag and then never using the bag. My problem is that the bags I have all have printing on them, indicating what conference they're from, so they would never be suitable for any other purpose.
As for the made to measure -- Ting's point that "you wouldn't do that" is inaccurate. *He* wouldn't do that to a crocheted blanket. Yes, someone spent many hours making the blanket, but whoever the original recipient was has cast it aside. The point was to remake and reuse. People take handknit sweaters, felt them, cut them up, and turn them into mittens and hats all the time. Or they buy hand knit sweaters at thrift stores and then frog them in order to reuse the yarn. Given how successful Mia's garment was, the challenge could clearly be met successfully. The challenge was about understanding the current crochet fashion trends and then finding something suitable that could be used to make a fashionalbe garment, as Mia did so well.
Hey Roxanne! Lovely critique comment to read and you put the point across perfectly for the M2M. I wish I could have said it like you put here. I'm totally up for this. I'm now trying my own remake of a table cloth....Stan Clothing style on instagram.....amazing work he does with old quilts and table cloths. Stuart
Good on you Ting, I thought it was criminal cutting up the blankets, I don't crochet but knows it takes days never mind hours.
I could not argue at all with the comments regarding the crochet blankets. I nearly cried thinking of all the work involved. In 1974 I actually crocheted my first wedding dress. It took 5 weeks. It was from one of the woman's magazines and I was so proud of it. When I left my 2nd husband in a hurry, I had to leave it in the loft. When I asked for it back (even though I would never wear it again) the ........... had given it away! All I am left with are photos, a small amount of the wool and the pattern. I just couldn't see the point of this challenge as most of them would be unwearable anyway or perhaps I am getting old!
I prefer unpicked to the actual sewing B this week! 😂 1. A domestic machine is not suitable for sewing crochet
2. Those who crocheted were at an advantage
3. Just Why would you cut up a crocheted blanket????
4. Those tote bags looked new!
🩴🩴🩴🩴 I don’t have a slipper emoji, but seeing as it’s summer I’m throwing flip flops
Yes, this weeks show has gone down well for so many reasons.....as for your point 4....so true....those cotton totes, looked pristine, rather than a little faded and dirty brown from being washed and srcunched in a box etc from years or use!
There have been a few pieces I rescued from an accidental felting experience. But I hand sew them before I cut anything. Great for bags, belts, pillows.
Memorable pieces that did in deed and fact take months off of my rotator cuff.
Really entertaining video and I must admit the thinking behind the challenges this were seemed bizzare! I thought Ting would have had at least 10 slippers this week. As a person who loves crochet I was appalled at the M2M and I am another who makes tote bags from used fabric/clothes rather than the other way round trying to be environmentally responsible.. Looking forward to watching you both next week.
Ting you are spot on with everything you said. I was so upset about seeing the blanket’s thing and I can only watch what’s going on with this channel. I’m in the US. I would love to have the pattern or dimensions for the zero waste pants.
I have crocheted for over 55 years. I love that the donated crochet projects have been up-cycled to create new, beautiful garments. Much better than tossed in a landfill or used in a dog cage.
Yes! Someone who agrees with me and not Ting! hahah. Thanks for watching. Series 10 hopefully coming soon.
Laughed out loud at your commentary. So enjoyable. The pattern challenge was interesting, but I felt the show went downhill from that point. I felt SO SORRY for the sewers having to create a made to measure outfit from old crochet blankets. Unfair and RIDICULOUS!
Imagine Ting sending slippers through the post to Sewing Bee 🤣🤣
You guys crack me up. When Stuart said “you could see it from that point of view” and Ting just went “no”, I nearly fell off the chair laughing! “Mixed bag” “come on Chuckles” it was hysterical. I agreed with everything Ting said about the M2M. As a person who crochets and I have made blankets, it made me want to cry. I get the point that they were in charity shops (where? I have never seen a crochet blanket in a charity shop - do we think the Production team sourced them. You can buy crochet second hand blankets on Ebay etc) but it was still very sad to see them cut up. I think a lot of the finish garments still looked like blankets. Good point about the weight of wool Ting. I thought Tony’s lighter wool worked better than the others. I don’t think the pattern for the Zero waste trousers looked good. Just huge and baggy - agree with previous comments on here about zero waste means you just wear the waste and look like a sack of spuds - don’t get me started on how badly they missed the point on sustainability.
