Great British Sewing Bee Review

Read John’s Great British Sewing Bee 2021 review. A shorter version of this article appeared in Issue 84 of Simply Sewing magazine.

I was honoured to be asked by Simply Sewing Magazine to write a review on The Great British Sewing Bee 2021. To fit it into the magazine it had to be cut back so here are my unabridged thoughts, comments, likes and dislikes! Let me know what you think by leaving a message at the end of the article.

I have just finished watching the final episode of The Great British Sewing Bee. It really has flown by but have I loved it as much as I normally do? Or is it feeling that, like well loved pair of slippers, it might need updating? One thing is for sure, it been one full of intrigue and controversy. Esme's choices of neck attire, some outrageous fabric choices, surprise evictions and of course Patrick all added to what was Series 7 of the best and only sewing competition on TV.

It was only a few short weeks ago that we were introduced to the intrepid newbies entering a brand new sewing room. Are you like me? Before they even speak you have decided which one will be the best sewer, which one will have meltdowns, which one will go out first, which one will flourish in each of the challenges and which ones will fall at the transformation challenge? 

Esme’s choice of neck attire has always been a point for discussion but surely this necklace has to be the most radical yet?

I have to say, before I begin, that I don't like the fact that someone has to leave in week one. I think they would settle in more quickly if they knew they were all safe for at least one week and all those first day nerves could be put to one side. I'm sure everyone goes in thinking "I don't mind how I do as long as I'm not the first to leave” (I was exactly like that when I did Celebrity Weakest Link).

The first challenge of the first episode The Shell Top  (have we not done that before in an earlier series)? Cruise ship Entertainments Manager Adam shed blood, Julie got her facings on back to front, Cathryn didn't pattern match, loveable rogue Damien from Bolton didn't read his pattern and came last twice! We all thought “oh no he's first off”, but then he redeemed himself in the made-to-measure Ascot dress. We learned that Raph had only started sewing at the beginning of the very first lockdown and Serena stood out as the best seamstresses that have ever been on the show but not really knowing it. 

By the end of episode one I had my top four Adam, Serena, Farie and Raph and we had learned so much about the contestants
• Raph had an innate gift of how fabrics work and how colour works
• Damien had a gungho attitude to sewing as well as to life
• Andrew had a sensible geography teacher facade but underneath there is a flamboyance wanting to burst out in full song 
• Adeena had so much to give, inspirational ideas oozing from every pore but, like a lot of us, her hands can’t keep up with her mind. I still think she will go far in this world!
• Lawratu was just adorable, I loved her but I could see she was perfectly capable but letting the stress of it all get to her.

So, after the first episode, I had two thoughts buzzing around in my head. Firstly, in this day and age of binge watching I felt a bit cheated that I couldn't just click on watch next episode and had to wait a week to see what happens next. But after a while this is one thing I loved about the show, like old fashioned telly not knowing what would happen for another week. Secondly, did I sense an undercurrent during the first show ? Was it because of the pandemic and people were away from their loved ones? Was it that sense of knowing what was going to happen next? I mean the formula of the whole show. It's that dilemma isn't it. Do I want the show to be like going to my favourite restaurant and ordering the same thing off the menu each time and feeling safe but slightly let down or did I feel I needed something different ? A new challenge, or just a surprise??? 

A week later I was back and as eager as I was before and we were offered up paper bag shorts. A very simple straight forward project, so how did so many of them go wrong? I love a button dress and there were some lovely makes this week. Damien's green swiss cheese plant dress with a dip hem was my favourite but I think he was slightly over looked because once again he didn't read his pattern

Before I go any further I think I need to discuss the transformation challenge. As most of you will know it is my least favourite round and I wonder if it's time it should go! Is the show a sewing show or a design show? I know they sort of go hand in hand but I think they are two different skills. Some people, like Raph, are blessed with the gift of both but on the whole I think they are different. Yes, a good challenge is taking old sheets and turning them into playsuits for the kiddies like Julie Andrews did in the Sound of Music but six pairs of shorts or wetsuits? Nah not for me, and I could have wept when I saw all those beautiful tweed jackets being hacked to pieces.

