Hello, little ones.
I hope you're having fun.
This week, we're going to be
learning our ABCs -
always begin cutting.
And then we'll hear a scary story
about somebody
who ran out of time and had to rush
their seams!
Guess what? It's kids' week!
Welcome to The Great British
Sewing Bee.
Last time...
The coat m*ssacre of 2022.
..the sewers turned trash
into treasure.
Gill triumphed with her recycled
duvet dress.
It was stunning.
Ooh!
Man Yee struggled.
This is the worst thing
I've ever done.
But it was Steve's sewing
room dreams...
Really don't know what I'm doing.
..that ended up in the bin.
And he became the fourth person
to leave.
Loved it. Even the stuff that
I absolutely tanked on.
Now it's children's week!
Size does matter.
The sewers set sail with
the Pattern...
Fabric with crabs on it!
..go back to school in
the Transformation...
Psst. Apparently, the teachers are
smoking in the staffroom.
..and make spooktacular
Made-to-measure
Halloween costumes.
You're making something that
terrifies you. Exactly.
Who will get all the treats?
It's genuinely spooky.
Ooh!
And who will get tricked?
I don't like these faces.
I can't tell what they mean.
# When's my sugar baby
going to come along? #
Kids' week. Kids' week.
I don't have kids.
Kids' week.
I only make kids' clothing by force.
ANNIE LAUGHS
For my friends.
So, looking forward to
children's week.
It should be my cup of tea, really,
cos I have got five grandchildren.
Teeny, tiny mannequins!
It's just making everything
in miniature, really,
which sometimes can be a little bit
more fiddly.
Marni, have you seen how little
your little person is?
LAUGHTER
Hello, sewers! Come forward.
So, my children...
No, it's not why you shouldn't
boil wash wool.
It's children's clothes!
Here's Esme with the Pattern.
Right. Here you go.
Pass them around.
Thank you very much.
Ooh!
What you've got is a pattern
for a child's sailor suit.
It comes in two pieces.
The bottom is a pair of shorts
with elasticated waist.
The top has a classic square
sailor collar.
Now, traditionally, the sailor suit
would be in navy and white,
but you can make it in any colour
that you like.
You have three hours and 45 minutes
for this challenge.
And your time starts now.
Ooh!
Come on! Come on!
To make their sailor suits,
the sewers will need
to pick a lightweight fabric
that's also tough enough
to survive the playground.
Ooh!
Don't know whether I'll regret this,
but I quite like that.
I've gone for gingham,
and it goes really nice with this
fabric with crabs on it!
They'll also need to select
contrasting material
for their ties.
I do like a pop of colour.
Yellow really pops out.
And also the trim for
the collar
that the sailor suit's famous for.
It's a hard decision, you know?
I wanted to have something that was
a bit of nautical theme.
I'm hoping the fabric choices
don't let me down.
I just thought blue for the sea.
What's the opposite of seasick?
Because I love this challenge!
Why did you choose a sailor suit
for children's week?
The sailor suit is a kids' classic.
We want to see good contrast between
whatever tape they use
and the background fabric,
and whatever fabric they use
for the tie and the body.
The contrast says sailor outfit.
Mm-hm.
It is really tricky to sew this tape
on evenly
and make nice right-angle corners.
Yeah.
So are they the main tricky areas
where they might go wrong?
If they don't choose the right type
of fabric,
it will be very difficult
to get a neat,
well-pressed edge on
these turn-ups.
Also, with the shorts,
we've asked them to put elastic
on the waistband -
so it has to be tight enough
that it stays up. Yeah.
So there's a lot for them
to think about.
Let's hope this challenge
doesn't rock the boat.
I remember making a dress
for my daughter
with a sailor collar on it,
probably in about...
..1988.
ANGELA LAUGHS
I have never made a sailor suit.
And I've never made
a mini-sailor suit.
And small pieces could mean
big problems.
I'm not really used to cutting
pieces this small.
The turns are tricky, to go around
the corners,
so I need to be very careful.
If it's off by a couple millimetres
or something,
then it might be quite obvious.
It's harder because you've got to
get in and deal with things
in a much smaller space.
So size does matter.
The sailor suit begins
with the shorts.
They're joined at the centre-front
and back seams,
and along the inside leg.
They're hemmed and turned up,
and elastic is enclosed
in the waistband.
The sailor top begins with the ties,
which are sewn inside out
and pulled through.
These are sandwiched at the shoulder
between the front and back.
The sleeves are inserted
and two rows of ribbon are added
to the cuffs.
The top is joined together along
the undersleeves
and side seams.
For the square collar, two parallel
rows of ribbon are attached
and it's joined to the neckline.
The ties are stitched down.
Finally, three snap fastenings are
added and the tie is tied.
Hello.
Hello.
Do you feel confident about this?
I'm feeling OK. I've made
sailor outfits before.
If you look behind you,
there's a picture of me
back in my teenage years.
Oh, my goodness!
Here you go! I promise that pose
is not me being sassy.
That pose is actually what
the character does.
OK. Who is that character?
That is a Japanese anime character
called Haruhi Suzumiya.
That's how I started sewing.
This is going to be the inspiration.
Right, OK.
Ah.
ANGELA: I'm going to do
my shorts first.
These are the centre-front seams
matched on top of each other.
So we've done the front and back,
and now we're doing the legs
together.
Let's hope I've not done that wrong.
Hi, Brogan!
Hi.
Have you made children's
clothes before?
I make quite a lot of children's
clothes, actually.
Do you?
I have a three-year-old niece.
Aw!
So this kind of size doesn't terrify
you as being much smaller? Yeah.
Is three about that big?
I mean, she's quite a bit bigger
than that. Oh, is she?
She's really tall for her age.
Are you sure it's not an adult
pretending to be a child
to get free clothes from you?
BROGAN LAUGHS
I mean, I hope not.
Yeah.
She's just a creepy 30-year-old
going,
"Now I'd love a pantsuit."
I now have to create the hem.
Folding up on one side.
And then I have to fold up again.
The turn-ups need to be
the right width.
Nice and straight-looking.
Unless the sewers measure each turn
precisely and press firmly...
There's a lot of pressing on this.
..they won't achieve the crisp
and even turn-up
the judges have demanded.