I still can't get over I cracked a joke.....Think I was too busy laughing at my own joke...my brain just isn't wired for thinking or even telling jokes, so I was well chuffed haha.
@@TheWoolpatch me neither. If I tell a joke (by accident) my family go "oooh you told a funny" which makes them all fall about laughing at themselves.
What a week! I liked the concept of the zero waste trousers but most of the legs were too wide to make them a garment I’d want to wear. Presumably that could be fixed by using a different width of material. I agree with the comments that the tote bag round was more wasteful than continuing to use them as bags. I didn’t like the M2M round. I agree with Ting that if you wanted a crochet garment you would actually crochet one! Who in real life would think of cutting up a crochet blanket and making it into a garment? I don’t know how they prevented them from unraveling either so respect for that!
I liked Asmara’s coat. She said it was going to be a Regency coat so I think the design was for a cutaway coat with the white flowers being like the closure across the front and also looking a bit like a cravat. They didn’t really work because she put too many on and they were too bulky. Patrick was unduly mean to her. I agreed with the choice of Mia’s suit for garment of the week. Matthew’s time was rightly up. I think the problem he had with his machine was because he tried to shove too much bulk through it but he didn’t seem to understand that. He’s had a few issues with his skill level over the weeks eg shonky darts on his swimming costume and mixing incompatible weights of fabric in his boubou last week so he’d gone about as far as he could go.
I reckon Fauve and Tony R will be the next two to go but any of the others could make it to the final.
Great show once again so thanks to you and Ting for giving us a good laugh on a Friday afternoon
Thank you Stuart for mentioning mine and Sue's conversation on our cheese and X preferences. :) you made my bedtime viewing! You are both very welcome to visit and have a chat if you're ever my way 🇨🇦 Canadian Rockies are bucket list worthy!
Aww Wonderful! Anytime - that's what so good about these weeks of coming together, chatting about this show we love so much, in so many ways. As for the rockies, oh, they are high on my bucket list for sure....I'm a hiker and love it....I want to do that cool train that goes through them and you can sleep and look out of the bubbles at the top....east to west or just the rockies. So at some point I'll be there..... :)
@@TheWoolpatch I want to do that Via Rail too! Hoping you get to realize this dream some year soon!
I was laughing all the way through. Thanks so much for bringing some cheer to my day.
Great week, Ting was right though you can’t cut crochet , when someone has painstakingly crocheted every stitch! But Ting your hilarious, thunder thighs 🤣🤣🤣🤣 and Stuart sitting there trying to think of something polite to say, you two are better than the Morecambe and Wise show 🤣🤣🤣👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼😘🥰
NO!! 😂 In the words of King Charles III ‘Agreed’
Hello all. After the triumph of last week's episode, I suppose we had to crash down to earth. I've been reading the social media comments about RRR, and there have been a number which have been, shall we say less than positive.
I will never understand how it can be sustainable to cut up those beautiful, hand crafted blankets, many are practically heirlooms, to make into clothes for a competition. No one is going to wear those clothes - so they may now end up in land fill. Matthew cut up his late grandmother's hand made blankets - at which point, I just cried.
On a positive note, I really enjoyed watching the pattern challenge. I would like to make this pattern myself - how nice it would be to get a set length of fabric, knowing that not one scrap will be wasted. THIS is what sustainability should be about.
Like Ting, I was concerned with Lizzie's choice of check print, but now I think she was being very clever. The main pieces of the pattern were straight/ rectangular shaped, so lining up the checks would have been relatively easy to do. The overall effect however looks complex - easy bonus points.
Again, I agree with Ting about using the bags for the transformation challenge. If they used factory seconds, or old and/or slightly damaged bags, it would have made sense. Using new and useable bags to turn into 'tops' is not sustainable - it's a waste!
