It's technical fabrics week
on the Sewing Bee,
which means for our
seven remaining sewers,
things are getting more
complex than ever before.
We're talking neoprene, spandex,
power mesh and also a fabric
that I've made myself, similar to
Lycra, I'm calling it Lycettra.
We can use this, right?
I wouldn't be seen dead in that.
I'm furious.
Welcome to the
Great British Sewing Bee.
Last time...
Slash the system.
..the sewers took on the 1970s.
It looks like it's
going to take off.
Mercedes showed real flair...
Let's go for it.
..winning garment of the week.
It is absolutely
beautifully put together.
Alexei looked to be history...
That is curtains for me, isn't it?
..before pulling of
a maxi dress miracle.
How on Earth do you do that
in five and a half hours?
But Ben's ambition...
So, I've drafted my
own pattern again...
..finally caught up with him.
It doesn't fit great.
And he became the
third sewer to leave.
This week...
Oh! ..our sewers tackle technical
fabrics.
I think I've broken a needle.
For the pool...
Is this a sink or swim
issue, do you think?
..and the pooch.
What, you've never taken a tent
and turned it into
a dog outfit before?
And tracksuits test...
Death by tracksuits.
..who's thread...
Oh, my good God.
..has finally run out?
Is that a design feature, Janet?
Absolutely.
Week four.
Fantastic.
Just to be here still
is a massive positive.
Here I am, ready.
Technical fabrics
and me, we don't mix.
Some of them are sewing with
bin liners and plastic bags.
I think a nice bit of glitter
technical fabric should be used.
Good luck, everybody.
Good luck, everybody, yeah.
Morning, sewers.
It is week four, which means we're
almost halfway through,
but things are going to get
a little bit harder
because this week,
it's a technical fabrics week.
That's partly because the judges
want to test your skills and also
partly because deep down,
they have hearts of pure evil.
It's the pattern challenge first
and to tell us more, Patrick.
For your first technical
fabric challenge,
we're going to be throwing you
in at the deep end.
Oh, no.
Here you go.
It is of course a swimsuit.
Oh, swimming costume.
But more specifically,
a panelled swimsuit with crossover
shoulder straps and a peekaboo
bow at the front.
So, it's made from Lycra,
a knitted stretch fabric.
There's a lot that
goes into a swimsuit,
particularly if you're
my auntie Maureen!
You have three hours,
and your time starts now.
Wouldn't black be cool?
To make their swimsuits,
the sewers will need a power mesh
for the lining...
That's power mesh. Right, OK.
..and Lycra for the outside
of the costume.
Wow, where did you get it from?
I love this.
These synthetics are supple and fast
drying, ideal for swimsuits.
It kind of reminds me
a little bit of a shower cap,
like a 1960s vibe and then
have the strap in the bright pink.
I feel like I choose
fabrics very badly.
Ridiculous, loud, 1980s patterns.
I've never made swimwear before,
so this will be a first.
I've made swimsuits,
because I used to lifeguard
when I was a student.
I rarely went in.
I rescued a bat.
Have either of you made swimsuits?
Swimsuits used to be part
of our collection and I've made
the swimsuit for Tilda Swinton
in The Beach.
No! Yes.
I'm sort of totally
blown away by that.
Yeah, I did.
Is this is a difficult garment
to make?
This is a fabric with Lycra,
which is a very stretchy material.
So, it's a jersey fabric
but with a stretch yarn inside it,
so, it's got spring.
So, I think one or two of them
may find that tricky.
If you look inside,
the power mesh is the lining.
Then we've asked them to make
the seams on the inside
and the seam is enclosed.
They've got to insert
elastic and a Rouleau strap.
So, a tough garment to put together.
Yes. A lot of elements.
It's frankly quite a complicated
and slightly mind-bending puzzle.
Well, I like it.
I'm going to try one.
A pair of verruca socks
and I'll be ready to go. OK.
I always wanted to learn
to make a swimsuit.
I'm not entirely sure I wanted
to learn it quite this fast
in this environment.
First step, cut out
all the pieces.
You have to be very careful,
because this fabric's
very floppy and moving.
Oh, bit of a wobble there.
Managing the fabric
is just the start.
Oh, my God.
I don't understand this.
The swimsuit is a complex
matrix of panels.
Each piece of Lycra has a matching
layer of power mesh.
First, the peekaboo bow is created
and then joined to the front panel
along with the power mesh.
Then, side and back panels
of materials and mesh are added on.
Finally, elastic is stitched
into the leg openings
and straps attached.
Do you do a lot of swimming?
I am a strong swimmer.
I can picture you going
down the channel,
covered in goose fat.
Oh, thanks.
Good morning.
What are you up to there?
Everything is so slippery.
I keep slicing myself.
Yeah, you're about 70%
sticking plaster at the moment.
Yes, exactly.
What have you chosen colours wise?
This floral theme.
OK, right.
So, it might look a bit '70s.
Look, the bits of
fabric are everywhere.
Draped over.
Already, here we are.
You'll have some on your head soon.
Ricardo's grotto!
The sewers start with the
focal point of the swimsuit.
It's got a tie that goes here.
So, I'm putting my tie pieces
together and stitching them.
And with a fabric that stretches
in four different directions...
Oh, it's just such
a slippy, slippy fabric.
It just shifts.
..sewing won't be straightforward.
Ow! Don't you just love the way
it curls up at the edges?
I'm stitching with zigzags.
The zigzag stitch has stretch
so that when the fabric moves,
the stitches won't pop open.
And I'm not sewing too quickly,
because I don't want seams
that are wibbly.
Oh sh...
..sugar.
Hello, Julia.
I'm happy to see you.
Oh, I'm happy to see you too, Joe.
Have you made a swimsuit before?
Never. No, nor me.
Looks like hard work.
Yeah, so what's next?
Turn tie right side and press.
OK. Nailed the fabric choice.
You reckon?
I think you should win the whole
Sewing Bee just based on the fact
that you've chosen that fabric.
I don't think you need to finish.
