The Great British Sewing Bee!

via Tilly and the Buttons

Everybody's talking about it, and I thought I'd throw in my two cents, too: I just love the Great British Sewing Bee!

I finally had a chance to watch the first two episodes the other night, and I thought it was absolutely delightful! Having never seen (or even heard of) the Great British Bake Off (from which the show format is derived), I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. But compared to a lot of reality TV (Project Runway, anyone?) I loved the quotidian, home sewist feel of it. There's no snarky bickering, they really showcase the sewing and technique, and each person is so darn lovable! As a home sewist, I feel like they really showcased the craft and everyone in it. For each challenge, they instruct the viewer about what the contestants are making, what the components are, and what sewing really is all about. And, as the girlfriend of a tv/documentary editor (which totally makes me an expert!), I thought it had great graphics and camera work!

To my second point: For those of us who sew, you know you've had friends tell you to try out for Project Runway. For me, of course, that is ridiculous - I'm not a high-end fashion designer, I don't drape or sketch, and I've never made a couture ball gown let alone a dress made out of lettuce. But in terms of the Great Sewing Bee - I want to participate! It seems like so much fun, and a great way to test your skills, hang with other cool sewists, and do some reasonable if time-crunched challenges.

I also want to give a big bravo to everyone involved. In the blogging community we are all most familiar with Tilly, who I definitely tuned in to see. As someone who teaches workshops, has just released two patterns, and runs a very popular blog, it couldn't have been easy for her to submit her skills to the test, especially under such pressure. But she handled it all with grace, style and humility and made me like her even more!

Anyway, if you're interested in giving it a watch, you can find the first three episodes on YouTube below:

Great British Sewing Bee Episode One
Great British Sewing Bee Episode Two
Great British Sewing Bee Episode Three

4 comments:

  1. I agree. It is a very good series and I like the lack of hysterics and hyperbole. There has even been talk of an A-line skirt challenge internetally with my friends!! Can't wait for the next episode.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes I was thinking it would be fun to do the white t-shirt neck line challenge!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lauren also has a blog if you are interested, and the lady who did all the sample sewing has a blog too. They are:
    http://www.guthrie-ghani.co.uk/blog

    http://thethriftystitcher.co.uk/blog/

    ReplyDelete
  4. omg Nessa that's great! I kept thinking they must, but I couldn't find them, even after Tilly profiled Lauren on her blog... Thanks!

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...