Welcome. Welcome. Yeah, thank you.
Welcome to The Great...
- Oh! - We've got the most amazing idea for the pre-title sketches.
- Right. - We're going to dress you as a giant bobbin
- and roll you in. - OK.
- It's going to be great. - OK.
- I didn't know we were still doing... - OK, Sophie, standby!
- It'll be great. - Right, OK.
Don't forget. Once you've introduced the challenge,
head straight to the haberdashery to talk applique.
- H-Have a...? - OK, camera set!
Wing it.
I've been winging it for years.
- Yeah? - She really has.
And action!
Welcome to The Great British Sewing Bee.
I'm Sophie Willan, your new host.
- Seamless. - Yeah?
- Mm. - Woo!
LAUGHTER
- Yeah! - I'm on Sewing Bee. I can't believe it.
I've spoken to my daughter.
I said, "I'm just going to be myself."
And she said, "Oh, no, Mum - don't do that!"
12 brand-new home sewers are about to take their first steps
into the sewing room.
- Wowser! - Oh, my God! - Wow!
This is so exciting.
It's a lifelong dream.
It's something me and my mum watch together.
Over the next ten weeks,
they'll be faced with challenges to test their precision...
- Oh, God. - ..creativity...
This is my Superman look.
ANNA GASPS
- My needle broke. - ..and ability to fit to a model.
Chaos, isn't it?
I didn't think I was competitive until I turned up here.
- Fantastic. - Do I hope I win?
Of course I hope I win!
My main techniques are panic and winging it.
All will be scrutinised by judges Esme Young and Patrick Grant.
If you want to go far in the Sewing Bee,
you have to show the bravery.
You have to create something that we haven't seen before.
I'm going for a pimped up traffic warden.
That is a sentence I didn't expect to hear on Sewing Bee.
I might send mine to Benedict Cumberbatch.
He's really dishy.
It's really important they learn from their mistakes -
not go, "Ah!"
- Ah! - Ah!
Who will strut their way to winning Garment of the Week?
I really hope Patrick and Esme get my style.
I think they will.
Surely?
Who will unravel?
- I'm so sorry! Did I attack you? - And who...
- Come on! - I've made a right meal of this!
REBECCA GROANS
..is hanging by a thread?
Sometimes you do the most idiotic things.
I don't.
# When I met you in the summer... #
Sewers, please come forward.
Big hello, you brave bunch of bobbin wranglers.
How are we feeling?
- Excited? Nervous? - Yeah.
Planning an escape route?
LAUGHTER
First up, we've got the pattern challenge.
And this week's theme is British summertime.
So think flowers, garden parties.
And as I'm pregnant, I'll probably just be sat sweating
in my underwear like a rotisserie chicken.
So, Esme, what have we got?
Here you go. Pass them around.
- Thank you. - So we've given you a pair of summer shorts.
It's got elastic at the back.
It's got two pockets and a fake fly.
Also, there is a lot of topstitching -
and you need to do that in a contrast thread.
Of course, we want to see you choose a fabric
that shows us something about your style,
but which also works well with the features in our short.
OK, you've got two hours and 45 minutes.
Your time starts...now.
- Yo! - Oh, my Gosh! - Esme, you look fabulous in real life -
now I can see you!
I couldn't see you from back there.
- Which one are you going for? - The crabs.
- Lovely. I'm going for the lobster. - Yay!
We can co-ordinate!
The sewers' fabric choice could impact
how challenging these shorts are to sew.
Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh!
Right, what are we going for?
Too floaty and it will be harder to get a crisp, neat finish.
It's too drapey.
Too heavy and the sewers could end up with bulky bits.
Oh, sorry, madam!
The haberdashery, it's so much bigger
than I thought it was going to be.
Really, really cool.
Oh, I'm so excited!
Probably too excited.
So, what are all the elements
that they have to do with these shorts?
Well, we've asked them to make two patch pockets.
Those are topstitched on.
And there is quite a lot of topstitching.
There's topstitching around the pocket,
we've got topstitching around the false fly
and we've got topstitching around the hem.
Now, they all ought to be the same spacing.
- And the topstitching is going to really shout out. - Yes.
We've asked them to put an elasticated section
- right through the back of the shorts. - Yes.
Inserting the elastic can be quite tricky.
It needs to be equal.
Because we've asked them to sew it through the back.
But also making sure the fabric isn't so thick
that it doesn't gather properly.
Yeah, because it looks nice with a ruche.
- You need the ruche. - It does, doesn't it?
- You need a good ruche. - Also, there's facing here
- that needs to be understitched. - Right.
That's to keep it in place.
Well, let's see how they do.
We are good to go.
I'm really liking this fabric.
It's thick enough that it'll keep its shape.
My hands are shaking. I just need a moment.
Of all the things that I'm not good at,
it's going to be topstitching, isn't it?
So that's going to be a right old mess.
To start the shorts, two patch pockets
are created and topstitched onto the front pieces,
which are sewn together at the centre seam.
To create the fake fly,
the fly extension is pressed to the right
and topstitched in place.
Next, the front facing is attached at the waist and understitched,
before the back and front pieces are sewn together.
The elastic is attached at the side seams,
then the facing is folded down and stitched in place.
Finally, the inside leg is sewn and the hems are topstitched.
So, first step is with the pockets, which are here.
"Turn the seam allowance above the notch
"to the wrong side and press."
Fiddly. Very fiddly.
"Use a contrast colour thread
"to topstitch eight millimetres from the fold."
What on earth? I can't really unpick.
It's not my superpower.
Finance boss Dawn has been sewing since childhood.
And despite losing the sight in her left eye in 2022,
leaving her visually impaired,
it hasn't dented her passion.
I found that there are gadgets out there
that help people with sight loss,
but I've come from not being able to do very much at all
to being on the show today.
- Good morning. - Oh, hello!
- How are you getting along? - Er...
Well, I won't tell you about the unfortunate bit.
Well, you can't tell us there's an unfortunate thing
and then us not ask about the unfortunate thing.
So what's the unfortunate thing?
- Well, the topstitching I done, the machine... - Oops.
- The bobbin was a bit wonky. - Yeah.
But that's inside a pocket.
- You're barely going to notice that. - Well, er...