I love it.
I mean, when have you ever
ironed your swimsuit?
But it says to press it.
Right. Bow's high on the front.
The front section isn't complete
without one vital element.
Putting Lycra together with power
mesh, I have no idea what to expect.
Power mesh is a breathable lining
used in sports bras.
It combines the strength of nylon
and the stretch of spandex.
While perfect for the swimmer...
This has got so many layers.
It's got lining,
it's got the main fabric...
..it's less ideal for the sewer.
Because they stretch
differently and it just moves
around all the bloomin' time.
Horrendous.
Oops.
It's hellish to get
through the machine.
It's horrible.
Hello, Joe.
Making a swimsuit?
I am making a 'Grrrr' swimsuit.
Oh, gosh, I wasn't expecting that.
It's too early for that, Janet.
Swimming, do you like a swim?
Erm, occasionally.
The man who taught me to swim
when I was very small
was really quite memorable.
He was extremely round,
he was like a sort of Mr Roly-Poly
and he had a swimming costume
that had braces that came up
over his shoulders and he had
all bits sticking out of him.
He was called Mr Grimes,
I can remember it.
Mr Grimes?
Mr Grimes, yes,
I can remember it very clearly.
Hasn't he got an album out,
currently?
Mr Grimes.
You're halfway through,
you've got one hour and 30 minutes.
I am so, nowhere near.
One hour 30 minutes.
The front of the swimsuit
constructed, the sewers must now
attach the side.
That will go onto there.
And back panels.
If that was on your bottom...
Yeah.
With so many similarly shaped
pieces, it's crucial they keep track
of what goes where.
Oh, my God.
Alexei...
Look at the pattern.
The pattern is a bit jigsaw puzzley.
To make the jigsaw even
more puzzling, each panel
must be perfectly layered
with the power mesh.
How are you doing with this mesh?
Make a sandwich.
Oh, sandwich.
Sandwich, mesh, sandwich.
Do you think the challenge
is very difficult?
Completely.
It's so frustrating.
This one seems to be
really stumping them.
What's the issue?
Well, I think they're unfamiliar
with the pattern pieces.
It's a complicated construction
and I think a lot of them
are having difficulty visualising
how to put the bits together.
Yep, that's OK.
Poor old Janet is running
a sort of masterclass.
She spends about half her time
explaining to everybody else
what to do.
This is the hardest yet.
I think so.
If they don't attach
their panels correctly...
The last thing I want to do is get
it all round the wrong way.
..their swimsuit will
drift out of shape.
Fingers crossed, fingers crossed.
You take it off and hope to goodness
you've done it's right.
Oh, my God.
The side panel is upside down.
This was supposed to be rotated
180 degrees and be here.
We should have put
this like this, not like that.
Oh, mine's upside down.
Yes, I've done that.
Are you going to unstitch
and redo it, Jen?
I am, Ricardo, because I think
that's what I should do.
I had to unpick all my side seams.
So, I'm going to sew it back up.
Time is going to be an issue for me.
And the issues keep on mounting.
That's not right, is it?
No.
No, because I've missed the mesh
out of that side. Well, yeah.
Do you think you'll
give us a swimsuit?
Hopefully, after this,
I'll give you something
that will at least
hang on the mannequin. OK.
I missed the mesh out of
one of the side panels.
Just when Patrick came over and was
like...
No, that's so annoying.
So annoying.
One hour to go, guys!
One hour to go.
I feel like I've lost
the plot this week.
That's right. These upside down.
Yes, that's right.
Oh, my God, I've done it again.
I can't believe I've done it again.
Put them on upside down.
You know what, I only have.
Messed up, Esme.
Of course I'm panicking,
I'm badly sewing, so I just want
something that's going to cover
the mannequin.
That's something,
better than nothing.
While Mercedes and Alexei
are still in deep water...
..the rest of the sewers have moved
on to the final seam...
You sew the centre back seam,
pull it through
and lo and behold...
You're a genius.
..with a little help from Janet.
Janet's come to the things
first and figured them out
so we're all using her.
Wow, we're making progress.
Hallelujah, I've actually
nearly got a swimming costume.
Whilst making a swimsuit today
involves an array of technical
fabrics and state-of-the-art
equipment, back in Victorian days,
all you needed
was a pair of these.
In the late 1800s,
most bathing costumes
were made from wool.
Not the best material
for achieving an even tan,
but perfect for prudish Victorians.
Swimwear in the Victorian era
was very different
from what we consider
swimwear today.
It could consist of a dress
with knee-length trousers,
worn underneath or an
all in one reaching from the elbow
right down to the knee.
Now, most of it was
produced in wool serge,
which is a really heavy fabric.
It wouldn't cling too much
to the body when it got wet.
It took Scotsman Alexander McRae
to push the swimsuit forward.
He started off by making socks
for soldiers in World w*r I,
but, after emigrating to Australia,
his love of surfing took him
in a whole new direction.
In the 1920s, beach culture started
to flourish and also,
competitive swimming was becoming
accepted as a sport.
He saw there was a lot of potential
for adapting his company
from an underwear company
into a swimwear company.
McRae set about reinventing
the swimsuit.
He ditched wool in favour
of much lighter materials,
cotton and silk, and removed
the sleeves, replacing them
with a crisscross strap,
designed for movement and speed.
The racerback was born.
Initially, the racerback
caused quite a lot of shock
and controversy, because
it exposed the back and shoulders
of the swimmer so much and it was
banned on quite a lot of beaches,
but, of course, like many things
that are controversial at first,
the racerback swimsuit soon became
the height of fashion.
And, as attitudes relaxed,
a whole new market opened up
for stylish swimwear.
The swimsuit was very
popular with sunbathers,
because they enjoyed the fact
they could get a better tan.
McRae's knitting mills became
known by a catchier name,
Speedo, and continue to innovate
when Lycra swimsuits
came along in 1956.
So, next time you pop on
your budgie smugglers,
doff your swimming cap
to this pioneering surfing Scotsman.