Vicky's top - Not sure what Patrick was on about. Yellow and blue do go well together - otherwise someone had better tell the Ukraine, Sweden, Barbados and IKEA that they need to change their flags.
Ting you are spot on about the M2M challenge - nothing further to add. I'm sorry that you had to watch that, I was awful for me, and I can barely crotchet, so I can only imagine how you and any one who crotchets must have felt.
So we've gone from arguably the best episode ever, to the definitely the worse in the space of a week.
The contestants did a great job with the tasks given this week, and any 'short coming' has nothing to do with them. Another point, this is the SEWING bee, not the Crochet bee. I love the idea of merging skills, but that last challenge, you really had to be a near crochet expert to create anything good. But the contestants were and are being judged on on their sewing skills. This challenge belittled the wonderful craft of crochet and I doubt there will be a huge rush of learners to the local crotchet group. I am literally angry at the complete and utter waste of these materials. At a time of economic crisis, (excluding the current heat wave of course), there must be hundreds, if not thousands of people in this country alone, that could have made use of a hand crafted blanket.
I joked that I was making slippers, as I just knew this episode would be especially controversial. But for me, sadly, all my fears and expectations were exceeded. I am surprised Ting only threw 4.
I threw 6. PAIRS. (2 for the concept, 4 for the TC, and 6 for the M2M)
The only saving grace was the pattern challenge, otherwise, I will not reflect on this episode with undiluted fondness.
BTW I believe Neil from Series 3, episode 4 was first to do triple on GBSB - PC - Boned corset, TC - Power suit to Cocktail dress and M2M - Traditional Kilt. Ah, the good old days!
Take care :)
I agree with your points and especially about the fact this is a *Sewing Bee* not a crochet bee. It disadvantaged those sewists who don't crochet, and that's not really fair...
As always, a wonderful comment to read looking at the challenges. you threw 6 pairs! Yeah, I thought Ting would have thrown more, perhaps because he threw 2 at the title alone last week, he got a lot out of his system haha. As for the triple....WOW! that's Sewing Bee knowledge! Thank you for this info. I'm now going to Iplayer to watch and research for this weeks unpicked. I haven't seen all the early ones, other than the first one and bits and pieces of others.
Unless a crocheted blanket was make of lots of granny squares, it would be better undoing it and either crocheting or knitting something else. Mia was the only one who understood granny squares and how they work. I thought Lizzie's red cropped cardigan completely clashed with the dress.
Another entertaining video 👏 👏. I'm also inspired to make a zero waste trouser Stuart and to give serious consideration when placing pattern pieces on fabric to ensure I'm not wasting fabric. Totally agree with Ting, the made to measure didn't make sense to me and was going to cause issues with the sewing machine.
Just caught up on this after a very busy few days interrupting my enjoyment of your show 😂
I thought the pattern challenge was just about ok, but they looked too shapeless.
The transformation, as usual, was utter nonsense! I’d be more inclined to make a tote bag out of an old garment, not the other way round!
I couldn’t believe my eyes or ears when they explained that final challenge. Poor old Betty, I bet she couldn’t wait to get back to Strictly 😂😂
I did think that Mia’s was by far the best outfit and deserved to win. I liked Lauren’s too. I could also see Tony R’s outfit being worn at Glastonbury!
I agree with Ting about the editing, we’re not stupid, we don’t need all the drama, we want to see more of the sewing!!
Thanks for another great show guys 🤩🤩
Hello from the US.
Another great episode. I love your shows. Tig was salty over the blankets…that said I have never crocheted in my life. It looks as time consuming as sewing. I loved the garment of the week. Enjoyed this episode a lot. Normally I don’t.
Thanks guys for a great recap.
EDIT Saturday: Yup - We missed Lauren's fabulous M2M, good spot everyone. Clearly got muddled going alphabetically as I try to challenge Ting on why I thought the M2M brief was a good one haha. Your comments are just wonderful. So many lovely points for, and against it all, whilst never forgetting the hard work the sewers put in! Thanks All. Stuart
🧡 thank you both for all your efforts!