I mean, we've noticed it now.
Yes. If you hadn't told us, we might not have noticed.
Pretend I didn't.
LAUGHTER
I've gone for this really lovely fabric
with cute little red bows on.
I'm going to be doing a contrast pocket in red.
A bit of a sailor vibe.
I feel like it's a bit of me.
Anna lives on a narrow boat in York with her boyfriend.
A barista by day, her voyage into sewing
started six years ago.
And the rest is history.
I'm obsessed with vintage fashion.
I definitely love to make theatrical,
weird and wonderful creations.
I call it folk grunge.
- I'm loving the outfit. - Thank you.
And I've noticed in here you like the vintage looks.
- I do, yeah. - The romantic, Bohemian couple here.
- Yeah. - He's called Sebastian, isn't he?
- He is. - And your dad is a vicar?
- He is, yeah. Yeah, yeah. - I know everything about you, Anna.
- You do, yeah! - I'm like MI5.
I'm being really boring.
It doesn't exactly scream Ibiza holidays.
But to me, this is like the colour of the South Downs,
where I live.
East Sussex lad Lewis
is a rugby-playing school teacher -
and has been a secret sewer for years.
I didn't used to tell a lot of people
that I enjoyed sewing.
I grew up with my hobbies being rugby.
I don't think I was going to be in the changing rooms
talking to the lads about, you know, seam allowances.
But it's something I'm really proud of.
- Hello. - Hello. - I hear you played rugby? - Morning.
I did used to, yeah.
She likes a rugby man.
Well, my dad was the captain of the Wasps.
- Oh, amazing. - THE Wasps. - Wow. - The Wasps, yeah.
Do you make shorts? Is this something you'd normally do?
- Yeah, I really like patch pockets. - And are wearing them today.
Yeah, I'd say I can't take credit for these, though.
Yeah, well, it's a nice reference point, isn't it?
- Yeah, exactly. Yeah. - Here's how they should look.
- ADELE: - I'm a bit nervous.
I don't know. It's a bit Kat Slater, isn't it?
But half my wardrobe's in leopard print,
- so it's making me feel comfortable. - Go like this...!
Primary teacher Adele has been making clothes
for five years
and has given pattern matching a whole new meaning.
My little girl shares the leopard print love.
I also like to make my husband and my son matching shirts.
My poor husband doesn't really get a say in it.
Do you do topstitching?
Yeah, I do. And I thought, "Go with the white contrast thread."
- It's quite bright, isn't it, that white? - Mm.
- I know. - I'm just wondering whether something
that was like a slight ecru -
rather than, like, graphic, graphic white might not be a bit...?
- I might just go for it. - Yeah? - Yeah.
I'm topstitching the pockets.
Patrick and Esme will be looking for perfectly straight,
evenly spaced parallel lines.
The tongue of concentration is coming out.
I'm really happy with the contrast,
and I think the topstitching is working.
Shaky, that is.
Oh, I'm panicking about this white.
And my topstitching's gone all weird here.
I love a topstitch.
Who doesn't love a topstitch?
I wear shorts all the time.
I live on a smallholding.
Hello, boys.
60-year-old Tim runs a small Suffolk care farm.
Used to operating heavy machinery,
he bought his first sewing machine two years ago
and hasn't looked back.
I just think sewing is a magical thing.
I would really advocate
if anybody thinks they're too old to do anything, just do it.
We've gone bananas.
We have gone bananas.
I thought it was a really summery print.
- How do you feel to be here? - Er, it's just fantastic.
With all these talented people, it's just wonderful!
Well, you'll find out whether they're talented or not.
LAUGHTER
Halfway through, sewers!
Wow!
Exhausting work for me, this.
I'm sewing together the front two pieces
at the crotch seam and fly.
I now need to fold this fake fly
so that you get a fold on the inside
and it looks like there's a fly -
even though you haven't done a zip or anything.
OK, scary topstitching! Let's go!
My topstitching's not as perfect as I'd like it to be.
It's going a bit narrower at the bottom,
but I can live with it.
These are ladies' shorts,
so the sewers need to remember the fly goes right over left.
It's wrong. We should be on the other side.
We're not unpicking. We're just carrying on.
Sam's used to pressure.
He's a heating engineer in Huddersfield,
where he lives with his partner, Liv, a criminal barrister.
My partner is absolutely over the moon with me sewing.
If we go shopping,
instead of buying the garment,
she's like, "Well, you can make that."
You live in Yorkshire?
Yeah, I moved from Birmingham.
- Were you on the run or...? - No, no, not yet.
Because, I mean, this could all be a ruse, couldn't it?
You could be setting up a new life as a "sewer".
I've got a good legal team behind me
- if it does go a bit south. - Right, OK.
I have just attached the front facing.
And I need to now press this under, and then understitch,
which is where you run a line of stitching
just on the inside of the facing.
And it means, when I fold it over, you'll get a really crisp edge.
Let's see if we can do this.
I like to freestyle, and I know that's not what this is about.
So I need to make sure that I actually do
what they tell me to do.
Sewers, you've got one hour!
Right? Yeah, crack on.
It's starting to feel pretty toasty.
So, er, I'm putting the back and the front together.
"The top of the pocket opening should meet the side seam."
Exactly.
I'm trying to line it up as best I can.
I can feel where the edge of the pocket is,
and I just need to make sure that I sew right along that line.
Millimetre precision is needed here.
Stray too close to the pocket edge and there's a risk they might
sew their pocket closed.
I need to be slow here, because I can feel the pocket opening.
One millimetre the other way
and their pockets won't line up with the side seams.
They may be a mil or two out.
Yay! My pockets worked!
EMMA SINGS SOPRANO
Emma hits all the high notes.
She's a professional soprano
and recently started sewing again after a 30-year gap.
I would say that my style is dopamine dressing.
My brother once said that I looked like
I'd been in an explosion in a paint factory,
so I suppose that's kind of what I'm going for.
When did you start all this malarkey, then?
- The sewing? - I started when I was a teenager.
My mum used to sew a lot,
and then she took ill at one point.
So I was able to use her sewing machine.
- That was weirdly opportunistic of you. - I know, it was.
I thought it was going to be a sad story.
- No, no. - You were like, "Sod her! Woo!"