45 minutes remaining.
45 minutes!
Look, not even close.
Oh, sweetie.
Don't worry, I'm still a long way
behind everybody else
so it's going to be a little bit
more Primark than couture.
To complete the body
of their swimsuits,
just one element remains.
So, we are elasticating it now
and then it says, "coverstitch."
Anybody doing coverstitch?
Fold this over so that
we can coverstitch it.
Securing the elastic means
mastering a specialist machine
many may never have used before.
We've given them
a new machine this week.
We've given them
a coverstitch machine.
The coverstitch machine will
encase the edge of the seam
in which the elastic
has been inserted.
They zigzag with the coverstitch
and it keeps it flat round the top
so you don't get a raw edge.
It needs to be very even,
doesn't it?
And they could go
really wobbly on that.
Please work, please work.
Why would we do this when
we've never used a piece
of machinery before? Why now?
I know, they're cruel, aren't they,
the judges!
Do you want it soft or tight?
I have no idea.
There's a telephone number on the
side here so I'm going to ring it.
Tell them we're working
under extreme pressure.
Thank you for calling,
we're currently closed.
Of course they're currently closed.
Oh, that's broken.
I don't know if I've got time.
I need to change my needle
now as well.
Oh!
It's not catching.
Oh, dear.
I pulled the elastic too much.
Yeah, I like.
I haven't got time to really
do elastic in my legs.
I hear you've abandoned
some elastic?
I've abandoned everything, darling.
Excuse me, I'm just...
Coming through here.
Doing some gorilla
sewing at the moment.
Some gorilla sewing?
You know it's a swimsuit?
Yeah, but I think a gorilla
might fit into it.
You have 15 minutes left, sewers.
Is there is a sink or swim
issue, do you think?
Oh!
I don't have time.
I'm just very behind.
The last step should
guard against any poolside
wardrobe malfunctions.
OK, Rouleau strap.
Is there some kind of kind
of magic way of doing this, Janet?
Yes, stick your loop through it
and then pull and pray.
Oh, my gosh...
Hallelujah!
I'm putting an elastic band in.
I need to speed up.
How long have we got?
Five minutes, time to get
their swimsuits on those mannequins.
I don't understand how to do it,
Joe. Oh no!
The thing is, everyone else
is really close to finishing,
so, I don't want to bother them.
You've got another two pages to do.
You'd better get cracking.
Get it on your mannequin,
whatever you've got.
Done this so badly,
it's embarrassing.
This is so stressful.
I'm bringing your mannequin
forward to help. Thank you.
One minute!
Can you hold the top?
Jesus, she's got a big bum.
It's not finished.
Hideous.
Oh, she's in.
She's in.
Oh, well, this is what
Sophia Loren would wear.
The fact that it doesn't
have the straps, it won't stay up.
This really badly sewn strap
would not hold any decency,
but, hey, who needs
decency on the Sewing Bee?
She will be decent on the beach,
providing she doesn't move.
Oh, my gosh!
Needles up!
That is your time.
Bring your mannequins forward and
we're going to have a pool party.
It's very camel toe-y.
My thigh panels are
on the right way round.
Nothing else is, but they are!
Pleased?
Snipping off the little threads
feels a little bit like
rearranging the deck chairs
on the Titanic, but never mind!
# Just a little bit of sunshine
# Makes it all a better place...#
Seven swimsuits in just three hours,
ready to dive into judging.
OK, Janet, come forward.
# You've got to
turn on the sunshine,
# Push those blues away! #
Well, Janet, that is
a lovely looking swimsuit.
Thank you.
I mean, it's neatly
finished throughout.
Very nice choice of fabric,
you know, it's cool, isn't it,
leopard skin?
Your cover stitch is nicely
encasing the elastic.
But I would have really liked
that to be caught down a bit there,
but the overall effect is great.
Thank you.
You were helping everyone.
Yeah, well, also, you know,
hats off to you for being the sensei
on all things swimwear construction.
The grandmother!
Well, the Grand Master, perhaps.
Yes, the Grand Master,
let's say that.
Thank you very much.
Very good. Thank you.
I think this is a lovely
chic combination of colours.
I love the big, bold spots
down the front,
but something has gone awry.
The seam's not enclosed.
I was freewheeling, and...
Yes, it is not your best
piece of work, I mean...
No, I've done better.
You've certainly done better.
You certainly have, and look,
I've got my finger inside here.
The truth is, this is sort
of barely hanging together.
I just completely lost the plot.
This fabric is really fun, quite
'60s, and you've coverstitched,
but I think you've put
these on the wrong way round.
Really? Yes, really.
Take a look at that.
Yeah...
And then look behind you.
Look at the shape of that.
Oh, crikey.
We should have one
continuous curve to the seam,
and the strap should
be attached here.
There's, something's clearly not...
Oh, I say. Oh no!
Oh, it's all gone wrong!
OK...
They were sewed on in the
last seconds, I have to say.
Well, there is no evidence
of any sewing on that.
I hand-sewn, hand-sewn...
What with? Air? Your teeth?
With ten seconds.
I think this is a
fantastic choice of fabric,
and you've handled it so well.
It just looks smooth
and flawless throughout.
Let's have a closer look.
Right, you have encased the seams,
so you followed the instructions
to the letter.
Straps are very securely anchored,
the straps themselves
are very finely done.
You've bagged the bow
out really nicely.
In fact there is absolutely nothing
negative I can say about it.
Thank you. Well done, Juliet.
And I'm so happy my one comes
after Juliet's masterpiece!
You know, on first impressions,
it looks pretty good.
But you aren't finished.
We don't have any attached straps.
Give yourself another ten minutes,
you could make those straps
and attach them, you'd have
a perfectly wearable swimsuit.
Right, Jen, very nice
choice of colour.
I think it looks good.
I'm going to look inside now.
Ah...
You've just not caught the edge
of the fabric with the coverstitch.
I think it is a shame,
because, broadly, I think
you should be very pleased with it.
Well done.