"A mixed bag!" 😂😂
I'm no joke teller either so I was quite chuffed when this popped into my head as you can see! hahah
I would wear these pants in a heart beat. I love the shape and the look.
It would be lovely to see this show IRL
the use of the totes was wild.
Ting, I realize not in this situation, but I have cut up a granny square blanket due to ruined bits and reused the good squares to make pillows.
some were scary. I am going to go back and watch the others
so fun.
I’d be undoing the blanket to reuse the wool not make a garment
I think Lizzie actually had an advantage cutting out the plaid fabric, as Stuart said, since she could follow the lines. The real problem would be if it were printed lines that didn’t quite follow the grain!
As for the crochet… it has been years since I’ve done any, but my sister has just finished a blanket and would NOT be pleased to see it cut up on television! In any case, crochet is crochet and is definitely not meant to be cut and sewn.
Well done once again Stuart and Ting. I was crocheting a Grannie square blanket while watching so totally agreed with all your comments. Both of you had very valid points. As teachers you are experts on critiquing fairly. Not an aimless waffle which others can sometimes indulge in. Thank you for all your hard work. Bye the way, love you pencil work Stuart. Guess another teacher skill.
Catherine
Australia
Aww Catherine, this has made my day. Pleased that this comes across. It's all about the assessment criteria isn't it - that's what the discussions should be based around and it's then that which get's analysed and critiqued. We try our best as you know, sometimes we are not sure of the criteria so then it gets muddied. As for the pencil! haha yeah, the wonders of digital tech.....Teaching PE, Drama, Art and being able to easily pinpoint, rewind, highlight, zoom etc, was good for the students to see what works and what doesn't etc. So I had to have it in our discussions. It's such a good tool. :) Stuart
Well it looks like crochet-gate will be the burning issue of this series 😂 I'm still trying to recover...Ting x
Ting, I appreciate your explanation of crochet as I've never done it. I'm sorry you were so incensed. I hope you don't have prolonged trauma as a result of this episode!
First time commenting here I think, Sara from Ireland. I am confused about sizing with the zero waste trousers, are they supposed to be one size fits all? Agree wholeheartedly with Ting in his disgust at someone spending hours and hours crocheting those blankets only for them to be cut up. I'm a long standing knitter and more novice crocheter and them cutting into the blankets made me feel a bit sick 🤢. Love your show!!
Great to have you join in with the conversation Sweensie!! Thanks for watching and getting invovled!
Hi, not sure if l missed it but l couldn't see you discussed Lauren's M2M .. l thought the trousers were inspired and though E&P liked it.. l thought the edging looked messy on the midriff. However I am totally with Ting, using crochet was a very poor choice... See you next week 🎉
Yup I totally missed it out.....Got carried away trying to win the debate on the M2M round....and Lauren's was such a lovely outfit too!!
The pattern challenge was pretty good, but... is all that awkward bulk in the finished garment *really* so much better than having a few offcuts?
The transformation was around its usual standard: some good skills on display, but the concept was odd. If we have a surplus of tote bags, we mainly need a supply chain solution.
The made-to-measure? Sewing crocheted pieces is a physical mismatch. A contestant could have saved the day if they'd sent away their sewing machine and fabric shears, divided their blankets into pieces by unravelling a few joins, reshaped the pieces (and closed any modesty-threatening holes) with new tight lines of crochet, and seamed them together with crochet. That would have been legendary. But nobody did it.
Re triples in previous series, there's also Charlotte's 2-garment triple in the series 4 semifinal, where her zero-waste duvet cover transformation got 2 parts of the triple. (And for the other part of the triple, it was one of the great pattern challenges: the modern Japanese skirt with the Long Curved Lapped Seam of Doom!)
I’m with you Ting, as a crocheter it was tragic to see the blankets cut up. The remnants would have been thrown in the bin. One of the contestants even used their daughters’ crochet baby blanket and cut it up. Those are made to pass down through generations.