Somebody got the roll of elastic?
I am folding the front facing at the back of the shorts down.
So basically I'm creating a channel.
You put elastic in the back.
"Pin one end in place, pin the other end
"on the opposite side and stitch."
To create the perfect ruche,
the sewers must stitch the bottom of the back channel closed
with pinpoint accuracy...
This is tricky.
..making sure they don't catch any of the elastic.
Is anyone doing the elastic?
It's really hard to pull it and sew it.
Oh, man.
Don't need to see that yet, Esme.
LAUGHTER
- I'm loving the pink. - Thank you.
- You're engaged, aren't you? - I am engaged, yes.
To a woman who describes your style as like an executive hobbit?
Yes. Well, she's six foot - and I'm not.
I just think it's a fabulous turn of phrase.
- Yeah! - Who says a hobbit can't be efficient?
- Yeah. - We just like elevenses.
Yeah.
Rebecca is an actuary
and lives in London with her fiance, Sam.
She's been sewing for a decade,
but her current make is her most ambitious yet.
I am making my own wedding dress.
There's a lot of pressure to get it right.
"Further secure the elastic by stitching
"through the back seam."
I just need to do the centre back seam,
so I'm trying to pull it so the elastic
is equally spread either side.
Otherwise you'll get a right bum cheek
that's tighter than the left bum cheek.
I'm getting a bit of bunching.
My waistband's a little bit imbalanced,
but I don't think I'm going to unpick that.
Sewers! Ten minutes left!
- Oh, Lordy! - You'll be fine.
You'll be fine. Everything is fine.
I'm just pressing the hems.
Some of it is not great.
We've got to topstitch two parallel lines.
But I'm really getting them nice and straight, hopefully.
I'm hopeful that I've done enough.
And them to go, "Yep, that's what we asked you to do."
- Oh, man! - One minute left!
I'm not going to finish.
My very, very stressed face.
Caught the pocket.
It's too late now.
Oh!
Sewers! Like the temperature in here, your time is up!
Oh, man. That's annoying.
It could've... Could've gone worse.
I missed a row of topstitching.
Bring your mannequins forward.
MUSIC: Sunchyme by Dario G
Get the speed! Woohoo!
12 pairs of summer shorts made in under three hours
are ready for Esme and Patrick's sunshiny scrutiny.
I think they've made pretty short work of this challenge!
Hey!
LAUGHTER
The topstitching is pretty good, actually.
The consistency of your two lines of topstitching is impeccable.
The waistband elastic is pretty good.
I think it's just slightly off alignment
at the top of the pocket here.
But I think you've done a very good job.
Thank you.
You can see very clearly - wider, narrower.
Also, the pocket, it's not lined up.
That edge should be sitting on that seam.
I think this is a great debut.
Your topstitching -
you're ever so fractionally close to the edge.
A bit wobbly here.
- You can stop looking now, Esme. - LAUGHTER
Choice of topstitch works very nicely
with the fabric.
A little tiny bit narrow.
It's not absolutely consistent.
Pockets line up really well with the side seams.
Oh, it's a bit wobbly.
Elastic's good.
The top of the pocket is not aligned with the side seam on this side,
and you've managed to somehow catch the edge of the pocket.
I think it's a good choice of fabric,
and your topstitching is super neat.
Top of your pocket isn't quite lined up.
When you've attached the elastic,
you've gone slightly off centre.
So you've got a bit more gather this side
and a bit less gather that side.
Well, the topstitching actually is really good.
The pocket doesn't line-up with the side seam.
It's quite a heavy fabric,
so it's just making the top a little bit bulky.
I think the topstitch colour is just too white.
In terms of the topstitching itself,
this side is a little narrow.
Top of the pocket isn't quite lined up.
Same this side.
I like the purple with the pink,
but it really shows up the wobbles.
The fly's the wrong way around.
It's left over right instead of right over left.
You've just slightly lost the edge on the front of the pocket.
The hem - you have only got 80% of the first row of stitching,
- and you haven't got to the second. - Literally run out of time.
Yeah.
You're the only person to have given us a contrast pocket.
The combination of fabrics -
it's really, really nice.
These are super nicely made.
The topstitching -
- absolutely spot-on. - Is great.
Well done.
Your topstitching is really nice and neat.
Very consistent.
The elastic's tighter here than here,
which is a big shame because it's really well sewn.
I think they are impeccable.
- Yay! - So neat and tidy everywhere.
And the elastic's good.
Ah, it's not understitched.
It sits nice and flat across the front, though, doesn't it?
- It does. - It does. - But you have missed the understitching.
Patrick and Esme will now rank the shorts
from summer wash-out to summer blockbuster.
In 12th place, it's Sam.
Didn't quite finish.
Just a couple of other wibbly-wobblies.
Thanks.
Adele is 11th.
Heather, 10th.
Dawn, ninth. Angie, eighth.
Tim, seventh. Minnie, sixth.
Lewis, fifth.
Emma, fourth.
And in third place is Rebecca.
In second place...
..is Beth.
Perfection - with the exception of forgetting that understitch.
In first place is Anna.
We loved the different colour pockets.
You did a really great job.
Thanks so much! Ah!
Yay!
Well done!
# Have a nice day... #
Oh, my gosh! I'm really, really pleased!
I'm a bit in shock!
If Patrick says something, he doesn't like something,
change it straight away.
Put my big girl pants on and do better.
12th place, disappointed.
It was a fairly simple pattern.
It was just me executing it really bad.
Just carry on and go for the transformation next.
# Have a nice day... #
Welcome back, sewers.
So now for the transformation challenge,
where you take something used and knackered
and give it a bit of a summertime spruce.
A bit like I do with my pre-holiday bikini wax.
So, Patrick, what have we got 'em doing?
Ready for a grilling?
Ooh!
We're giving you a selection of barbecue aprons,
and we would like you to transform them
into a bag with a specific function.
You're allowed to take two aprons each.
You can take fastenings and webbing.
But you cannot take any decorative trim
or fabric from the haberdashery.
So the judges can't be here for this.
So they're going to pop off and sizzle some sausages.
He's sizzling my sausages.
I don't want to know what that means, Esme.
LAUGHTER
You've got an hour and a half.