Oh, God.
A task made even more difficult for
those with thicker fabric.
With canvas, that's as close as you
can get because it's thicker.
It's quite hard to press
this fabric.
I'm so excited that it's kids' week
and you're using the baby
ironing board!
I am! There's a lot of pressing
and turning on this one.
I spotted a really handsome fellow
on your board.
Can I ask questions?
Of course. Please.
Who's this?
That's Frank, actually.
Would you ever make Frank clothes,
or no?
That's the next step after
kids' week.
It's the natural evolution.
Obviously.
Go smaller and smaller, yeah.
Adults. Smaller. Dogs.
Perfect.
Right, there's the little hem.
Next stage is to create
a waistband.
Try and get it as accurate
as possible
because I'm sure they'll be out
with the tape measures.
I've kind of, like, made up my
own way of measuring it.
It is a bit bigger than I thought
it was going to be.
But I'm just going with it.
Well, I've got a pair of shorts,
if all else fails.
They're so small!
I know!
BOAT HORN HONKS
You are halfway through!
Halfway? Right.
I'm just sewing the ties.
So this will be under the collar.
The contrasting part.
I've decided to go for
the darker colour.
I don't know if it's going to look
nice on top of it.
I don't know if it's too busy.
But decisions have to be made,
so I'm going to go with it.
Just need to make sure that the
corners are nice and pointy.
It won't be as sharp as some of the
others cos it's thick fabric.
So I'm going to call them kind
of semi-rounded sharp corners.
I've just made the ties.
We need to put them onto the front
panel pieces,
sandwich the straps between and
overlock the seams together.
Right, that's one.
I'm literally just making sure that
it's in the same place
so it matches both sides.
Just a little...half a little top.
I'm putting in the sleeves.
Have you ever made children's
clothes before?
I've made a couple of things.
My friends all started having babies
at the same time.
Yeah. And how has it been making
those things?
Obviously not the pressure of this.
Cos the little babies aren't like,
"Well, actually, the hems are
a bit uneven,
"and did you rush that?"
With the sleeves attached,
the sewers now turn their attention
to the most visible part
of the garment.
Oh, God, this is the tricky bit.
The contrast tape on the sleeve.
And have you ever sewn tapes on?
No, which is quite scary.
Is it? Yes!
Could go wrong.
Oh, I don't like these faces.
I can't tell what they mean.
I am marking down where the ribbon
goes on the sleeve,
so there will be two stripes next
to each other.
It's very fiddly because...
ANGELA LAUGHS
..it's so little!
I have not worked with tape
this tiny before.
Slow and steady.
In a way, I find it to be quite nice
having everything so small.
You can sew all the seams
much quicker.
I think the first one's fine.
So there's two rows of tiny,
tiny little trim.
They've been very explicit
about the spacing.
It's got to be half a centimetre
to the other one.
Being a contrast colour,
if it's not straight,
it will show straight away.
I'm doing my second sleeve.
Take two.
It is quite slippery.
Oh! The fabric's so bouncy!
GILL SIGHS
I've just gone off the side of it.
Beep.
I'm quite happy with it.
MUSIC: Blue Peter Theme
by Sidney Torch & His Orchestra
An hour left!
I've got so much to do!
What's next?
We need to do the collar.
It's the collar that makes it.
It's like the sailors
would've worn.
My grandad actually was
in the Navy
in the First World w*r,
and we have photographs of him
at Preston,
and they would've had this collar,
with the straight bit at the back.
Until the middle of
the 19th century,
there was no such thing as
a sailor's uniform.
Sailors would go to sea in practical
workwear of their own.
When their clothes wore out,
sailors would mend them themselves.
Sewing was a really vital skill
for a sailor.
So that they could repair things
like rigging and sails,
as well as their clothes.
But this informality ended when
Queen Victoria decided
she needed the Navy to look like
a powerful and patriotic force.
So she introduced a uniform.
It was carefully considered
and it included elements
from the various outfits worn at sea
over the centuries,
including the sailor collar,
which was first worn around 1830.
The classic sailor collar
is wide and square,
and sits over the shoulders -
going down the back.
Initially, these collars
were probably round,
but they developed into this
square design
as it's much easier for sailors
to sew.
And in 1846,
the uniform would be introduced
in miniature.
Queen Victoria decided to have
a copy
of the sailor outfits made
for her son, Bertie,
the future King Edward VII.
Within a few years, it became really
fashionable
to dress your children
in sailor suits.
And over 150 years later,
the children's sailor suit is still
being made today.
Half an hour left, everyone!
The collar might be a little bit
tricky cos you need to get
your placement of the tape nice.
Again.
As with the sleeves, the ribbon has
to be evenly spaced
around the edge.
More tape. No pressure, Gill.
What's key to this is, you've got
to make sure that, at the ends,
they're really sharp corners.
It's absolutely fiddly
to sew this.
They are very tiny.
I think it'd be fiddly for people
with two hands.
Just trying to get the corners
under the machine
without, like, losing them.
It's just hard when they're
so small.
I think I'm doing OK.
I just need to keep calm.
Oh, my God. It's moved.
That's a wonky corner, Gill.
Think it's looking all right.
I've got my trim on...
..fairly straight.
It's the wonkiest edge
in the world.
Land ahoy!
15 minutes!
Deep breath.
MAN YEE SIGHS
It's quite girly.
Flowery sailor suit.
Yeah.
I hadn't thought I'd done it
very feminine...
And also, I felt instantly like
I was being sexist.
Men can really love flowers.
I went on a date with a guy once..
Yeah.
..and he had daisy socks on.
Yeah.
And I remember asking him,
"Why are you wearing daisy socks?"
And he said, "They're my sister's!"
So, yeah, I married him.
Did you really marry him?
Yeah. Yeah, I did.
Do you have to keep an eye
on your underwear?
It looks like a collar.
She says, steamed up.
Pin the collar to the top and stitch
all the way along the neck edge.
Making sure I'm not creating
any tucks or anything.
I do have my collar on now.
This is the last step before
we put poppers in.
Trying to work out how you put snaps
in a garment.
I'm so confused. I have no idea what
I'm doing.
How do I use it?
All the gear, no idea.