Blankets Definitely heavier then when they had to turn jumpers into a dress
Going down the slippery slope there with the slippers Ting 😉😅
Here it is! Week 4 - RRR Week. Much better than previous RRR weeks? All was going so well too until the M2M round. What did you think of the brief? Ting hated it and couldn't watch whereas I loved it! To cut up crochet or to not cut up.....that's the question! Team Ting or Team Stuart for M2M? Let us know in the comments!
Gentlemen, you owe me a new monitor!
Starting from the made to measure round, I was laughing a lot and lost some wine....
Stuart, I appreciate your attempt to provide a counterpoint and a balanced view about the use of crochet blankets, but as someone who took a whole year to crochet a scarf, I'm with Ting on this 🙂.
It was painful to watch handmade crochet be cut up. And I think as well it was not fair to the sewists, those who has knitting or crochet skills were at an advantage, and those who didn't were at a disadvantage and that's not fair for a *Sewing Bee*. What was really being judged here, Design? Sewing? Crochet? Arguably crochet is just big knitted fabric but I think the approach to stabilising edges has to be quite different.
I will have to go back and rewatch it, but I seem to think Matthew was breaking needles because he was folding over the seams and going through 4 layers at once?? When matching or overlapping edges and then zig zag stitch might have been better. (idk, will need to check).
I am also a member of #TeamCrochetConspiracy, I think that the blankets were at best presourced before filming and the contestants would have picked beforehand and known what they're working with. I've been through most charity shops in South London and there's not that many crochet blankets (or patchwork) around. I think the production team sourced them or sourced some of them at least (didn't somone cut up family blankets? 😭). The blankets were very nice and new looking for the most part, I certainly didn't see any bobbles.
Tony W had the best choice of fabric, such a shame about the chevrons. And I can't imagine how long the jacket fabric took to make...
All in all, I understand what they were trying to do, but I don't think it was fair, and I don't think it was right. Especially when you can make the same garments by crocheting them! 😤
(final edit: this is a bit niche but there's a quilt centre/museum in Wales and last time I visited they had a deconstructed example of a late 19thC/ early 20thC handstitched quilt, and the inner layers/batting were actually crocheted blankets and I think that has to be a better way to recycle than chopping them up)
Hahaha this is wonderful to read Anna...well, not about your monitor though haha. A wonderful comment analysing the episode. I did try didn't I for M2M in putting the other side across....However, we never had a debating soc at school or uni so my skills aren't as honed as Tings at debating!!! As for the hashtag hahah. As for the final edit and the museum in Wales with the quilt with crochet blanket inside instead of batting!!! WOW!!!! Great idea of reuse and recycle!!!
The zero waste pattern is very on trend and enjoyed this round.
Didn’t get the crochet M2M. I thought a couple handled it well but none wowed me!
Shame Matthew went home he was one of the creative ones it will be a duller place without him! 😢
Dutch fan of the show here, and now also a fan of your aftershow! The Reduce Reuse Recycle week could look a bit further for material, like scaffolding canvas or neckties. Cheers!
Welcome along Marieke! Lovely to have you watching and joining in with the sewing chat!
Week 4. Entertainment score 10/10. In touch with reality score 0/10. I don’t get ‘no waste’ sewing generally - it seems you retain the waste fabric as part of your garment, and look completely hideous, just to save throwing it away. But Oxfam will take your scrap textiles and recycle them, surely a perfectly acceptable green solution? Transforming tote bags into garments is ridiculous; it’s the opposite of what people do which is to make tote bags out of unwanted garments. Who would want to wear something sewn from a grubby, worn old tote bag? As for the made-to-measure… totally entertaining but totally ridiculous. By the way, you didn’t discuss the camel-coloured outfit with brown chevrons (was it Lauren?) which I thought was definitely one of the better ones.
I like the kind of zero waste garment making that maximises efficiency in the layout of the garment, but the idea that one should scrap all notions of shaping a garment in order to reduce fabric waste is counter-productive...
So interesting I'm watching this episode for the 3rd Time!
Project Runway is now running- Very Good watching. There is at least a promise of "Making The Cut' our there.
I need to watch this programme, but keep missing it....what channel/Streaming platform?