Your time starts...now.
# In the summertime, when the weather is high... #
Pull it off! What have we got?
- Oh! - Wow!
- Oh, I want the pink! - Oh, gosh! I'm dropping them!
- Here we go. - I love making bags.
I don't make them very often, but they're quite fun to make.
I can make something, I hope.
I mean, I don't eat meat - so I'm not...
I'm not the best person to invite to your barbecue.
I'm the one there saying, "Can you cook this
"in some tinfoil for me, please?"
We've given them all our favourite aprons,
and we're asking them to transform them into a bag
with a very clear purpose.
Is it for sport? Is it for some sort of hobby?
But it also needs to be functional.
So, if it's got straps and clips, they need to be usable.
Yes, we'd said they can take two -
so I think they really need to play
with the colours and the patterns.
Well, Esme, let's hope these bags are flipping good.
I'm going to make a hat bag
inspired by vintage hat boxes.
So it's going to be round.
I'm going to be making a tool bag.
It was a bit of a blow for you, last challenge, wasn't it?
It was awful. We just keep going.
I am going to make a gym bag.
My boyfriend's big into the gym,
so I'm going to attempt to make him some sort of duffle bag.
Project manager Heather
creates timeless garments for her loved ones and herself.
For her, sewing is more than a hobby.
It's a family affair.
My grandad was a tailor
and my nan worked in health care and worked as a seamstress
in the evening for some extra money.
And my mum can also sew.
So it's very much in my blood.
So you're like the House of Versace, but in Birmingham.
- Something like that, yeah. - You know, like, the whole family's at it.
So what I'm thinking is,
because it had the waterproof feel to it,
a bag for a wet summer walk -
carrying some picnic accoutrements.
Strawberries!
I'm making a knitting bag!
I can't wait to give it to my daughter, really,
even though she doesn't knit.
I'm the knitter. She's four.
Beijing-born Minnie
lives in Bedfordshire with her husband and three children.
Her love of sewing started six years ago
with an unexpected gift.
I got a sewing machine as a Christmas present
from my husband,
and I hated it.
I said, "That's such a housewifey present."
But turns out it's the best present I ever received.
I've decided to make a sewing bag.
I've got this apron, which is a nasty terracotta one -
but I've got this one,
which is quite a saucy, fun one.
So it's a travel sewing bag.
I use a lot of duvet covers.
But I've never recycled an apron before, so this is nice.
Retired lecturer Angie has sewn on and off for 30 years.
After losing her husband,
she rekindled her love for sewing with frilly frocks.
I love the concept of matching bags and shoes and hats.
And quite often, when I make a dress,
I'll make a bag to match.
That one's pretty much how I feel about sewing.
ANGIE LAUGHS
- What is this going to be? - I've got a big orchard.
And this time of year, we spend a lot of time
up ladders collecting fruit.
- It's a fruit collecting bag. - Is that a new invention?
We've been using bags to collect fruit for a long time.
Oh, right. OK. So that's not new.
I think hydration is pretty important, isn't it?
I want to make, like, a water bottle bag.
So I'm just currently writing the word "hydrate".
Hydration is essential for Beth when she's power lifting at the gym.
Sewing, like sport,
is a stress relief as she studies for a PhD in engineering.
I just love sewing.
With my engineering brain,
I love the construction.
So I did some circumference measurements
to make sure that the base of my circle
is actually the same as the kind of circumference of the tube.
Current plan is a rucksack.
At the moment, I just want to get something
that can hold an object.
I'm doing a music briefcase -
for young people to carry their music in,
in a cool way.
I'm thinking a bag to take to Glastonbury
to put some beer in.
Is it bacon?
Er, maybe it is.
- I could just wrap it up and eat it. - Maybe it is.
Think of Lady Gaga when she went on the red carpet dressed in meat.
Was that summer? You know, it was edgy.
- No, but it was edgy. - Oh.
I think you should own it. You're going punk.
You're just taking a risk.
You're edgy. You're avant-garde. Go for it, Dawn.
What can you do?
You've made a bag out of bits of meat.
It's a sizzling summer!
Halfway, sewers!
They're looking for a bag with a purpose.
Maybe my purpose is not quite clear.
I'm just adding everything I can to give it more structure.
I want to stitch this somewhere onto the bag.
I'm hoping to put a foam roller in there or a yoga mat,
and then it's a functional gym bag.
It's going to have a zip.
And I've tried to make it a bit 3D so that it holds more beer.
When it's judged, how are they going to know it's a sewing bag?
I don't want to go further down the leaderboard.
I would like to stay a bit longer.
Should just flap over like that.
It's a rucksack for pride! There we go!
- That's what it is! - It's a concept album of a bag.
LEWIS SIGHS
OK, 15 minutes, you cheeky chipolatas!
I'm flapping and sweaty.
My main techniques that I'm using are panic and winging it.
I have got a kind of lid - like the lid of a hat box.
The key thing is that it's robust enough to hold a lot of apples.
It's not an adjustable strap, but it'll have to do.
I have put the word "music" on, but it's tiny.
This bit comes out.
I've sort of made something that has to be explained.
I've got a strap.
- A rucksack! - This is intense, this is.
I think that's actually perfect.
And you just shut. Keep all your project nice and safe
from kids and cats.
I think it looks like a legit bag.
Do you get a one-minute warning?
- One minute left! - To the wire!
That's what we like to see on Sewing Bee!
Oh, it worked! OK!
Oh, absolutely sweating!
It's a nice way to end the day.
Needles up, sewers!
I've run so many marathons, and that was harder.
OK, sewers, bring your bags forward, and muddle them up a bit
so we don't know whose is whose.
- That looks so professional! - I know. Mine's so simple.
# Barbecue, barbecue... #
12 functional bags transformed from barbecue aprons
in just 90 minutes.
Judges, you can come back in.
And Patrick and Esme have no idea who's made what.
- What do you think? - I think they're sizzlin' hot.
- I am massively impressed. - # Barbecue, barbecue
# There ain't nothing I'd rather do
# Right here in the bed with you and eat your barbecue. #
I think these straps here
are to attach your rolled up yoga mat.
Because this is a classic sort of gym bag shape.
I think it's really well constructed.