I'll find someone who knows what
they're doing.
Five minutes!
And then I think that...
Somebody help me!
Do we do that?
I think we do that.
And squeeze it.
SNAPPING
Ooh, that sounded good!
That made a noise.
Let's see if they work.
They work!
Hallelujah, praise the Lord!
# Ah! #
Look at that! We've got it sussed.
It just needs three.
Right, if Esme can pull that apart,
she's a stronger woman than I am.
One minute left! Get those sailor
suits ship-shape!
Oh. OK. It pops.
Now the poppers are on.
I'm just pressing it and finishing
it off.
A proper press. Then you're going to
put it on your tiny mannequin.
Should I get him up here, ready?
Whoops-a-daisy, I've broken it.
I was trying to help and
I've ruined...
There we go.
Ah!
Sorry, I lost an arm!
There we go.
Thank you.
I'll just tart him up a bit.
It's...not great.
Needles up, sewers.
That's captain's orders.
Bring your mannequins to
the front for judging.
# I thought I loved
a tailor man... #
These are easier to carry.
Did you manage?
In a fashion.
# Ay, ay sailor
# Or my, my sailor... #
Eight mini-sailor suits made
in just under four hours.
# My, my sailor
# So ay, ay sailor
# You know I joined you at sea. #
OK, you've given us one colour -
apart from the tie, which you've
done in yellow -
which works nicely with the print.
Let's have a look at the sleeve.
We've got two rows of tape.
They're a nice distance
from the edge.
Turn him round.
It's very even.
You have just given us one fold
on the corner,
so we've actually got a kind of
angled corner
rather than a square corner.
You have done it neatly, though.
You've really pressed the turn-up,
haven't you?
I went over and over on it, yeah.
I do like a good press.
I think it looks pretty good.
It's a super choice of fabrics.
The placement of the two
navy sections,
the white tie and anchor print
works so nicely.
It looks very sailor-ish.
Your tape doesn't quite show up
as much on the sleeve
as it does on the collar,
but we've got neat corners.
I think it looks good.
Marni, I like your Japanese carp
print fabric.
One thing that you've really
thought about
is you've got really big contrast
on here
and on the sleeve,
which really works.
Overall, it's very,
very neatly sewn,
but from any sort of distance...
..I can't see the tie.
So it changes the whole appearance
of the garment.
Yeah.
I'm not sure about your choice
of fabric.
Because this fabric is quite
thick... Mm-hm.
..you've found it difficult
to press... Yeah.
..those multiple layers
into that turn-up.
It's just fighting to stay flat
rather than stay folded.
But I do like the overall
look of it.
It looks very jolly, very wearable.
Right, Angela, I do like the fabrics
you've chosen.
The corners are pretty good.
The space between tapes,
it's pretty even.
You've done a good job.
It's just a shame that the tape
isn't a contrast.
That was the big feature, really,
in this sailor suit,
was to have those twin lines
on the sleeve
and on the collar,
which ends up them looking a little
bit like pyjamas
rather than a sailor suit.
Right, let's see.
The tape round the sleeve
is pretty even.
The back of the collar...
Ah, you haven't done a right angle.
Your turn-up isn't quite even.
Because you've got a gingham,
I can see exactly how not straight
that bottom edge is.
It's overall very well sewn
but, for me,
it is just a bit busy.
You've attempted to give us nice
right-angled corners.
You've got slight rounds on this one
and this one.
Although they're quite well-spaced
from the edge,
the second row is not quite
equidistant from the first.
The tape, you can see it really
well on the green.
But on the yellow, you can't.
Because this fabric is really
hard to press,
you've not managed to get a good,
clean finish on the turn-up,
either on the shorts or
on the sleeve.
It's very bouncy, this fabric,
and it seems to have been
fighting you.
These corners on the collar are
slightly rounded.
But I do love the colours
that you've chosen.
Your waistband elastic is not quite
tight enough.
Let me just have a look.
Oh!
Esme!
That's a bit rude!
Please!
Patrick and Esme will now decide
which sailor outfit
floats their boat, and which will
walk the plank.
In eighth place is...
..Annie.
The trousers fell down.
Basically you chose
the wrong fabric.
Seventh place, it's Gill.
The ribbons just were not neat
and tidy enough.
Angela is sixth.
Debra, fifth.
Brogan, fourth.
And Marni is third.
In second place is...
..Cristian.
I love the colour,
love the fabrics.
It was just there was no corner.
That means, in first place,
it's Man Yee.
Wahey!
Aw!
It's the perfect rendition
of the sailor suit.
We both absolutely loved it.
Beautifully sewn, but the choice of
fabrics is absolute spot on.
Well done.
# Somewhere beyond the sea... #
I am quite happy with it.
I feel like I can step back, take a
chill pill. For now.
I went in there and did the best
that I could.
Should I have done better?
Well, obviously it would've been
nice to win
or get a higher place,
but it is what it is.
If only I'd cut that elastic
a bit smaller.
I'm going to try really hard
for the Transformation
and hopefully redeem myself.
Welcome back, sewers. It's time now
for the Transformation challenge.
This is the one where you take
an old balloon
and a broken yoyo and you make
a smartphone.
Patrick, what will they be
transforming today?
Well, we want no running
in the corridor, sewers.
GROANING
Indeed. Old school uniform.
We'd like you to take old dresses,
sweatshirts and shorts
and give them a new lease of life.
We want you to take these items
and turn them into a cool outfit
for a six-year-old
that they would wear
not at school.
Patrick and Esme are going to be
bunking off
behind the bike sheds
for this challenge.
They'll be back for judging
when the bell rings.
Have fun, kids.
It's back to school,
but make it cool.
#SBUniformChallenge.
#SewCool, but spelt S-E-W.
You understand?
LAUGHTER
You have an hour and a half
for this challenge,
and your time starts now.
# We don't need no... #
Oh, my gosh.
# ..education... #
Rip it off.
Ooh!
Oh, God. Oh, gosh.
The sewers can help themselves to as
many garments as they like.
These greys are horrid.
Hmm.
I didn't love school, if I'm honest.
I couldn't wait to get out
the uniform.
# Teacher, leave them kids alone. #
I don't think the word fun outfit
and school uniform
quite goes in the same sentence,
really.