I do like this fabric,
but I'm just going to state
the obvious here,
you haven't finished.
So, we have no straps,
that's elastic.
You put the elastic
in the wrong place.
Ah, aha.
You haven't got the elastic in.
We are far from finished,
and we can't call it
an enormous success.
It really cooked my noodle,
this challenge.
Did it? Absolutely!
And you're an engineer!
I know!
Patrick and Esme will now
rank the swimsuits,
from worst to best.
In seventh place is Alexei.
Basically not finished.
Sixth place, Mercedes.
Not your finest hour,
not a terrific job.
In fifth place, it's Leah,
Riccardo comes fourth,
and third is Jen.
Second place, and there
wasn't much in it, it's Janet.
Beautifully sown,
wonderful choice of colours,
lovely, well done.
Thank you.
And in first place is Juliet.
You've really got a result there,
it's beautifully sown.
Thank you, thank you very much.
Well done, everyone.
Go and pop your cozzies on,
hop in the hot tub,
and we'll be back for
the transformation challenge.
# Roll out those lazy, hazy,
crazy days of summer... #
I'm so pleased
I won that challenge.
I can't believe I did,
but I'm so pleased.
It's nice to be able
to help other people,
and to share the knowledge
and experience that I've gained
over the years.
This challenge was tough.
I got so confused at one point
that it was upside down,
inside out and back to front.
I got that one piece
completely upside down,
I didn't even know I'd
done it, so, it's a shame.
I'm making a bit of a habit of this,
aren't I, coming seventh?
So, four sevens.
Yeah, some people would say
that's a lucky number.
Technical fabric week
isn't about to get any easier.
For the transformation challenge,
the great outdoors has come indoors.
Yay!
Oh, my goodness!
As you've spotted,
we're surrounded by tents.
This sort of reminds me of when
Esme and I went to Glastonbury,
only this time we're
wearing clothes!
Right, what we want you to do
is to make a garment
out of these discarded
festival tents.
And to tell you what
you're transforming them into,
please welcome Patrick,
and his business partner, Winston.
Come on, then.
Oh!
Oh, look what he's wearing!
That is a calendar
waiting to happen, isn't it?
That's completely ridiculous.
Good boy.
Winston, sit!
Good boy, good boy.
OK, we'd like you to turn your tents
into a waterproof coat for a dog.
Now, dogs like Winston
are not easy to please.
He wants a coat that is
stylish, yet practical.
So, we don't want to see
any dog's dinners.
OK, the judges and Winston
are going to leave now,
so they don't know who's made what.
And I don't want any accidents
in the dressing room.
I'm not talking to Winston.
So, judges, off you go.
Winston.
Come on, Winston.
Goodbye, mate.
You will be using one of these guys.
How fun are they?
OK, so, you have 90 minutes
and your time starts now.
I think there's quite a lot
of fabric in this one.
Oops.
And you bring these together.
I've never made anything
for an animal in my life.
I don't do dogs, I've got cats.
I don't know how you do style
and practicality with a dog,
but we'll give it a go.
What do you want?
I mean, this might, at first glance,
seem like a quite mad challenge,
but, actually, every year, thousands
of these tents are discarded
and there's yards and yards
of really usable fabric.
Of course, Winston has four legs
and a tail and they're going
to need to make sure that their dog
coat goes around him and it fastens
well and stays on.
Actually, many of these tents will
have peg loops that they could use
and put buttons on it.
And they've got to be
able to go to the loo.
An important consideration.
Absolutely.
What I'd really like them to do
is to absolutely go to town
and make little characters.
How about a punk outfit for the dog?
What do you think, Winston?
Do you think it's a good idea?
I think he does.
Most tents are made
from a reinforced nylon
called ripstop.
Waterproof and hard wearing,
it's perfect for hot air balloons,
yacht sails...
Right, what are we doing
with you, Winston?
..and now dog coats.
I don't even know how
you would shape this thing.
I'm lucky I've got a dog.
This is Archie.
You need to leave room for them
to pee and I want to make panniers,
because, you know,
you go out with your dog
and you have to carry water
and snacks and their lead
and the poo bags.
This dog might have
to do his own work.
Mercedes, what are you making?
This is one of my design features
that hopefully will allow him
to have a little rub
behind the ears.
Are you making ear holes?
I'm making ear holes.
That's so cute,
I don't know if I can bear it.
We are going for hi-vis dog
to keep him safe on the roads
of London and he's going
to have a little matching hood.
Now, how do we make a hood
for a dog?
I thought I'd make a poncho.
It's difficult.
I've never done this before.
What, you've never taken
a tent and turned it
into a dog outfit before?
You haven't lived, mate.
As strange as it may seem, no.
I have a dog. He's a miniature
schnauzer called Dexter.
Dexter is very much
in my mind's eye.
I'm going to make like a cape thing
and it's going to have a pocket,
so he can carry his own poo bags.
Ricardo, are you a dog person?
You strike me as an absolute hound.
I am a dog person, but, I mean,
why would you dress your dog
like a human?
Their owners should be
punished with jail.
All of these outfits
should be punishable by jail? Yes.
Don't you think if you were
a dog, you'd like that?
You've had half an hour.
You've got an hour left, sewers.
I love you, even though
I'm allergic to you.
I'm using the zip from the tent
to go down the centre of the back.
I have never, ever
repurposed a tent before.
Repurposing a tent...
Oh, come on.
..means tackling this stiff
and unwieldy nylon...
There's no flexibility
in the fabric, so the manipulation
is the problem.
..leaving our campers
less than happy.
Ow.
I'm currently unjamming my machine.
You've done a little bow.
I know, I know.
That is so cute.
I used like an elastic there,
to attach it, so it's a bit of style
for the doggy, but then,
practicality for the owner.
I hope Patrick and Esme get my idea.
Get your vision.
Get my vision.
Your doggy vision.
Fido fashion must be functional.
Elastic, so it goes
over his shape.
I'm just sewing to make
these wee bags.
This, actually,
would be useful for me.