I like the way that they've given us the straps
in colours that I think work with the print really well. I like it.
This is a sort of a take on what ultramarathon runners use.
They've just free-hand embroidered over the top
with "fuel" and "hydrate".
- It's fun, isn't it? - It is super fun, yeah.
It's sort of half apron, half bib.
Half tote bag.
It's not much of a transformation, is it?
It's useful, it's functional,
but it's still quite aprony.
PATRICK LAUGHS
Very entertainingly is a dinner suit with a load of meat.
It's got Lady Gaga meat outfit vibes.
And there's lots of pockets here.
What do you think it's for?
- Shopping? - Well...
I'm not sure you're getting a lot of shopping in there.
Do you think it's to keep the beer in?
- A beer-pack rather than a backpack? - Yes.
- It looks great. It's well made.
I like it a lot.
Well, it's a rucksack.
I like the colours of this - and the decoration.
I think the straps aren't working exactly as they ought to.
- What do you think it's for? - It's a courier bag.
It could have done with a close.
So it's waterproof on the outside,
which is why I think it's a sort of practical outdoor bag.
The positioning of the straps is a bit uneven.
Yeah, not bad.
Well, that's a handbag.
Just cos you can hold it in your hand
doesn't mean it's a handbag.
I think it's a really nice rendition of a small, practical gardening bag.
Here we have a music bag.
What makes me think it's a music bag?
Well, the word "music" on the front, which is a helpful clue.
I love how they've used these pockets.
It reminds me of a hat box.
I very much like the combination of fabrics.
I think it's brilliant. I love the shape of it.
I love the way that they've constructed the lid.
The whole thing, I think, is so nicely conceived.
It's really original and I like it a lot.
There's a clue as to what goes into this bag.
It's full of wool.
A couple of simple straps on the top,
which are attached using the D-rings.
The straps are a little bit dull compared to everything else.
Patrick and Esme will now rank the transformations
from bottom to top.
In 12th place, it's the one with
the tartan pocket.
So that's Tim.
So, it was too much like the original apron.
OK.
In 11th place is the
green waterproof gardening bag.
That's Lewis.
- Is it a gardening bag? - I think let's go with that now.
LAUGHTER
Dawn is in tenth place.
Sam, ninth. Minnie, eighth.
Emma, seventh. Rebecca, sixth.
Adele, fifth. Angie, fourth.
And in third place is Heather.
In second place...
..is the crossbody bag in denim.
That's Beth.
- It's really imaginative. - Thank you.
Which means in first place is our wonderful hat bag.
That's Anna.
I mean, it is a delight.
The shape of it is amazing.
The engineering is brilliant.
It couldn't be any better. Well done.
# Reach up for the sunrise... # APPLAUSE
I'm really pleased.
I do feel quite relieved.
Well done, Anna!
I feel like I can kind of breathe a bit.
There we are.
Well, that was a roller-coaster, wasn't it?
I mean, yeah, tomorrow's a new day - anything could happen.
And hopefully it'll be better than today.
Feeling nervous. I am towards the bottom.
I'm hoping to climb up the leaderboard.
We shall see what happens.
At the moment, I think I'm the one in the most trouble.
And I don't think my made-to-measure will save me.
So I've got to really enjoy it.
# Feel the new day enter your life. #
# Walkin' back to happiness
# Woopah... #
It's a new day in Leeds
and there's one final challenge
and one last chance for the sewers to shine.
But this week, Patrick and Esme are shaking things up.
# Now I know what I must do... #
Welcome back, sewers.
It's the made-to-measure challenge.
The big one.
Now, normally, we ask you to make an outfit to fit one of our models.
But today, the model is you.
So the judges want you to design an outfit
for your perfect summer's day.
Now, if you're Esme, that would be crowd surfing
at a drag brunch after eight martinis.
I've seen it.
LAUGHTER
And we all know that Patrick -
well, he's very busy with his plums in summertime.
You've got five hours.
Your time starts now.
Right.
As always, the sewers have been allowed to practise
their made-to-measures at home.
But making for themselves is a first in the sewing room.
I'm really excited. Because this is why I sew.
It's to make something that fits me.
I'm very grateful to be making something for myself.
Until I probably hit the catwalk,
and then maybe it's a different story.
You're quite tall.
You're perfect to model, aren't you?
No, because my proportions are not very normal.
I actually got model scouted when I was a teenager,
and I had to send my measurements over.
And they were like,
"No, no - we're not interested any more."
What is it you're looking for in this outfit?
Well, I think, firstly, we want to have
a clear story about the perfect summer's day.
We want a beautifully made outfit.
It's got to fit them properly.
It's a totally open brief.
So, really, it's an opportunity to just understand
- a little bit more about them. - Yeah.
But also, we asked them to wear it.
Is that going to be more challenging? Less challenging?
It could in some senses be easier -
because it means they can absolutely practise on the real model at home
- before they've got here. - Yeah.
But it is much harder fitting something on yourself
than on somebody else.
Right. Let's see what they come up with.
- Intrigued. - Mm-hm.
Today's a new day.
And, you know, I love this pattern
and I love what the outfit means to me.
So I'm looking forward to it.
I've had a bit of a shaky start to the competition,
so I need to make sure that I deliver.
- Hi. - Hello. What are you making?
I am going to be making a wrap dress
out of this lovely farmer's market fabric.
Because my perfect summer's day is a day with my fiance
- at the local farmer's market. - Very good.
Rebecca's wrap dress will feature
contrasting statement ruffles and inseam pockets.
And she's leaving nothing to chance.
It took quite a few tries to get the fit just right.
So how have you done the fitting for this one?
So this is just a lot of mock-ups.
Er, so, if you see, it has been cut up and taped.
- Because originally there was a lot of ease in the bust. - OK.
So it was really gaping,
and I knew that you wouldn't like that.
- No, we wouldn't. - And I didn't like that.
So I'm hoping that the fit will work -
as long as I haven't changed shape significantly since last weekend.
While Rebecca's neckline could end up a bit saucy,
Adele's outfit will definitely be fruity.
My perfect summer's day is strawberry picking
with my children and just wearing a really nice, pretty dress.
It's more fun.
Adele's strawberry print dress
will have a fitted lined bodice with puff sleeves,
an invisible zip and a floaty gathered skirt.