PATRICK: So we want them to take
pieces of uniform
and use it to make something that
a child would wear
outside of school.
I hope they really think about where
they place the fabrics
on the garment and the colours.
Yeah. I mean, they've got some nice
colours.
We've got lots of ginghams,
there are stripes.
The point with uniform is
it's uniform,
but we want these outfits to be
anything but uniform.
I'm going to make a dungaree.
I thought that was cool when
I was younger.
I don't know if it still is now.
I'm wearing a dungaree dress -
so still cool now, yeah.
I've gone for the trousers.
I'm thinking dungarees.
But it is going to have to be
somehow jazzed up with this.
Got the dress, and I've put it
backwards.
I'm going to try and make a pair
of shorts to go on it.
Right now I'm just pinning a little
kind of playsuit thing
or something like that.
I'm literally just playing around.
While half the sewers attempt
all-in-ones,
the rest are opting for separates.
I'm going to make jogging bottoms
with a top.
I mean, jogging bottoms on their own
is just a bit boring, really,
so I need to do something additional
to that.
But I don't know yet. It's a bit
organic, this.
I'm going for a colour blocked
hoodie, is my plan.
Then I'm going to try and make
a pair of shorts,
and go from there.
Also zipping up a hoodie
is Cristian.
I'm going to go with a vest that
will have a hood.
So we've cut the sleeves off.
I'm adding a zip.
What you making? So we're kind of
going for, like, a glam...
Oh, yeah!
..punk rock skirt.
I'm going to add the gingham onto
the bottom of the skirt. Ooh!
And then, if I have time, I'll do,
like, a top to match.
Yeah.
Psst, apparently the teachers are
smoking in the staffroom.
Pass it on. Also, you're halfway
through.
You're halfway through!
Halfway through. All right.
Let's do this.
The kids at my school constantly
try and get away with
their own take on the uniform,
but they are the rules and they're
there for a reason.
That's the teacher coming out in me.
Do you think this is how they fit
clothes on children normally?
Dungarees, there are always pockets
on it.
As a kid, you need pockets to, like,
keep your sweets and snacks
and everything, right?
I don't know if I'm going to get
the hoodie done in time,
so I'm just seeing if I can get
these pants finished.
I'm going to change it to a top
and a skirt, I think,
cos it didn't really suit the
playsuit shape
once I'd done it, so I was like,
"Actually, let me do this instead."
I've got, like, a short situation.
Oh, I see. Like an all-in-one?
Yeah.
Is it a skirt? And you've done
that yourself? Yeah.
That's very clever.
It still looks quite
school uniformy
because this was the colour of my
son's primary school uniform
and I ironed tonnes of these.
Yes.
I thought they were supposed to be
in fabric
that didn't need ironing -
that's what my mum said.
My mum was like, "No, it's one of
those special fabrics."
I just felt like I had to.
My mum's going to be forced
to watch you say that.
And then confronted
with her neglect.
Psst, apparently Patrick's having
a party on Saturday. Pass it on.
Also, you've got half an hour left.
Have we actually?
You've got half an hour!
Oh, that was quick.
Kept the frill from the original
piece.
A bit more dramatic.
I've done the bottom of what I think
are dungarees,
and I'm just trying to make
a bodice top now.
But that's too big.
Oh, no. Do you know what?
I'm onto the top now.
Going for a more punky kind of look.
I'm going to try and make
the hoodie,
but I'm just seeing if I've got
enough material.
I'm making, like, a bib. You know,
like this part here?
I might make a letter to go
at the front.
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Cos I'm going for a vest
with a hood on,
I want to grab a different
colour zip.
Yeah, maybe just keep it simple -
navy and red.
Try and make some kind of jogger top
to match my tracksuit bottoms.
I know that Esme's not going to like
these colours.
Psst, do you still like me?
Tick yes for yes,
or no for no.
Also, you've got 15 minutes.
You've got 15 minutes!
God, this is speed sewing now.
So that's the top. But I need to
make it more girly, don't I?
And I need to do something
with the bottom.
Could do to put a pocket
or something on it.
I'm going to try and put a zip
into my tracksuit.
I put the zip in the wrong way up,
so I'm just unpicking it.
It's a little bit of an error.
I am making some straps
for the top.
I'm trying to think of my sister,
and she would've wanted the trim,
so I'm just going to go with it.
I've got the little jacket
to go with it.
Whether it's a bit too sophisticated
for a six-year-old, I don't know.
Five minutes, everyone!
Come on!
So the top, I've stretched it out
on one side,
so I just want to trim
that neckline.
I'm trying to make some pockets
quick, before time's up.
Do you like the front?
I chose the A because it's the
easiest letter to do,
and it looks all right.
I've found some arms on the floor.
I know! I'm going to operate later.
Might do a little hair tie
or something.
Just wondering whether we have time
for a bow on the front.
One minute left!
Oh, God!
Breathe, Gill. Just breathe.
Going at maximum speed.
Take 30 seconds to go around.
Yeah, just finishing off the little
head tie thing.
It's the moment of truth.
I haven't actually tried it on to
see if it'll fit the kid yet.
How do you work out what's the left
and right hand? Does it matter?
Oh, man!
Whoops!
Needles up, sewers!
Transformation class is over.
Please bring your mannequins to
the front and muddle them up.
Oh, wow!
Er, great minds think alike!
What?
THEY LAUGH
Once an assembly of old uniforms,
now a class of too cool for school
children's clothing -
in only 90 minutes.
Let's welcome back Patrick and Esme,
who'll be taking you
for judging today.
Esme and Patrick haven't
a clue whose is whose.
Very impressive.
This is a sleeveless hoodie jacket.
They've added a zip down the front,
two pockets which they've...
Zigzagged.
..zigzagged on in a red thread.
They've really, really thought about
all of the details.
The overall look of it is actually
very cool.
It's a great little shape.
Got a sleeveless vest top
with a zip front
and a pair of tracksuit bottoms.
The shape of the top is pretty good,
but the neck is too big.
Do you think a child would
wear this?
I think there might be an argument.
ESME LAUGHS
This person has made a hoodie
and sport shorts.