Ah, Ting's slippers are going to be wore out. 😮 I think the crochet blanket controversy is similiar to designers cutting old quilts to make coats. Yikes🙈 perhaps it will remind people that a lot of work goes into those items and should be looked after and repaired instead of cutting them up.
Yes exactly - they are just creating waste and rubbish. Recycling is not about the 'challenge' of making one useless thing into another. Genuine recycling is a bigger challenge: what is an effective use of this unwanted stuff? In a circular economy, garments should be at the 'upper' end of the cycle, using durable fabrics, suited to seasons and weathers, made into items that can be worn regularly for several years. Scraps and used garments then become lower grade materials suitable for cleaning, backing, stuffing. After that they may be shredded and go to compost - preferably in your own garden or local allotment.
I think Ting should have AT LEAST 2 slippers for the last round😮
I know, not as many flying as I thought!
Love Ting being grumpy!
I had to look it up, but my hunch was correct, that Neil from season 3 (one of my favourite contestants ever!) had a triple in the episode about structure. The pattern was corset, MtM was a kilt. He was also first in the transformation challenge.
I still wish he had won the sewing bee...
It's so sad that he just made some errors in the final, his sewing till then had always been precise and amazing...
I seem to remember hearing that they couldn’t let him win - something to do with being in the military. I’ve never forgotten his pages and pages of planning notes for the kilt, nor the fact that he took his machine to the front and repaired uniforms, he was a very special contestant.
The transformation challenge really irritated me, I get Tote bags as Ting stated for their sustainability and if I ever get a hole in one I’d be more likely to use it as part of patchwork item rather than an item of clothing
I'd be more likely to use an old garment to make a tote bag rather than the other way around.
Imagine if they had haute courtier, 38:55 and told to cut it up. I’m a crocheter I couldn’t watch.
I loved Lizzie’s B top in the second challenge. So innovative. She should have won in my opinion.
Made to Measure. Slipper count in the hundreds. Sacrilege🦹🏾♂️
Completely agree!
Think Lizzie comes into her own when she's winging it. She's very creative but sometimes doesn't do so well when following patterns. Was a good episode but the M2M was bonkers 😮
I think that's why I like Lizzie so much....very much me hahah
Those blankets were much better quality than anything I’ve seen in a charity shop. Mia’s matching white bits were suspiciously well matched for colour, considering they were supposed to have been found in charity shops. Even whites don’t always match. She still deserved the win. I agree that it was a bit ridiculous as a challenge but if it is in a charity shop then it’s not unreasonable to make it into something else.
Made to measure was a disaster. Who cuts up a crochet blanket to make a wearable garment? I'm in for Mia and Tony W.
Oh I do worry about Ting... if he's not on blood pressure medication yet he'll need to be by the end of the series 💓.
I would say I'd crochet to calm down but now I'm worried someone is going to take my work and cut it up 😂😂
@@mrtsuffolk 🤣🧶🤣
This week’s M2M has no saving graces. This should not have happened!
Aww Margaret - I thought I may have had you on my side of this argument hahaha. Looks like I've clearly lost this debate. Not many on my side! hahah. Has it rained at yours yet?
@@TheWoolpatch Mon 19th No rain! I started crochet at school, and i’m nearing retirement now. Mrs P my teacher would have had something to say to Sewing Bee 🤣
Loved this week's analysis. As you both always state, we love the sewers but not so much the briefs. Just my 2 cents here, but I think the RRR week needs a fourth "R". Reality. The producers need a reality check when setting up these reducing, reusing, and recycling briefs. Sewers in the real world do many wonderful things with the three R's in everyday life, and they always incorporate the 4th. What can I salvage? What needs repaired? How can this work with that? Etc. One does not make clothes out of totes and one NEVER EVER cuts up a perfectly good handmade crochet blanket to make an outfit.
My final three would be Mia, Tony W and Asmaa. The fourth? Maybe Lizzie.