It's not just a comedy outfit.
And one sewer is taking
functionality further
than anyone else.
You know, if you're busy,
or like the dog is not very fussed,
you just hold it.
And just go like this.
That is brilliant.
I bet the dog loves that.
Yeah, look.
Oh, he's breaking, but, yes.
Oh, no. It was a rip.
That was a rip.
Maybe don't do that again.
15 minutes to go, 15 minutes.
OK, here we go.
I'm hoping for the best.
A lot can happen in
15 minutes, Alexei.
Certainly can.
What can I help with?
Do you want to make me
an outfit for a dog?
I'll get to that right away.
Here it is.
Just kidding, just kidding.
He's got his little thing
at the front.
I've got a red clip to fasten
the panniers so they don't slip
down to his tummy.
I'm thinking practically about this.
So, what I'm doing is,
I'm just repairing the handle
with some emergency stitching.
There's not time to put as much
on it as I would have liked,
but my dog's a very serious
little dog and he probably
wouldn't appreciate frippery.
Five minutes.
Really?
OK, cooking with gas.
Pink, here I come.
I want to add these to the cape.
I was just wondering whether or not
there are any other bits and pieces
from the tent I can use.
I liked toggley things.
That's a toggley bit.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Complete mess.
Come on, Juliet, it's time to get
it on the mannequin. OK, OK, OK.
How much more time?
30 seconds left.
Outfits on dogs.
Let's have a look, fella.
One never had to dress a dog.
It's just all a bit ridiculous,
isn't it, Mercedes?
I'm glad these dogs don't complain
when you dislocate their legs.
I'm not sure a real one
would put up with it.
Come on, doggy.
Do you like your new
trousers, doggy?
Oh, my God.
Oh, dear.
Needles up!
That is your time.
Give your dogs a little walkie
over to here, please.
Let me know if you need
any bags for mess.
Seven tents...
They're so cute!
..have been transformed
into seven doggy outfits.
Hello, I'm really looking
forward to seeing these.
And the judges have
no idea whose is whose.
Woof woof.
Woof woof, indeed.
Well, this is a sort
of canine couture.
They look very cute.
Oh, I like this little pocket.
A couple of handy panniers
there for our canine explorer.
How do we get into this?
We have...
Well, that's very clever.
Velcro on the front.
Rear legs, you've got plenty of room
for legging it around after sticks.
You've got a speed clip.
Sort of like a little bandolier.
It looks great.
Yeah, I think it's terrific.
I think this one is
slightly less practical.
There's nothing attaching
it around the middle.
But I love these stripes.
Obviously, it's a
safety first dog coat.
That is very sort of space age.
It's very sleek.
Very space age.
Oh, look.
I'm not sure a dog is
going to be that pleased
about having his ears
shoved through that.
If that was me, I'd be pretty
pleased with this whole thing.
And how do we get
into and out of this?
Oh, the zip makes it very easy.
There's been a lot of thought
has gone into this.
He's got a collar and a button
front.
Hold on.
It's a carrier dog.
I'm not entirely sure
what this bit is.
I'm not entirely sure
the dog would be happy
going facedown like that.
I'm left a little confused.
And we've got another
one with a pocket,
which must have come from the tent.
We've got a strap underneath
and a strap at the front,
holding it down.
Yes.
But it's very simple.
Well, this one's a little fancier.
It's a top and bottom.
And a bowtie.
And a bowtie.
Well, this is almost like a
little Sherlock Holmes cape.
Cheryl Holmes.
This is put on with a tie.
It's fully vented in the rear.
I like it.
It feels quite kind of...
Fun.
This is Biggles.
I rather like this
little hat-cape thing.
Yeah.
Elastic for his or her legs.
It's not the most neatly
and delicately sewn.
Esme and Patrick must now decide
who is the runt of the litter
and which of our sewers
is leader of the pack.
In seventh place,
it's our carrier dog.
Riccardo.
We weren't entirely sure
what the overall idea was.
It's for when the dog
gets tired of walking.
In sixth place is the Paisley dog.
Janet.
I think it's probably
the most simple shape.
Leah's fifth.
Alexei comes fourth,
and Mercedes is third.
Thank you.
In second place is Cheryl Holmes.
Juliet.
We love the combination
of the colour, the frill
around the neck, the little pocket,
and the bowtie,
looks really great and fun.
Thank you very much.
Which means of course our winner
is our camouflage bandolier.
Jen, congratulations.
Good boy.
Very clever cutting and great use
of the fabric, well done.
Good idea.
Well done, Jen.
I actually thought,
I mean the top three
were all fantastic, they were
all really great, actually.
They really made me smile.
It's funny how the first
time I've done well
with the transformation challenge,
it's for dogs, and I haven't done
well with humans.
I think everything will be up
to the challenge tomorrow,
I hope I really nail it.
One challenge remains,
and there's one last chance
for the sewers to secure
their place on the Sewing Bee.
# What keeps this wonderful world
going round and around? #
So, technical fabrics week,
have you enjoyed it?
I thought yesterday was brilliant
fun. Good old Winston,
wasn't he a joy?
So, let's talk about
who's done well.
Well, I think our three J's,
Juliet, Janet, and Jen.
Juliet did brilliantly,
her swimsuit was impeccable.
Janet, I think, also did a fantastic
job on the swimsuit.
Just tiny weenie little things
made her come second.
Jen was our third J,
she won the transformation challenge
with a brilliant,
clever dog coat.
OK, so who's in danger this week?
Ricardo, you got the feeling
that Ricardo wasn't into the idea
of dogs wearing clothes.
It wasn't the most successful.
Alexei, and Mercedes,
both of them didn't
finish their swimsuits.
There are three in serious trouble.
Yeah.
OK, I've got one final question.
OK.
Do you think Winston likes me?
I think he loves you.
Just, I got a vibe from him,
I tried to get him some chicken,
and he wasn't into it.
I was a bit hurt by it,
but, whatever.
It's the made to measure,
and for the first time
in the competition...
the models are male.