What i would like to see instead is a challenge when all of the contestants are on a level playing field. So each week they are given the same fabric and asked to do the same technique whether it be putting in a concealed zip, or setting in a difficult sleeve shape and they are marked on the actual task . That way as a viewer I can still be entertained but also I could learn something too. Do you agree? Give me your thoughts at the bottom of this article 

I loved the flat cap challenge as not many of them will have made one before. Andrew was rubbing his hands in glee as this was something he had done before and started with such confidence but sadly, for poor old Andrew, it wasn't his day. However, Raph's cap was a thing of beauty, the fabrics he chose, the placement and the finish. A well deserved first place 

Farie started coming onto her own from Episode 3, this is when she realised she really could do it and, even though she had many unfinished garments, she got garment of the week three shows in a row and that is some achievement! But am I right in saying in one of the very early episodes Esme said to one contestant "it's not finished so you have to go"? How she changed her tune! On the subject of Esme, I have to say seeing her shed a little tear when she saw Farie's jacket was a lovely moment!

This year’s series has caused a lot of chatter on the old social media. All sorts of things have been discussed but I think its fair to say the biggest topic has been about the marking in this series. How and why did Adam leave when he did ? I know he had a bad week but nowhere near as bad as some of the others. How did Damien not get Garment of the Week for his party dress? I might actually have shouted at the telly that night!

A lot of people have said they would prefer a marking system to make it fairer and whilst I am on my soap box I think ingenuity should be taken into account as well. For example, in week 8 Damien (I know I seem to be talking about him quite a lot but I do love an underdog who shines through) knew that if he was to put in a zip the way that the pattern had asked for (yes, by week 8 he was reading his patterns) he would not have had a finished garment to put on his fabulous model. So he put it in in a way he knew how so his model had a dress to wear. I think at this point his was the neatest zip of the week but he got marked down for not putting it in in the way the pattern had asked for it to be done. I think that is wrong.

What I have loved this series is how we have seen the contestants personalities grow and their friendships blossom, I imagine there are some foundations for long term friendships laid in that sewing room, but in Episode 8 where did Rebecca's steely determination come from ? It was like I AM going to win something.   

Our deserving winner Serena was, in my opinion, the best seamstress to every appear on The Sewing Bee.

So, in the final we are left with Serena, Raph and Rebecca. Who is your winner ? I already knew who mine was!

The first round and all of the contestants seem very calm and relaxed and are presented with a Bridesmaid dress to make . Strange choice admittedly and a strange design. Two of them plump for silk taffeta, risky choice but can look amazing, tiny bound button holes cause an issue. Rebecca played safe with Duchess satin. The editing makes us believe that Serena and Raph are struggling and Rebecca is bounding ahead but with five minutes to go they all pull it out of the bag. The results are in. Serena first, Rebecca second and Raph third. Perhaps not the placings we were expecting?

Then onto the transformation challenge. Festival wear. (I couldn’t help but wonder often had Patrick actually been to Coachella?) All three contestants seemed to be enjoying themselves, Rebecca played safe, the others did not.  Raph first, Serena second, Rebecca third. There was no distinct leader so anything could happen going into the final Made to Measure!

The choice is from Serena’s uber trendy yellow net souffle that could have done with being a tad more dramatic, Raph’s an unfinished red lame mini dress (I think he tried to go all out and sadly fell at the last hurdle) and a very safe but well fitting floral scuba footballers wife dress from Rebecca (but was the back panel cut out upside down)?

And our winner is (as we have known from day one) a well-deserved and super talented Serena!

But the crowning glory of the night (and maybe the series) belonged to Esme. No, not her exquisite bejewelled blazer but her emotionally charged, tears in her eyes, fairy dust speech about the quality of Serena's work summed up the moment perfectly. But some are saying it was Esme's way of saying goodbye. Could it be ? See you same place, same time next year to find out!

John Scott – June 2021