You know, we've got red trim
around the knees,
red on the cuff, red zip,
and this lovely pale blue
end to end.
It works really nicely together.
The only thing is, there's no
stopper.
We've got the collars set
into the waist
to create a sort of collar peplum.
I really like the fact that
they've created the top
using the gingham on the diagonal.
And I think the use of
the trim is very nice.
We've got the same piece of trim
around the bottom edge,
and then just a tiny little smidge -
have you seen -
on the top of the headband?
Oh, I didn't. Oh, I say.
I really like this one.
And it's quite chic, actually.
It is, isn't it? Yeah.
The check around the bottom
of the trouser,
pockets.
I like that we have wide legs.
I think you'd find a queue of
six-year-olds
waiting to get into this one.
We've got a playsuit.
I like the waistcoat.
I do like how it looks
from the front.
My one hesitation on this one
is that it still quite looks like
school uniform.
It does look a bit school uniformy.
We've got dungarees here.
I like two different colours.
And you never would've thought
this was school uniform.
And this A.
What do you think the A is for?
Anarchy?
It certainly shouts anarchy to me,
doesn't it?
Gosh, it's pure punk.
I really like this.
I mean, these look like original
frills from the front,
but they've echoed that frill in
the way they've gathered...
Yeah.
..the bottom of the skirt on.
One thing I like is, where the
elastic comes back on itself,
you get these little rucks.
That also looks a bit like a frill.
Yeah. And they've embellished it
with this sparkly ribbon.
Definitely see somebody wearing this
and being very happy about it.
The judges must now decide
who gets an A star
and who is getting extra homework.
In eighth place is the grey
and maroon two-piece.
That's Gill.
I just think it lacked a clear sense
of what it was intended to be.
In seventh place is the playsuit
with the blue waistcoat.
That's Debra.
It did still look like
a school outfit.
Annie is sixth.
Marni, fifth.
Brogan, fourth.
And third is Man Yee.
In second place...
..is the gilet hoodie.
That's Cristian.
The shape of this is very,
very cool.
The overall placement of all
the colours.
Just is a great looking garment
that I think a young boy
would be super happy to wear.
So, in first place, Angela.
APPLAUSE
It looks really chic.
I would definitely wear that.
Well done.
ANGELA: The best thing about winning
that Transformation
was the fact that Esme said
she'd wear it.
I think probably better
than coming first.
I feel super happy.
I've had two great results so far,
and I'm hoping that it carries
on tomorrow.
I mean, what I made was just
t-terrible.
I didn't have a plan.
Tomorrow's a different day.
Feeling a little bit...
..like I need to go home
and do some lines.
Bit of detention.
There's one challenge left in
children's week
before we find out who'll be top
of the class
and who will be expelled.
Ooh, the little kids!
Ooh!
Nice to meet you, I'm Gill.
Oh, we've got pumpkin.
That's quite cute, isn't it?
Welcome back, sewers,
and hello to our models.
For kids' week, the judges would
like you to make
a Halloween costume for a
nine-year-old.
As if children weren't scary enough.
They would also love you
to include a 3D element.
The spookier the better.
You have four hours
for this challenge.
And your time starts now.
Right, let's get going.
The sewers have been asked
to use fabric
suitable for children's clothing
or that are flame retardant.
Can I just measure this on you?
And they've had a chance to practise
making them at home
with their model's measurements.
I'm going to make it a little bit
longer cos you're quite tall,
aren't you?
Maybe a bit too long.
And that's perfect.
Yeah, length is perfect.
Thanks, sweetie.
I've not made a huge amount
of Halloween costumes
for the little ones.
It's got to be something scary,
but we don't want to scare them all
to death, do we?
Ooh, love fancy dress.
Been a devil.
I've painted my entire self green
as a witch.
I've never done fancy dress
for a child, though.
So what are you expecting
from the sewers?
I'd like to see something that's
got a sense of humour about it.
Also, we want these costumes to have
an element of three dimensions.
Something that changes the normal
human form into an otherly form.
If you were making a pumpkin,
you need a sort of engineering
under-structure.
Is safety a consideration
with fabrics?
Yeah, for sure. Home sewers must
check that any fabrics they use
meet certain safety standards.
Remember, most fabrics are
flammable,
so costumes and candles
should never mix.
And we want the contestants
to follow all
the normal safety rules for making
children's clothes. Yeah.
Absolutely.
Because they're Halloween costumes,
how could they really impress you?
I want to be surprised by shapes,
or colours.
Something that I wouldn't expect.
Wouldn't be surprised if one of them
makes an Esme Young costume.
What do you think will be
an Esme Young costume?
A necklace, the hair.
Yes.
The glasses.
And the scariest thing of all -
extreme criticism. Yes.
ANGELA: Right, let's get sewing.
Everyone's costume is so different.
It's going to be a fun day today.
Morning, Gill.
Morning.
Problem with the plumbing
this morning?
That is going to be one of
the weapons for my Dalek.
Ah, OK.
Oh, wow.
So like this? Oh, stop it.
No, no, not on the head.
What?
That's...this bit.
I think it's the...
Oh!
That's the eye.
Oh, OK. Oh, wow.
There. Oh, there we go!
PATRICK IMITATES A DALEK
Gill's hoping to exterminate the
competition with her Dalek.
She'll use insulation tubes
at the base and neckline
to create the 3D shape.
The cotton body will be covered
in black felt circles.
Why did you choose a Dalek?
This is really personal.
So I've got two stepdaughters,
and when they were younger,
it was a big thing
every Saturday that we'd all get
together as a family
and watch Doctor Who.
Yeah.
And they were obsessed with Daleks.
Yeah.
Although the youngest one,
when she was five,
thought they were called Garlics.
ESME LAUGHS
The scary Garlics.
You could've just done a
massive garlic. Yes!
But Gill's not the only one getting
inventive with household items.
What are you making?
I'm making a bat costume.
So the umbrella's going to be
the wings.
Brogan's umbrella wings will be
festooned with LED lights.
Her bat's tutu will be made
from layers
of tulle and organza,
and the velvet waistcoat will be
trimmed with fur.
Had a bit of a chat with my niece
as to what she would want to be
for Halloween, and somehow we got
onto a bat.
And I was like, you know what?