Hello, gorgeous.
Nice to meet you.
So, you're my model?
Hello.
Ready?
Welcome back, sewers,
first things first,
we should welcome our models.
I found them in my hometown
of Birmingham, they were tap dancing
by the canal.
Today, that judges would like you
to make a luxury tracksuit.
I needs to have a statement stripe,
and it needs to be made
with a synthetic fabric.
You have four and half hours,
and your time starts now.
Patent pieces.
While the sewers have all
had a chance to practise
their tracksuits at home...
That will go there.
..they must now adjust their patent
pieces to ensure a perfect fit.
I don't normally do a lot
of menswear, so this is quite
an interesting challenge.
Thomas, my model,
has insanely long legs.
Doesn't that look enormous?
That's the sleeve.
There are different sort of angles
to take into consideration.
OK, luxury track suits.
This has been a really big thing
in menswear over the last decade.
And, you know, all the big luxury
houses are now doing effectively
luxury loungewear,
luxury tracksuits.
The finish is absolutely crucial.
It needs to have
interesting pockets. Yeah.
Beautiful zip, to make it more than
just a really basic tracksuit.
But it needs to look
like it's perfectly casual. Yeah.
And that's quite a difficult
thing to achieve.
It's male models for this
made-to-measure challenge,
does that change things?
Any time where you're given
a different shape to fit around,
it presents new challenges.
Men's body shapes are
different from women's.
And dogs.
And dogs!
Okey dokey, you can
sit down now, sir.
Producing a tracksuit
is a mammoth task,
as the sewers will need
to make two garments.
Ugh.
I haven't even cut my trousers.
And with just four and a half hours
to perfectly finish both,
they must be precise,
right from the start.
You don't want to mess
up just to be fast,
and as you can see, everybody,
they are still cutting pieces.
These fabrics don't have
a right side and a wrong side,
which means that you can
accidentally sew a piece
the wrong way round.
So, I'm labelling them
up with little stickers.
Leah's tracksuit features breathable
mesh stripes down the arms and legs,
and will be constructed from
28 panels of ultralight shell.
Stretch it, pull it,
try and break it.
Isn't it honestly the strongest,
lightest stuff?
And scrawl this up in a ball,
so that's roughly the size
of the entire tracksuit.
How light is that?
That's great, fit in a bag.
I thought there's nothing
more luxurious than carrying
something that essentially
feels like air.
Leah's not the only sewer who thinks
luxury should be lightweight.
People spend crazy amounts of money
on what they call technical fabrics.
I used to do a lot of mountain
biking, and climbing,
when I was a bit healthier,
and this is a really fancy
waterproof breathable fabric.
Yep.
I've chosen to add a white stripe
either side of the white zip.
So it's sort of reminiscent
of a kind of yachting,
waterproof jacket.
Yeah, exactly, yeah.
Alexei's attaching waterproof zips
to the pockets of his
water resistant track top.
Aiming to turn his fortunes around
with his final creation, yet again.
I hope that my made-to-measure's
going to save me.
With MS, I've been very surprised
at how I've been able
to just push myself.
Juliet.
Oh, hi.
Hello.
Am I getting in the way?
No, do it, do it,
you can be my male model actually.
The judges are saying earlier,
it's all about the finish.
Yeah, I'm going to do some ribbing,
I'm going to have like a black rib
going across the cuffs.
Juliet's focus is fashion,
and she's using the ribbing
to give her tracksuit
a modern fitted profile.
Her top will be embellished
with a camo stripe across the chest.
Is this Lycra?
No, it's got a bit of Lycra in it.
It's scuba.
Scuba? Yes.
As in like, scuba diving material?
Yes, it's scuba fabric.
It looks very cool,
I'm into it, in a big way.
Scuba may sound like it's
at home on a dive boat,
but it's actually
a firm fashion favourite.
Scuba's quite popular now
for very sculptural dresses.
This double knit polyester,
loved for its foam-like body,
has found fame in the catwalk
collections of Dior,
Burberry, and Versace.
Look at the folds it holds,
so that's my plan for this,
it's very smooth, but then with
some real sculptural moments in it.
Jen will be using the scuba's
capacity to hold its shape
to give her track pants
the illusion of a natural drape,
and the back will feature
her statement stripe.
My son's 19, so I did look
at the shape of the joggers
that he wears, and when
they're on the model,
I'm going to sculpt the bottom
to make it look like,
you know, how boys wear their
trouser bottoms kind of rumpled up.
Yep.
This scuba fabric's
quite bouncy, isn't it?
Extremely bouncy.
Yeah.
My only concern is that it may end
up looking more like a wet suit
than a tracksuit.
Yes, that's true.
See, this is laborious, mind you,
I feel quite heartened by the fact
that I can't hear any sewing
machines going.
SEWING MACHINE WHIRS
Someone's sewing.
An hour and a half in,
and making scuba look
more like a tracksuit
than a wet suit...
The machine's not very happy
with the fabric, I think.
It's flipping massive.
..isn't the only challenge.
Working with a fabric like this,
that's quite slippery,
I'm just going to make sure
that it doesn't shift
whilst I'm sewing it.
Because yesterday,
I completely messed up,
I really hope it looks nice.
Like it has a bit of the '80s here,
this kind of colour combination.
Ricardo's '80s inspired scuba
tracksuit will feature a vivid
red stripe that will run
shoulder to wrist across his top.
He will need to meticulously
seam match each panel.
So, your stripe will
go across the zip. Yes.
Yeah, see, you've actually made
your life really very difficult.
If your top stitching is not
really accurate and neat and closed,
you'll get very springy
looking seams.
Excellent!
Ricardo's not the only sewer
who's chosen to channel the '80s.
I was inspired by Michael J Fox
and when he did Teen Wolf,
cos he's, there's a lovely
picture of him wearing a blue
and yellow baseball jacket.
It's a bit out there, really,
it's not my usual
conservative sort of thing.
Janet's two-tone baseball style
jacket will feature
leatherette sleeves
and mitred stripes.