This is how I imagine parenthood.
You know, me looking whimsical and beautiful,
picking strawberries.
The reality of it is, like, one of them
is probably going to be sick on it.
And they'll be shouting at me and it'll be horrible.
- But it's nice to have the vision. - Yeah.
Tim's looked to love for his outfit.
It's inspired by my wedding.
I'm making a waistcoat and a pair of wrap pants.
I made us both a pair of waistcoats
in the same fabric that I'm using.
And obviously, it was the best day of my life.
Staking his place in the competition on an ambitious two-piece,
Tim's rap trousers will feature contrast pockets
and a button fly -
topped by his boxy, lined waistcoat.
I need to really smash this out of the park
to hoick myself out of the relegation zone.
Also hoping to sew his way to safety is Sam.
The perfect summer's day is, like, on holiday,
being around a pool all day.
Then just walk down a coastal path to, like, a restaurant.
- Nice. - So I'm making a linen shirt and chino trousers.
Very ambitious.
I'm just seeing what I can do, and hopefully you enjoy it.
Sam's chinos will have an elasticated waistband
and pockets, while his short sleeve shirt
comes with a classic collar, button fastening and a patch pocket.
The shirt - so are we looking at loose fit
or a relatively snug fit?
I'll probably wear it open, to be honest with you -
- just because that's how... - Open?
Yeah.
I'll have the T-shirt underneath, though.
Cheeky!
Esme would prefer a topless catwalk, but I'm not giving it her.
For the first time ever,
the sewers will be strutting their stuff
and modelling their own creations.
Modelling - when I heard it, I was a bit like...
MINNIE GROANS
"Do I have to?"
Let's try a little walk.
- Let's get you prepared, Lewis. - OK. - Come on. - OK.
- You'll be shocked to know I've never catwalked. - OK.
But I just ooze sensuality.
- It's exhausting, actually. - I know, yeah.
LAUGHTER
- Less arms! Less arms! - Less arms?
- Look how long my arms are! - Enjoy them!
I had to extend these about ten inches.
Lewis will be squeezing his long arms
into a fisherman's smock
with pleated patch pockets -
and flashing his knees in a pair of elasticated shorts.
My dad's got a smock a bit like this.
It's something that I remember seeing him wearing
on holiday in France.
So they've kind of got a bit of a summer thing for me.
So we've got two pockets.
They have a tiny bit of expansion in them.
You could definitely get two beers in there.
Whatever their usage, pockets are a popular choice
in the sewing room.
Esme does like a pocket.
LAUGHTER
Actually, going to Glasto fest is what's inspired my outfit today.
I'm making, like, a cargo-style pant.
And the top is just quite a small top.
Because, really, you shouldn't be wearing too many clothes,
I feel like, at Glasto.
As well as pockets,
Beth's Glasto pants will be pleated for volume -
with elasticated ankles and an invisible zip.
While her stretched bandeau top will have a halter neck tie
matching her trousers.
It's quite a thick strap, so it has...
So it's got one-way stretch, or two-way?
- It goes both. - No, it's one-way stretch.
Is it not? OK. Yeah, no, you're right.
I'm going to be stretching it this way.
Let's hope so!
Beth's not the only sewer using stretch fabric.
Try not to stretch it out of shape.
I'm making quite a simple dress,
but it will fit me.
My perfect summer's day is walking
on the beach with a little dog
and then going for supper afterwards.
Gambling with simplicity,
Dawn's easy fit stretch dress will have a cover-stitched neckline
and will be topped with a chiffon jacket and a small doggy bag.
Because the dress is simple, it has to be really well made.
So I wanted to show diversity of using the cover stitch machine.
I hope it works out,
and I think it'll look really pretty.
Emma's diving in at the deep end with her outfit.
Swimwear can be quite a difficult fabric to work with
because it stretches in all directions,
so it can make it slightly challenging.
I'm making a pair of high waisted trousers with this fabric.
And with the same design,
but four-way stretch fabric,
I'm making a swimsuit.
Because my perfect summer's day would always include a swim.
Emma's swimsuit will feature cut-outs and gathered cups,
while her trousers come with pockets
and a self-drafted bow tie fastening.
- Wow, like a giant bow tie. - Like a giant bow tie.
- OK. - So my dad taught me how to tie a bow tie,
and I just thought it would be a nice little memento to my dad.
- Cute. Nice story. Yeah, very nice. - You're going to see me...
- EMMA WHISPERS: - ..in my swimsuit. - Are we?
- I think you will. - How are your legs?
My legs are great! Sure, look at them!
LAUGHTER
I'm knackered!
Sewers, you're halfway!
Oh, my God! Oh, my God!
The panic!
Bloody hell!
This is my Superman look!
Yay!
Oh, jeez. It's gone all gathered.
It's on the shoulders.
Happy with that.
I've put in the 12 pleats.
I'm just topstitching all of them.
This is an invisible zip.
They can sense fear.
So I'm making an outfit for a picnic,
and it's all going to be made out of vintage tablecloths.
It's very inspired by sort of Victorian underwear.
Why would you have knickers
when you could have some frilly bloomers?
Oh, my God, the waistline doesn't quite match up.
Anna's picnic two-piece consists of a milkmaid-style top
with buttons, elasticated shoulders and red bows,
and bloomers with an elasticated hem.
How are you getting on?
Good. Yeah, they're nearly finished.
So I'm going to put, like, elastic - so it's going to gather into...
- OK. - ..a bloomer.
You should try it on
- before you put the elastic in to see what it's like. - Mm.
- OK. What, you think...? - Have a look.
Yeah, I'll try. I'll try. Thank you.
I need to just try on the shorts
and see whether I even bother gathering it.
Anna's not the only sewer grappling with gathers.
- MINNIE: - This material - so much embroidery on it,
which makes it stiffer.
It doesn't gather very well.
- Hello. - Hello!
Tell us about the outfit.
I am making a full-length dress, and it is fully lined.
- Wow. - It's a bit Regency shaped.
- OK. - And my perfect summer's day will be having a day out
in a National Trust.
Finish off at the tea room.
- Have an afternoon tea. - Yeah, OK.