That's actually quite cute.
Sometimes you just need to have
a chat with a three-year-old
and it all makes sense.
But Brogan isn't the only one
inspired by young relatives.
So I'm making a dragon.
I was watching a dragon film
with my little sister.
It just made me think, "That'd be
quite a nice thing to make."
So it's got, like, a 3D head, tail,
and then, like, a body suit
underneath.
The body of Annie's dragon will be
made from a stretch fabric,
as will the cape,
which will be decorated with
a spine and a tail.
But the dragon head will be the main
feature of her mythical beast.
This is like the hardest bit,
and also cos there's so many
pattern pieces.
Once the head is done, I'll feel
so much better.
Whilst the other sewers are going
for the fear factor,
Cristian is going for all-out fun.
Today we are making a clown.
A funny clown,
so not a spooky one.
Inspired by my ever first
Halloween costume.
My mum actually made this for me.
Cristian's hoping to make
his mum proud
with his multicoloured clown,
featuring oversized organza cuffs
and collar,
and a hula hoop stitched inside
to round out the waist.
Are you any good at hula hoop, Esme?
I used to be, but I'm hopeless.
They do say you never forget.
No, I'm not doing it.
PATRICK LAUGHS
Can you do it?
No, I don't think so.
No, I definitely can't.
I think that's a bit too small,
either.
Yeah, I think it was the wrong size
hula hoop for me.
Before work on their 3D elements
can begin,
the sewers first construct
their garments.
I'm making the main body.
Fabric's handling really well,
but there's a lot of it.
I really hope that it does work.
If I don't finish today then
I'm out of this.
This is going to be the little
tutu skirt.
The main fabric's this net
and an organza.
I wanted to keep it all black.
There isn't a shred of gingham,
or pink, or pastel.
But Brogan's not the only sewer
embracing her dark side.
I'm making a dark fairy.
Ooh! Dark fairy?
Dark fairy.
Is this like an evil fairy?
Yeah, dark.
It's Halloween, it's got to be dark.
So the top is black.
Just a plain, simple black top.
Hopefully a hooped skirt so that,
when she walks,
you can't see her feet, so she kind
of looks like she's floating.
Like she's levitating.
Yes.
What are you using to make your
hoops? Water piping.
Oh, wow.
OK.
So thread them through channels.
It's like the stuff you have
in a fish tank. It is.
It's fish tank stuff, yeah.
MARNI LAUGHS
Marni's fish tank tubing
will reinforce
her black jersey skirt with
floor-length muslin
to give her dark fairy
the appearance
of floating off the ground.
LED fairy lights will illuminate
the skirt and wings,
and she'll crown it off with
a handmade flower headband.
Have you ever made costumes before
for yourself?
I'm going to say no, because it
just sets me up for failure
if I say that I've achieved this
task before. OK.
So I've never, ever, ever, ever made
a Halloween outfit, ever before.
Is that true, though?
It's very unlucky to lie
on Halloween.
DEBRA: I'm making Miss Havisham
from Great Expectations
in her wedding dress, having been
jilted at the altar.
Her role in life is just to ruin
lives of men.
It's a little bit bitter for
a kids' fancy dress.
Debra's wedding dress will be made
from Duchess satin,
which she'll distress with paints to
reflect the appearance
of Charles Dickens' famous
character.
A gnarled finger headpiece will be
the crowning glory.
My 3D element is a claw hand.
So...
Ooh.
So this...
Yeah.
..with fingers coming out of it,
but shaped. Wow.
That is quite Halloweeny, isn't it?
Very Halloweeny.
So this is the trouser.
We just need to sew now
on the underneath.
To make this dress more spooky,
I have gone for this bone colour
duchess satin.
But I do have some charcoal,
I've got some paints,
and I'm going to dirty it up in
these seams.
These will be the circles on
the body of the Dalek.
I'm going to stick them on
and then sew them.
So, I've stolen a pastry cutter from
my husband. He doesn't know.
But while some sewers' additions
are decorative,
others are choosing more
practical features.
We've added some pockets for
the treats.
I've got fleece
because I was thinking,
oh, bless, it's October.
It'll be cold.
They need keeping warm.
It's going to be a spider.
A couple of years ago, I made
my grandson a little spider outfit
with little arms sticking out,
and I just thought,
do you know what? It's a classic.
Angela's take on a spider will come
with its own web complete
with flies.
The costume will be accessorised
with a hat adorned
with ping pong ball eyes.
I know Man Yee's doing a spider.
I daren't look.
SHE LAUGHS
Some people have got
very good imagination.
There's a lot of variations
of spiders, isn't there?
What are you making over here?
I am making a banana spider.
Are you?
Yeah. But I'm freaking petrified
of spiders.
Are you? You're making something
that terrifies you? Exactly.
Is this a spider you've drawn?
Oh, yeah. With a smiley face.
Yeah. Who could be scared of this?
Man Yee's banana spider will feature
yellow marabou feather cuffs
at the end of the legs,
which are stuffed
to give her the 3D shape.
She'll add a secret pouch
for storing all
the treats from Halloween.
I'm sewing up
the Velcro for the pouch,
just so you can keep
your sweets safe.
Just finishing the edges
of this body suit.
So, I've just finished doing
the top.
Let me just check
these are going to fit her.
With the costumes taking shape...
Yeah, that's going to be
a really, really nice fit.
..the sewers check the all-important
fit for the first time.
That's perfect. Thank you.
Right, so they're going
to be around here. Perfect.
I'm really, really pleased
with the fit.
I've just made one leg a bit longer
than the other.
Do you think you could possibly walk
on an angle?
SHE LAUGHS
Who's this?
You're halfway through.
Have a treat.
Ooh! I found a hole in it!
And in this one! And in this one!
With their costumes coming
to life...
Right, I can leave that for now.
..the sewers turn their attention
to their ghoulish 3D elements.
I'm making spider's legs now.
I was trying to work out what was
250g of stuffing,
so I think if the whole room
wants stuffing,
I think they can have some as well!
I am keeping all of these spokes
because obviously bat's wings are
quite veiny.
I'm making the hoops for the skirt.
Hopefully my fairy looks like
she's floating.
If I mess it up,
it's just not going to look good.