It will give way to
slim fitted trousers.
So, now, I have to decide what
colour zip I'm going to use.
It's the wrong orange, isn't it?
I think the navy blue one
has to be better.
Did you watch the game?
It was good game, wasn't it?
Good squad.
Really good squad.
You've got half your time left,
you've had half your time.
Let's just check how
we're looking on size.
Luxury tracksuits are all
about a tailored fit.
I won't make it
too tight on the armhole.
But, while most of the sewers
have chosen to focus
on the complicated
and time-consuming jacket first...
I've just got the cuffs to put
on here, and then that's done.
..Mercedes...
Those are absolutely perfect,
thank you, you can remove them now.
..is taking a different tack.
Unlike the others,
I am doing my jacket second.
I'd rather get these done,
and then I know all the time
that I have left is for my jacket.
Fighting for her place
in the competition, Mercedes'
track top will feature a distinctive
but time-consuming hood,
that folds onto a square top yoke,
which will extend down
the front of the body.
I'm very intrigued to see
this yoke stripe thing.
So am I.
I think it's going to work,
and of course the zip then's
going to be off-centre.
I need to get that perfect.
We do a lot of off centred
zips in our...
Yeah, he's fond of an off-centre...
..leisurewear, mmm.
You've got an hour and a half
to go, hour and a half.
Yeah, he's a really good striker,
but he's just had a bad season,
that's the issue.
Nice to see you.
Is that all we've got?
I've got the whole
jacket left to do.
I thought it was a good idea
to start with the trousers,
and they've just taken me a lot
longer than I was expecting
them to take.
While Mercedes races
to complete her trousers...
So, if I start that zip there...
..the rest of the sewers are putting
the final touches on their tops.
Zip's going in.
At last.
I just want a zip in
that's not wavy,
it's really easy with stretchy
fabrics to make the zip do that.
I had to snip some
of my zip off the top.
I'm going to topstitch down.
I've just sewn the zip shut,
I've sewn it on the outside of
the garment, oh, this is a disaster.
Very silly thing to do.
You've got an hour remaining,
one hour to go.
Thomas, do me a favour,
there's a tracksuit top there,
just shove it on for me.
That's looking good, OK.
I've got something that seems
to fit like a tracksuit.
All right, you take it off.
Let's start the trousers.
Trousers.
The zip looks terrible,
it's just a shame that I won't
have time to do it properly.
Alexei, oh.
The zip is a little bit dodgy,
he's kind of quite botched it.
Ricardo, because he's got so many
seams across the front of the body,
if those seams aren't neat and even,
it's going to show.
Mercedes.
Do you think she spent quite
a long time sewing the trousers?
I don't know quite how
she's going to manage it.
Oh, I'm not going
to finish my jacket.
That is for definite,
especially as I've just gone
completely squiffy here.
You know it's me that has to clean
all this up at the end of the day?
Clean up this, yeah,
I'm sorry darling.
I'll come give you a hand
if you want.
Yes, if you could please,
because it's been taking me hours.
Right, Thomas, we're about
to get a bit personal.
I need you to shove that bit through
your legs and around the back.
Can you turn around,
let me see the butt?
They're looking OK,
I just want to give it a slim,
more tapered look.
OK, I'm going to make them
a bit taller than that.
Then I went to shape them.
So, if I do a tuck here,
and we have lift off.
So, what I normally do
is about 12 reps,
then I'll do a bit of cardio,
hang on one second.
30 minutes to go, guys,
just 30 minutes.
Oh, make sure that I'm sewing
the right bits of this together.
At this stage, that
would be catastrophic.
Oh, dear.
The back piece is inside-out.
Two colours of trousers.
What do I do, Mercedes?
I've sewn one of the trousers
one side the right way around,
and one side the other way around.
Should I carry on?
I think I'll just have to
live with it.
I'm going through that living with
it system at the moment as well.
I'm so going home.
Stupid rookie mistake,
trying to sew a solid zip
into a stretch fabric.
The whole thing just
goes curly wurly.
15 minutes to go, final touches.
Oh, no.
Ugh.
Crazy leg problems.
Have you enjoyed this challenge?
No.
No-one has.
I'll tell you what though...
Has no-one enjoyed this?
No! No, death by track suits.
Why are we all bothering?
Let's leave.
Oh, and everyone else
is staying, all right.
I've just got this last push,
I don't know how long we've got.
Five minutes, sewers,
time to get those tracksuits
on your models.
Oh, dear.
I'm sorry, but it's not gone well.
It's looking OK.
I love the contrast
panels on the back.
Entirely intentional.
Careful, there's pins there.
That's got a lovely
feel to it, hasn't it?
Let's see.
It does match.
Ooh, look at that.
One minute to go!
One minute.
Get the zip to the bottom.
Panic, panic, panic.
I messed up the zip,
it's not sitting flat.
Oh, my gosh.
My hands are shaking.
Needles up!
That is your time.
Woo!
My panel's in the wrong way around.
If they pull too hard,
it'll come off the top.
Flipping heck!
You can put your shoes on.
# Call me good, call me bad
# Call me anything you want to,
baby... #
Seven luxury tracksuits
made to measure
in just four and a half hours.
# Baby, I'm your man!
# Don't you know that,
baby, I'm your man! #
I really like the overall look
of it,
it was inspired by a university
baseball jacket,
so I think this
kind of leatherette sleeve
feels totally appropriate.
I love the choice of colour,
I think it's quite sophisticated.
Can I do this..
Don't take it... Oh, stop!
The zip, you haven't
caught it in properly.
Oh, my good God.
Is that a design feature, Janet?
Absolutely.
It's a real shame,
obviously the zip is an issue.
It's really reminiscent of those
fantastic '80s shell suits...
Good. ..that are really a big thing
in men's fashion at
the moment. Yeah.
Very nice use of fabrics,
and with this mesh.
Quite complicated, all those
different panels. Yeah.
You've done a very good job.
