A couple of weeks ago the fourth season of BBC sewing show The Great
British Sewing Bee ended. I started watching this show halfway through the
third season. I’m not into reality or competitive shows at all, but two friends
really liked it, and when I saw an ad for it which showed the contestants were
going to make kilts, obviously I was intrigued
and decided to give it a go!
The first time I watched I almost got stressed just watching! Imagine
making a corset in only four hours… But I did like the show, and was pleasantly
surprised that the judges were actually fair and not too negative. The purpose
of this talent show, unlike so many others, certainly isn’t gloating. I did
like former judge May better than the new judge, Esme, though; I am a bit
afraid she was brought in because the producers found the show too positive…
Also, did the contestants deliberately have too little time for the projects
this time? I wondered at the skill level of most of the contestants, but too
little time may have accounted for that. Pity.
The highlights of the fourth season, for me, were the made to measure
dresses made of African style fabrics, and the alteration challenge ones made
from a tuxedo.
Made to measure dresses
using African style fabrics
These dresses are from episode 4, International Week. The photos aren’t
great quality, sorry – I actually photographed my television screen here!
Angeline:
Charlotte:
The infuriating Joyce ;):
I think these fabrics are amazing; I would love to make a dress out of
one of them. And the funny thing is, they’re actually made in The Netherlands!
As we were informed on the show, Dutch companies started making cheaper
imitation Indonesian batik to sell in Indonesia, but the fabrics ended up in
West Africa and became hugely popular there. There’s only one Dutch company
making this ‘wax hollandais’ now, Vlisco. Ironically, they now face
competition from cheaper wax print production in China.
My absolute favourite was this dress by Jade. I would wear this exactly
as it is!
To be honest, I thought Jade’s sewing was quite inaccurate, and I
wouldn’t have agreed if she had won, but she did make some pretty cool designs.
Alteration challenge –
tuxedo into little black dress
The final episode, Evening Wear Week, had the three remaining ladies (who,
age wise, could have been daughter, mother and grandmother!) make men’s
tuxedoes into little black dresses. I really liked Charlotte’s and Jade’s.