Minnie's afternoon tea dress comes with an empire line bodice,
puffed sleeves
and a full gathered skirt with inseam pockets.
It's fancy enough to go to a posh tea room.
Just me and my husband.
And no children.
Sorry, children.
My ideal day is me and my boyfriend kind of just, like,
milling around Chelsea.
So, yeah, fun dress.
It's based on some of the favourite shops that I go into
when we kind of do that walk.
Heather's Chelsea day dress will feature straps,
inseam pockets,
an invisible zip and decorative piping.
So I'm currently pinning the piping to the bottom of the bodice.
A little bit fiddly, but it will have, like,
a little red trim at the bottom.
Heather's not the only sewer dealing with fiddly bits.
It's got tricky details.
There's no quick way around it.
For me, British summer time is going on day trips to London.
I'm always in a dress.
I like the way dresses swish.
Angie's swishy dress will have a lined, close-fitting bodice
set-in sleeves
and a skirt finished with a flounce.
I don't know what a flounce is, but I love the name.
A flounce is...
- I'll show you a flounce. - Oh, it's lovely.
- Very, very swishy. - Yeah.
- It's all for the twirl. - I'm going to flounce off now.
LAUGHTER
- Flounce, flounce, flounce... - Flounce.
Do you know what? I think Esme might be right.
They do look quite nice ungathered.
Have just sewn the zip.
The top of the zip lines up.
Really happy with that.
I'm on the home straight for the trousers.
Quite chuffed with them.
Hem on the trousers.
Then it's all shirt.
It'll be down to the wire, like.
- PATRICK: - Yeah, hmm!
Patrick, put your plums away.
We've only got one hour.
We've got one hour!
Oh, my giddy kipper!
I need to concentrate now.
I'm popping the pocket on.
I've got to move on to the vest. So this is only half the outfit.
Ah! The cover stitch machine has chewed it all up.
It's a disaster, that is.
There isn't a plan B for this.
I've done my swimsuit.
So, now, trousers.
Tiny, tiny bit short.
And now we're onto shorts.
I think I'm going to have to make some compromises.
Because I think under an hour isn't going to finish it.
So I think I'll have to have a little tuck
at the top of the sleeve - rather than easing.
I've decided that I'm not going to cover stitch the neck.
For whatever reason, it's not quite working.
Happy with that.
So now it is ruffling time, part two.
I've got a bit of gaping in the back.
- Turn around. Half an inch. - Each seam?
- Yeah, it'll be fine. - Yeah. Thank you.
- PATRICK: - How are you getting on? - Oh, swimmingly.
- Swimmingly? - Yeah, not telling you like I did yesterday.
So you're binding all of that neck?
Yeah, because I tried to cover-stitch everything,
- but it's chewed it all up. - OK.
So I thought I'd do a little binding.
I'm attaching the waistcoat lining.
It's going badly.
I've just been sewing for ages with no thread in.
Tim, I think, still has a lot of construction
- to do on the waistcoat. - Oh, has he?
Yeah. It was still in bits.
Well, I think I'll leave the dress to one side.
Just focus on this little jacket.
When I've finished the jacket, I'll look at the dress again.
I can't look it in the eye at the moment.
Dawn has decided to change the way she's finishing the neckline.
The dress is very, very simple.
Just a lack of ambition.
Yes, that's true.
For me, what's really important is creativity.
I just need to sit at this machine and sew.
Sam's onto the shirt.
He's still got to make the collar,
- put the collar on, hem the sleeves, hem the shirt. - Press it.
And we've still got buttons and buttonholes.
How long left is it, though, now?
We've got 30 minutes!
Oh, God.
I've got to finish it. Otherwise I will be going home.
On to the bow tie. Super fast.
I'm going to make sure that none of the lining faces out the front.
I hated invisible zips.
I've practised this so much.
I can do this!
A little bit of finishing to do, but I have a dress.
That is amazing!
It's not really Prada.
It's more Primarni.
Right, now, what am I going to do about this? This shambles?
How long have we got left?
You've got ten minutes left.
Oh! I'm just putting on the flounce.
Just discovered a catastrophic error.
I spent ages slip-stitching the side seams,
but I was stitching them to themselves.
What was I thinking?!
The neck won't be how I planned.
It'll finish it off.
It'll finish me off - I know that.
I'm doing a buttonhole.
I'm really cutting it fine.
I've done my best invisible zip of my life.
You've got five minutes.
So I'm now making a poo bag.
OK, how many bows can we do and where shall they go?
I'm butchering this hem, though.
I am very glad it's nearly over.
- It's lovely. What's this? - It's a poo bag.
Right, OK.
- Do you want to explain? - For poo!
- For whose poo? - Oh, the dog poo.
You've got one minute!
Oh, my goodness!
My future on this show is by no means certain.
It's going to be crazy to the wire, man!
Get yourself dressed!
Oh!
EMMA LAUGHS
- Go, go, go. Keep going. - You're a real sweetheart.
The trouble is, I haven't set in the lining.
Needles up!
You've just finished your first made-to-measure challenge!
Give yourselves a round of applause!
Woo!
That was so...
# I'm walking on sunshine... #
12 perfect summer's day outfits made to fit
and modelled by our very own sewers.
# I'm walking on sunshine
# Whoa
# And don't it feel good?
# Hey, all right now
# And don't it feel good?
# oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah... #
You were really having fun going down the catwalk.
Oh, thank you, Esme.
In terms of the fit, it's an easy fit.
The shoulder looks a little bunched.
Just gathering a little bit here.
When I came to see you, you were talking about changing
the way you were finishing the neck opening.
And actually, you've managed that very well.
But the dress is very simple.
# Lazing on a sunny afternoon
# In the summertime... #
I love this fabric.
Thank you very much.
- It's got lining in, hasn't it? - Yeah.
And it fits really well here.
I think it's a really, really nice choice of shape.
Obviously, the fabric has these embroidered elements,
which are a little bit bulkier.
So it's not gathering perfectly evenly.
I think it falls very nicely.
- It's a triumph. Well done. - Thank you.
# Here comes the summer
# Here comes the summer... #
- I think this looks terrific. - Thank you.
You've fitted the trousers fantastically well.
The shirt looks just right.
Turn you round to the back.