Just adding the waistband where the
hula hoop is going to be inserted.
It's a clown outfit,
so there's a lot of oversizing.
I'm just wrestling with the Dalek,
inserting tubes.
The really fun bit
is when you're trying to do
the circular bit at the bottom
because I literally have to be
a contortionist.
Getting the headdress together.
My first job is
to cut out Miss Havisham's fingers.
I'm then going to insert
the wires in them,
try and make them look as spooky
as possible.
As usual, I may have bitten off more
than I can chew.
I am doing extra legs for
the spider. Nearly there.
Made my spider legs,
stuffed with some of that stuffing.
Actually, it's
surprising how it reduces.
I just want to tell you -
and I'm not a biologist -
but they have more than this.
Yeah, well, you've got two arms
and two legs. Yeah.
Oh, cos they've got the human ones.
Yes. I see.
And then the others in the middle.
And these are supplementary limbs.
These are the extras that are
going to come out from the sides.
Perfect. OK, you've thought it all
through. I haven't caught you out.
What's spookier
than two hours left?
One hour.
SPOOKILY: Oooh!
It is coming together.
This is the dragon's head so far.
This is, like, half his head.
There's nostrils.
Now we're just inserting
that hula hoop.
Should all be secure. Come on, pipe.
And then I need to tap
a bottom channel.
Tricky to do this cos
you want to try
and keep the knuckle shape,
but want them quite gnarly.
You don't understand the stomach
muscles that are involved in this.
You don't need a personal trainer,
just so...
But whilst Gill is struggling
to contain her piping,
Marni is feeling
a little deflated with hers.
So, the idea, it kind of
stands away from her body,
but they're just a little bit
flexible, do you see?
It was a better idea in theory than
in practice.
With their 3D elements
coming together...
Got that in.
They look pretty wing-like to me.
..the sewers check their frightening
finishing touches.
That feel OK on your head?
Sort of 3D, isn't it?
You're going to have to walk
with your arms out.
Is that all right?
Aw, you look amazing.
Right... Aw!
Pouffes out. Doesn't pouffe as...
Could do with a bit more pouffe,
I think, couldn't we?
Oh, for God's sake, Marni.
Half an hour left, people.
Oh, my God.
It's bobbling in places, so I'm just
going to see if I can put
a little bit of rigidity at
the bottom, it might help.
Marni was hoping to create
the sense of the fairy levitating.
Yes. Yes.
If it doesn't have that sense,
I'm not sure quite how much impact
it's going to have.
I agree with you, actually.
Want to try and
stitch this web arm.
Angela's got a bit to do.
The arms are hanging from the web,
so she has to get that done.
The web is really important.
It's part of saying it's a spider.
Yeah.
This is going to be
the little headband.
But I'm just putting some fur on it
to finish it off.
I did an insert at the front
with that organza
to kind of replicate a tie.
Trying to stick some spider eyes
on here.
Told you I like a bit of realism.
Does a spider have eyes on it?
I've not looked recently.
What you doing?
Some wings.
Ooh! What is a dark fairy?
And what's the back story?
Do you need one for Halloween? Yeah.
Do we need a back story?
I think the more spookier
the back story,
the more scared I am of a costume.
This dress has been roaming
corridors of old mansions,
looking for her lost love.
She's furious.
Ten minutes left, everybody.
I don't mean to scare you!
Not long left.
I've just got this last bit
to sew on.
Breathe.
It looks like a spider. Just needs
all the finishing bits on.
I'm about to put the buttons on.
OK, let's paint some nails.
Putting on the tail.
Let's do the headband.
I'm just putting my fairy lights on.
All the nail technicians in
the UK are shouting,
"You start in the middle!"
All right, let's do this.
I'm putting on yellow fluff.
Mine's very boring compared
to some of the others.
You've got two minutes, it's time
to get your models dressed.
Oh, my God.
One more, one more, one more.
All right, this is the dragon head.
Roar!
I'm just going to stick some flies
on, I won't be a minute.
Putting the cobweb on her.
Right then.
And I'll get the wings on you.
Are you under there?
SHE LAUGHS
When you put it on, just make sure
you pull it down a little bit.
Aw, you look amazing. Exterminate!
Exterminate!
You're such a star.
Oh, so the lights will be
underneath? Yeah.
That's a real extra level.
If you could see them, it would be.
Yes.
It looks so good.
You look really spooky.
The weapons.
Needles up, sewers.
That is your time.
Now for the real horror -
the judging!
SHE EXHALES DEEPLY
Does that feel OK? Yeah?
HE LAUGHS
I know you don't know what one is,
but you do really look like a Dalek.
Do you think you look like a spider?
You've not seen yourself in
the mirror yet, have you!
SHE LAUGHS
MUSIC: Night on Bald Mountain
by Modest Mussorgsky
Eight children's Halloween costumes
made-to-measure in just four hours.
Right. Can I ask you just
to pop your arms up for me?
OK. I'm not overwhelmed by
the spidery-ness of it,
when she's standing
with her arms by her side.
These flies are way too small.
There should be a bit more accents
around the place.
It looks like it fits nicely.
I just feel a little bit like it
needed a bit more detail somewhere
just to make it
a bit more spidery.
MUSIC: Ghost Town by The Specials
I quite like the overall effect
of it.
I think, actually, the things that
are doing
a lot of work, for me,
are the little... Yes.
..yellow smudges.
I do quite like the eyes.
I like that you've painted
the inside of them green.
It does look nice and 3D.
Can you lift your arms up?
It's a shame you haven't attached
these together.
MUSIC: Entrance of the Gladiators
by Julius Fucik
Who knew clowns were so funny?
I mean, it just makes me laugh
and smile looking at him.
You've put the hula hoop
in the middle... I have, yes.
..to make it 3D.
It really, really works. Thank you.
It just looks like it moves
really easily.
It just makes the gait
really entertaining.
# Take a sip of my secret potion
# I'll make you fall in love
# I got the recipe and
it's called Black Magic. #
It was clever to use
the structure of the brolly
to create your wings.
But if I look at what you've made,
I mean, underneath here,
there is your usual level
of very tidy sewing.
But I don't think, for me, it feels
batty enough. OK.