Many comments on social media that crochet blankets are sent to landfill. When I was young the rag and bone man collected such items and and they sere then recycled to make paper. Why do such items need to go to landfill? Is it because we are using too much petroleum based yarms? We also used to unpick and re-knit or re-crochet such items as a means of reutilizing the items. Same with the zero waste trousers, you can cut trousers with more shape using the same amount of fabric. Depending on width of fabric all you need is the length required. Ok, bits are cut off to make the shape, but those bits can be used for other projects. With zero waste shapeless trousers you are just carrying the excess waste within the garment. No go for me, just be more economical when cutting out. Use the offcuts to make scrap patchwork. We need to learn from the past, not silly wsys as we saw tonight. The tote bags could have well been made originally from waste, left over, fabric and will last for years so don't need re-purposing. I am sympathetic to the aims but teally not motivated by what we saw tonight.
I think GBSB is losing the best of the of previous series, such as maybe series 4 and 5 to 6 or 7. Like many such shows is losing the plot.
If there are any excess blankets around these days, they can be donated to many places instead of charity shops. The homeless, although they obviously wouldn't look after them. With the cold winter we had and people couldn't afford to put their heating on, I'm sure they would have been glad of these blankets. they could be sent abroad for people in need. There used to be a charity shop near me where they would have crocheted blankets, not very big, that were specifically donated having used new wool, but the colour combinations were terrible. They really looked as if the person had gone out of their way to use colours that didn't match.
There was a treble. It was Neil in series 3 ( I think )
Oh was it? Ooo I need to go back and watch the earlier 'OG' series haha
Well for me this was always going to be a controversial topic - and I ended up with more slippers than Ting !! The highlights was the idea of a zero waste pattern for the pattern challenge BUT the pattern they chose was way too unfitted , I’m sure popping in a few waste darts or pleats to give shape wouldn’t have used any more fabric . As for the pockets I think I would have trimmed the pocket pattern piece to create a pocket former and pressed the fabric around that . Ambers historical piece was great and definitely added to the show . Negatives - The transformation challenge was contrived nonsense - cutting up what looked to be unused bags to make mostly unwearable tops .. why ??? And as for the made to measure, some of the blankets looked pristine and not from a charity shop , wouldn’t be at all surprised to discover they were made for the show , I agree the concept was flawed as ting said surely you’d just craft your garment using crochet skills ( off to look at ravelry ) and cutting up the blankets was just criminal and totally disrespectful of the skill and hours spent making them . My final four will be Lizzie, Tony w ,Mia and Asmaa . Thankyou again for another lovely show
The pattern challenge this week was quite interesting, I wonder if everyone measured the same way, given that the legs looked so different for some of the makes? It's an interesting idea but I wonder how comfortable those trousers would be, given the symmetrical crotch curve and lack of hip shaping. Guess that's why they were on the male mannequin...
I take the programme as entertainment like any other elimination programme out there. The difference is the lovely contestants and the fact they are skilled in and enjoy sewing. Some more than others. I don't wish they would NOT do something no more than I wish the bakers wouldn't make a fancy tiered cake... the whole point is to put some challenges out there and see how they do. The characters come through and their stories - it's the formula to make an entertaining series for the public. It isn't fly-on-the-wall St Martin's fashion college or Dior TV - it's a gentle feel good programme because in the end there's no £100 000 great prize or contract for business - there's no greed, just a desire to sew and the pride of winning - we have our favourites and get involved. But criticism of the show's format detracts from it. Just enjoy the ride. For me it's a joyful switch off from the day - and the additional channels about it are fun. I do sometimes wonder what the judges REALLY think. The fashion industry is not known for its kindness LOL but kindness does come through. I do enjoy constructive banter though and fully applaud the virtual slipper.
Lizzie’s was the best transformation and should have won.
The correct alphabetical order Stuart is as follows:
Asmaa, Fauve,Lauren,Lizzie,Matthew,Mia,Tony R, Tony W, Vikki
The picture at the beginning of whose left is in alphabetical order.
Cheers Yvie! I clearly got muddled haha (ooo just noticed your username change!! :)
It didn’t make sense to use these bags! They could have given the contestants more ‘ends’
I think in the first series I think one of guys did the treble..
