The Great British Sewing Bee - Week Five

One of the best things about The Great British Sewing Bee is that it gets better with every episode. Even when you think it isn’t possible for the garments to be more gorgeous, the challenges to be more creative, or the contestants to be more charming, somehow everyone’s favourite series keeps going from strength to strength. That theory certainly applies to episode five where we were treated to a trio of tasks centered around children.

The first challenge saw the stitchers tackle a cute sailor suit for a toddler. This particular task required the bees to make elasticated shorts (perfect for wriggle monsters), along with a smart top with a classic square collar and ties. Man Yee certainly made the challenge her own, taking inspiration from Anime characters and the sailor outfits she had previously sewn. Brogan also won our hearts when she talked about the garments she regularly makes for her three-year-old niece. Although we have to admit we were equal parts entertained and horrified by Sara’s joke that perhaps Brogan’s niece was in fact a creepy woman dressed up as a child in order to score handsewn garments – perish the thought!

Head over heels for the nautical theme, we decided to revisit a Sew classic – this darling dress from Louise Nichols. Featuring an appliqued Peter Pan collar and across the body bag, this super-cute pattern has been brought to life in a soft blue fabric with the appearance of light denim. It wouldn’t look out of place next to the sailor suits sewn by the contestants, but it also offers a modern twist that will keep your youngster bang on trend. 

Another cute contender is this sailor-themed toddler tunic. Sewn in a beautiful nautical print, this pattern offers you an excellent opportunity to master essential sewing room skills such as pin tucks and bias bindings. 

When introducing the Transformation Challenge, host Sara Pascoe joked that “this is the one where you take a balloon and an old yo-yo and you make a smart phone”. This may be a slight exaggeration, but she’s not far wrong, as this week the bees were faced with the remarkable task of turning school uniforms into a cool outfit for a six-year-old to enjoy in their free time. Or as Sara would say: “It’s back to school, but make it cool #SBuniformchallenge #sewcool.”

If you would like to do something similar for the little one in your life, we would recommend working with this adorable pattern from Kirsty Hartley. Another excuse to break out your applique skills, this project will help you to transform a simple school pinny into a fun and floral fit that your youngster will be excited to wear. Using the template download and iron-on adhesive, you can introduce a smiley flower friend to your pinny. You can then switch out any buttons for colorful alternatives. 

Last but not least, the Made to Measure Challenge was a front runner for being the most entertaining task of the series so far. In order to impress the judges, the stitchers had to make a child’s Halloween costume with a 3D element. Patrick was also keen for the makes to have “a sense of humour about them”. As always this is a spoiler free zone, but if you haven’t watched the episode yet, be sure to keep an eye out for the clever use of a toilet plunger, hula hoop, and umbrella to name a few!

If you have been inspired to stitch a Halloween costume of your own, why not start with this adorable Princess Dress? You could even introduce wings or a tiara for that special 3D touch. Incredibly easy to sew, it can be whipped up in no time at all. This pattern is also the perfect pick for thrifty stichers, as the entire make can be completed for under £10. 

If you simply can’t get enough of the Sewing Bee and would love to learn more about Series 8 CLICK HERE, you will also find profiles of all the contestants (helping you to choose a favourite) and links to all of their social media accounts.

Photo credit: BBC/Love Productions/James Stack