# Take on me, take on me
# Take me on
# Take on me
# I'll be gone... #
It's incredibly impactful,
it sort of, in my head, conjures up,
I don't know, the Bulgarian
Olympic team in the '80s perhaps.
I love the idea of the stripe
going all the way through,
look at it, through the shoulder,
through the front,
through the sleeve.
You asked of yourself
something quite, quite difficult,
to make that so accurate.
The idea of it is so strong,
so graphic, I think it's great.
Well done.
I love the shape of those trousers.
Baggy, cool, and then it's fitting
really nicely over the calves.
In this bouncy fabric,
I think you've handled that well.
I like the way you've used
just a small piece of the camo
in the waistband,
and you've just given us this sweep
of it round across the knee,
I think it's really effective.
It hits the brief perfectly.
Thank you.
I like this a lot,
this bouncy fabric worried me,
but I think actually it has worked.
Absolutely hats off to you for that.
I like that you've thought,
"How am I going to finish the bottom
"of this trouser and
make it feel different
from an ordinary tracksuit?"
You wanted it to look
kind of natural? Yeah.
Like the trouser was too long,
and it was just making a
pleated bit there, which I like.
I love this single red
stripe down the back.
Good.
The hood, perfection.
I think overall, it's a fantastic
example of a luxury tracksuit.
It's a great colour, I like
the blue and the white together,
and I love the white top stitching.
Turn round.
Oh, good gosh!
That was a major problem.
So the back, you've sewn it
with the inside
or that side on the outside.
Oh, that's what you're talking
about, OK, yeah, sure.
And the end of the zip
should be inside the jacket.
That looks, as I would
say, like a bodge.
Yeah, a disaster.
You gave yourself a lot to do
by putting zips in these pockets,
and time has caught you up.
Yeah.
I love the design of this.
But, something's gone
quite badly wrong. Yes.
You've literally got a foot's worth
of hem that is far from finished.
One thing getting to me,
the fabric's stretched.
Stretched, yeah,
it's slightly off as well.
It's absolutely whooshing
over there.
That's what happens
when you do a ten-minute zip.
It's a big shame. I'm sorry.
Because it could have been
very impactful.
Well done, everyone,
the judges are going to deliberate,
and we'll come back and find
out who's got garment of the week,
and who's going home.
But, take a nice break.
Thank you very much.
Cheers! Cheers!
Well done.
Yep, well done.
I would be lying if I said
I felt confident about
going through to next week.
Shame, but I loved that tracksuit, I
loved the idea, it just grabbed me.
Too far back to be able
to get back from it.
Well, technical fabric week,
some people have struggled here,
haven't they?
Yeah, I think technically speaking,
it's been demanding.
Let's talk about the made-to-measure
then, which one's jumped out at you?
Jen's. Yeah.
Beautifully finished, great with
a red stripe down the back.
She really thought about it.
I mean all over, neat, tidy, clean.
And I love Juliet's
very, very cool shape.
I love this as well, it's very now,
it's ticking a whole load of boxes,
you know, those two were fantastic.
Yes.
On the made to measures,
who's struggling?
Well, this morning, we were talking
about Alexei and Mercedes.
Their made-to-measure, sadly,
has absolutely confirmed
that they are the two
that are in trouble. Yes.
If we start with Mercedes,
it was a really clever idea,
but it was very badly sewn.
And then Alexei.
The zip is really,
really badly sewn.
The trousers, do they redeem
either of them in any way? No.
OK. He's cut the fabric inside out.
Yeah.
If we have a look
at Mercedes' trousers,
the pockets are quite nicely done.
Yes.
And actually, they're
a little bit better.
You've got to make a decision.
I know, really difficult.
Really, really difficult.
So, we've made it through
technical fabric week,
it's been the toughest yet, right?
Yeah.
Let's start with
garment of the week, Patrick.
Our garment of the week
this week is...
Jen!
Yay!
Well done, Jen, you chose
a really difficult fabric,
and you made it superbly.
Really beautifully,
beautifully finished and sewn.
Thank you.
OK, so now, the not so nice bit.
Somebody has to go home,
and I should say that the judges
really struggled with this one,
yeah.
Definitely.
The person going home
this week is...
..Alexei.
Oh, oh, Alexei.
All right, it would be unjust
if it was anyone else.
Congratulations,
you've done brilliantly.
Thank you.
It's not really been that long
since I was at rock bottom.
Learning to sew has been a really
big part of feeling that
having the, the illness
has not meant that it's the end,
and I'm not capable
of anything any more.
Considering you've only
been sewing for two years,
you are absolutely amazing.
Thank you so much.
I think my wife will be proud
that I've got this far.
I mean she's been, yeah,
trying to make me believe in myself,
so, yeah, I hope...
I hope she's proud.
Alexei has been an absolute
pleasure in the sewing room.
I mean, all these challenges,
he's been given,
and he stepped up to the plate.
So, I will be very sad
to see him go.
Thanks for your support.
It's extremely sad that
Alexei is having to go,
he is a brilliant sewer,
definitely going to miss him.
I just consider myself very,
very lucky at the moment,
very lucky to have got through.
Jen's been so close to garment
of the week on so many occasions,
and finally, she delivered
the full package.
Yeah, I'm really delighted,
I'm really pleased they liked it.
It could've gone the other way,
and I wasn't sure which way
it would go, to tell you the truth,
so, yeah, it's great, really great.
I'm really proud of
myself, definitely.
Yay, I'm still in!
Next time...
There's a lot of waste
here, isn't there?
..in a first for the Sewing Bee,
the sewers can only use...
Some of these fabrics are bringing
back nightmares.
..recycled fabric.
Maybe I should've washed the cotton.
As they rework
second-hand clothes...
Am I ready for the party?
..raid the bins for scraps.
Recognise it?
And breathe new life
into old upholstery.
I think it's curtains for me.
All for a place...
Oh, come on.
..in the quarterfinal.
You're a horrible pair
of tricksters,
and I want no further part in it.
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05x04 - Episode 4
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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.