- Bottom hem, you've just got a little tuck. - Yeah.
Just at the back there.
Turn you back round to the front.
Pocket - crisp, neat.
The sharpest corners here.
I think these buttons are great - that they go with the trousers.
- I think there is so much that's good about this. - Thank you.
# They were sittin' on the strawberry swing
# It's such a perfect day... #
Well, I really like this fabric.
Turn around.
Sits pretty good.
The fit is beautiful.
It just looks light and effortless.
- Well done. - Thank you.
# Idle in the sunshine... #
Starting with the top - the fit's great.
I love the accessorisation with just these little points of red.
Can I turn you around?
Neat and tidy throughout.
All of the sewing is really, really exemplary.
So, you haven't elasticated?
Yeah. Because the embroidery's so lovely,
- it's nice to see it. - Yes, I agree.
How did you get into it?
- Have you got a zip? - It's a zipper at the back.
- Oh, yes. - Mm-hm.
It's not quite lining up here, but I'm being absolutely...
- I was hoping you wouldn't pick this up. - ..picky.
# What a beautiful day
# Hey, hey
# I'm the king of all time... #
I like that you've mixed all these different fabrics together.
- This hole here? - Yeah. - Turn around.
I very much like the wrap trousers.
This is a bit lower than the front.
I think there's a lot going on.
We've got a square fly.
We've got curved panels.
It's quite busy.
Let's have a look at the waistcoat.
You haven't understitched this edge.
And as a result, we've just got that yellow
rolling out to the front.
And again, the armhole - it's just bouncing.
And that's accentuating the fact that it's a little bit
loose across the front.
You gave yourself a lot to do.
I think some of it you just haven't handled quite to perfection.
# So go downtown
# Things will be great when you're downtown... #
I love this piping.
Piping is really even.
The fit looks absolutely first-rate.
Turn you around.
You've got an invisible zip at the back.
It's not absolutely perfect, but it's not bad.
We've just got a slight bit of visibility here.
Turn you back around to the front.
The whole thing is great.
# Seven days in sunny June
# But long enough to bloom... #
- I like this fabric. - Thank you.
Got little pleats in the sleeves.
- Oh. - I ran out of time to ease them.
- So that's... - Making do.
..in a completely different place to that.
You can just see a little bit of lining
showing through at the top.
I mean, there are some execution flaws.
But on the fit side, it's great - so well done.
# And made a great noise
# Then I'd drink till I stank and then drink plenty more
# And I won't go down to the sea any more... #
I've seen you twice do this.
Yeah.
Which tells me that it's a bit short in the front.
I really like this pocket shape.
I really like the pleat on the front.
I feel like the pockets want to be a bit deeper.
- Yeah, a bit roomier. - I mean, the whole thing
is neat and tidy.
Really, it's just that balance that's thrown me off.
But I like it. It's good.
# Let's dance to Joy Division and celebrate the irony
# Everything is going wrong... #
I think first thing to say - it looks fab.
It's nice how you've used the tie from the trousers.
The trousers have got such a beautiful shape to them.
You've got these lovely even pleats across the front
that's throwing all this fullness all the way around.
I mean, the zip is super invisible.
- I think it's a fantastic outfit. - Thank you.
# Daydream
# I fell asleep amid the flowers
# For a couple of hours... #
I think the fit is great.
It's sitting really nicely on the neck.
I think you've got a good, modest wrap at the front.
I love the combination of the fabrics.
Let's have a look.
- That's very neat. - Thank you. - That edge. It's good.
# When I met you in the summer... #
Both the colours and the print are really, really bold.
And I really like it.
The fit of the top of the swimming costume is first-rate.
I also think the fit of the trousers is really nice.
They've got a lovely fall.
I love the bow tie, which is a nod to your dad.
And you've got pockets?
Yes, everything should have pockets.
- Let's see the trousers off. - OK.
We're all friends here.
Er, I think it's really well made, actually.
We've got these really dramatic cut-outs.
Everything is absolutely spot-on. It's brilliant.
Thank you.
I feel really pleased and quite proud of myself, actually.
The catwalk was definitely a new experience.
Actually walking and being able to wear what you've made
down the runway was very cool.
I think I've gone for something too simple.
Whether that will be enough, we'll see.
It didn't all go according to plan.
Have I done enough to draw me up out of the relegation zone?
Mm, I don't think so.
Well, you've got through your first week.
Well done. You've been absolutely amazing.
So, first up, Garment of the Week.
Patrick?
Our Garment of the Week this week is...
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
Bravo. I mean, it was bold, it was brilliant,
it was perfectly sewn, beautifully fitted.
- Couldn't have asked for anything more. - Thanks.
So, unfortunately, one of you fabulous people
has to go home today.
It's not been an easy decision at all
because you're all absolutely brilliant.
But the person that we're sending home today is...
..Dawn.
So sorry. You've been absolutely fabulous.
Well, I feel sad about going home,
but I think they made the right decision.
These wonderful bees are here, and they're all so talented.
- I've had a lovely time! - Good.
I've been lucky to have good and bad experiences in my life,
but this will be definitely up there with the best of them.
You've done brilliantly. Well done.
Dawn should feel extraordinarily proud.
It's very difficult to decide who went home this week.
On one hand, we had Tim.
Tonnes of ambition,
execution that let him down.
And on the other hand, Dawn.
Pretty good execution,
but just a lack of ambition.
And ultimately, the reason we chose to keep Tim
was because we wanted to reward his ambition.
I'm so happy. It's so gorgeous.
Congratulations! It's amazing!
To have won Garment of the Week
in the first week is just, like, a dream come true.
I didn't expect it at all.
So I am feeling a little bit, oh, proud of myself.
A lot of the sewers seem creative,
so I am excited to see what they come up with next.
- Next time... - Game on! - Out the way!
..it's Colour and Prints Week.
I love colour.
The sewers tackle tricky tops...
Made a right meal of this.
..we discover old hues...
What are we doing torturing ourselves with this lot?
..and explore their shady side...
It's terrific.
..with one-colour outfits.
- This is mad! - Oh, shoot!
I feel like I'm going to explode, you know?
If there's a mistake now, nowt I can do about it.
Oh, no!
RIPPING FABRIC
MINNIE SIGHS