I think the ears should've
been bigger.
It looks a bit like
a party dress with umbrella wings.
MUSIC: Doctor Who theme tune
All the little details are there.
It's got this fantastic
3D structure.
So, this is supposed to look like
the kind of metallic outer,
and that is the pipe insulation.
I mean, it's very, very clever.
I just think it's brilliant.
All these spots
are really nicely applied.
And it's got a big story,
hasn't it, for you?
As a kid, I would've loved to go out
trick or treating in this outfit.
It's a brilliant success.
# So come alive
Yeah!
# Come alive
Yeah!
# Down in Devil Gate Drive
# So come alive
Yeah!
# Come alive
Yeah! #
This dragon head is
absolutely fabulous.
And all the different details,
like even the nostril...
I love the eyes.
I just think you've done a really
fabulous job. Thank you.
It's quite a simple cape.
I mean, it's a simple onesie.
But there is so much smart stuff,
the headpiece.
I think it's a fantastically
successful Halloween outfit.
Thank you.
MUSIC: Off-Key Dance
of the Sugar Plum Fairy
So, this is your dark fairy.
The original idea was
that she was supposed
to look like she was kind
of levitating.
And I don't know whether it's
because your tubing
isn't quite rigid enough,
it isn't keeping
the skirt out enough
so that it really did look like she
was hovering when she walks.
I also wish in a way that
the T-shirt wasn't short-sleeved.
It would look less like a skirt
and a top. Right.
And these wings could've been
sticking up.
It does feel like
a slightly ghoulish fairy.
But without the structure,
it does just look like a nice,
long, dark skirt.
Yeah.
# Take me to church
# I'll worship like a dog
at the shrine of your lies
# I'll tell you my sins and
you can sharpen your knife
# Offer me that deathless death... #
It's genuinely spooky.
Yeah. It really is!
I absolutely love this headdress.
I love that you've hand-painted it.
I think everything about it looks
great.
You have thought so carefully
about every single detail.
There is a beautiful dress
underneath all of this distressing,
but, you know, the headpiece does so
much work,
it's really, really dramatic.
I mean, honestly, I could see this
costume on a stage in the West End.
Thank you.
The judge's comments were something
I'm going to remember for
a long time.
I was over the moon with them.
I think what went wrong is I didn't
use a rigid enough tubing
to make the hoops, and, as they
said, I think the idea was good,
but just didn't pick
the right materials for the job.
I don't know if I've done enough
because everybody's so good, really,
and those that didn't do so well
yesterday
have done really well today,
and those that did really well
yesterday haven't today,
so we'll leave it to the judges.
How have they done?
With a couple of small exceptions,
they've really excelled this week.
So, starting with the people
who were at the bottom at
the beginning of today.
This morning, Gill, Annie, and Debra
were sitting in the bottom three
and all three of them delivered
absolutely phenomenal
made-to-measures. Yeah.
Gill's Dalek was mind-blowing.
Annie's dragon...
Is amazing.
The whole focus was
the dragon's head.
And then, of course, Debra delivered
this ghostly Miss Havisham.
I thought it was brilliant.
So, who is in the bottom now?
I think, sadly, Angela and Marni.
Marni's was really disappointing.
It just didn't fulfil the brief.
It was literally flat.
Angela's spider just needed
a bit more to it.
It was all one note.
Phew...
One of them has to go home.
It is incredibly close.
Well, in the spirit of kids' week,
we're very proud of all of them.
Yeah.
My little ones, kids' week has been
a playground of joy,
and we are so, so grateful
for all of the hard work
and of yourselves that you have put
into it.
Only two things left
to do before adolescence.
First, Patrick, could you reveal
who has won garment of the week?
Oooh!
APPLAUSE
Ah!
Well done. Debra!
Well done.
Debra, it's an absolute work of art.
It really is.
Thank you. Fabulous.
Sadly, our playgroup is getting
slightly smaller.
The person leaving
the sewing room is...
..Marni.
HUSHED EXCLAIMS
Don't get me started!
LAUGHTER
I'm really upset.
And it's not so much that
I'm going home -
I think I deserve to go home.
I haven't got a problem with the
judgments or anything like that,
but it's just a real shame not
to see it through.
But it has been an amazing
experience.
They'll just have to remember
I taught them everything.
LAUGHTER
The decision to send Marni home
was so, so difficult.
She's a really good sewer,
but her made-to-measure
just didn't fill the brief.
You're all too good now.
Yeah. Yeah, too good.
Just, you know, get worse.
LAUGHTER
Debra, for me,
shaded it for garment of the week.
Her made-to-measure was a work
of art.
Down to the hand-painted fingernails
and those decaying bones.
Everything about it told you
the story of this bitter old
spinster locked away.
I mean, it was one of the best
made-to-measures we've seen.
I can't believe I got garment of
the week. What happened then?
To see the ghostly curtain go back
and there,
there Miss Havisham was.
All alone, angry.
Wow. I'm over the moon.
Woohoo!
To Marni! Onwards and upwards!
LAUGHTER
Next time,
the stage is set for music week.
What was the first concert you ever
went to? Craig David.
The sewers perfect parkas in
the pattern...
I've got the zipper guard
on the wrong way round.
..jazz up country looks in
the transformation...
Do you think the star boobies are
a touch too much?
..and bring Bowie to
the catwalk in the made-to-measure.
Now the fun begins.
Who will get an encore?
I think it's really striking.
And who...
I hate life.
..will hit a duff note?
Heaven knows I'm going to put
this back together again.
Welcome to our World! Where we serve you cookies to ensure you get the best viewing experience on our site.
Did you know that you can remove censorship board-wide, use our advanced search functions, be notified when new content is posted, join our memberships, set episodes to show in any order you want & more if you are logged into your account?
Register or sign in here: ucp.php?mode=register
Did you know that you can remove censorship board-wide, use our advanced search functions, be notified when new content is posted, join our memberships, set episodes to show in any order you want & more if you are logged into your account?
Register or sign in here: ucp.php?mode=register
08x05 - Episode 5
Watch/Buy Amazon
Amateur sewers take on challenges as they compete to be named Britain's best home sewer.
Amateur sewers take on challenges as they compete to be named Britain's best home sewer.