I think the transformation challenge created more waste
I thought the M2M was heart breaking..Asmers blanket was beautiful and was never going to be suitable for a garment. The winning suit was cute but no one would wear it..
I didn't think it was a pleasing episode at all and some of the judging was unfair imho.
I really disagree with Ting on the made to measure challenge. Stuart has it right. The blankets used were in CHARITY shops. They (except the one baby blanket) didn't go to their own stash of blankets and steal grandma's blankets. I was a bit sad at the winning one, in that she took her baby's blanket she was given and made the sleeves from it. I still have the blankets made for my children, and they treasure them.
But, if the charity shop blankets weren't treasured by the people who donated them, and if they weren't sold for this purpose to the sewers, what are the odds someone else would have bought them and treasured the skill and work it took to make them? Even as evidenced by the one baby blanket used in this challenge, not everyone values the work the same way. So I saw this as a worthwhile challenge. Just some people didn't have the best plans or choose the best blankets for their makes.
Ooo Another one on Team Stuart - there aren't' many of us Lisa. You develop our point on this conversation brilliantly.
There are just too many comments agreeing with me! I've resorted to liking them, I'll be up all night replying! I think we all agree the crochet was a fail on so many fronts!
As much as I love the Sewing Bee and want it to be a successful show, I don't think BBC1 is the best channel. I think it would be better on BBC2, where hopefully there would be less pressure to be commercial, so that they didn't have to have the stupid time countdowns, less focus on actual sewing etc...
If you watch series 1-4, they didn't do that, you clearly saw that some sewists finished ahead of others (and this wasn't edited out like it is now. It was either episode 2 or 3 of this series where Fauve needed to use someone else's machine at the last minute and she could only have done that if they'd already finished).
I also think that have 12 contestants is a bit too much. It makes the early episodes very busy, and it's harder to engage with the show.
I also agree with the comments that you've both made, it's not fair to have judging decisions made on fabric choice when there's a limited choice and then a free-for-all to choose. Particularly as this favours the able bodied sewists over those with physical disabilities (and I know the show wants to be very accessible so they should revisit it).
I agree - it takes a couple of episodes to settle into a series, just in time for RRR Week!
I also think 12 contestants is too many. It’s hard to engage with the personalities until at least two people have been knocked out.
I could be mis remembering but did Anne Rowley get a triple win in the first series? I really enjoyed this episode and it wasn't just because we got Amber weighing in. I agree the whole reusing bags and crochet blankets weren't eco friendly challenges. At least Matthew made an attempt at made to measure with the bodice and fitted waist though is garment was poorly made. Let's face it though, crochet garments don't make anyone look their best.
Ooooo I'll take a look and research regarding Anne and the triple.
@@TheWoolpatch Not sure I'm correct, it's been quite a while since I watched that season.
Asmaa, Tony W and Mia for the final.
Erm, I of course meant Tony R ... no, honest ROFL. I'm going to miss Tony W :(
You’ve forgetten Lauren in the made to measure 😡
I thought Lauren's outfit was nice and classy-looking....
I also realised that they had forgotten Lauren's on Unpicked. It was the next best (or best) in the M2M, I thought it looked really good.
Oh I so totally did!!! And this was one of my faves and I was going in alphabetical order too!! No idea how i did that 🙈🙈 that’s a slipper at me! 🤣🤣🤣
Absolutely! I agree! Doh!! Not sure how that happened, clearly Ting put me off Hahah
Apart from the first round a complete waste of time. Next week does not look much better.
Can’t quite reach your wallet. Meow😂
Hi Guys, the editing and the stupid unfunny jokes completed ruin this programme.
I think Sarah is hilarious as a comedienne on a comedy show, but all the time she faffs around we could se more of the techniques and styles. I'd love to here more about why they went the way this did with the transformation challenge.
As Ting said, the garments won because they could have been made as a crochet item.
I think Sam Ryder looks great in his crochet items. I'd love to know whether he can actually crochet??
Looking forward to tonight. Fauve must pick up her skill level this week.
xxJane