It was raining at Sew HQ yesterday, but we were still celebrating summer thanks to episode three of The Great British Sewing Bee. Summer Week has to be one of our favourite themes so far, providing endless inspiration for our warm weather wardrobes. 

The first challenge saw the stitchers tackle a summer midi dress with plenty of shirring. Unsurprisingly, Brogan (owner of some of the most incredible summer frocks ever to grace our screens) was a natural and we loved how much help she offered her fellow contestants. We couldn’t help but giggle when she called out: “you know it’s serious when it’s a tension seven!”. We were also impressed by the stitchers who decided to work with gingham fabric and save themselves the trouble of marking out guidelines for their shirring – nothing quite beats a time-saving hack!

Inspired by the marvelous midi dresses on display, we decided to search through the Sew archives for a similar design. Brought to you from Posner and Posner, the Ariana is a spotted midi with a three-tiered trapeze skirt. The perfect pick for ambitious newbies or experienced stitchers, it is the ultimate masterclass in sewing buttonholes, inserting sleeves, and most importantly for the skirt – cracking the gathering stitch. 

Alternatively, if you are ready to give shirring a go, you should check out the beautiful Rosie Dress, also from Posner and Posner. Unlike the brave contestants, you will only have a small amount of shirring to tackle before completing an otherwise simple dress design. 

The Transformation Challenge tasked the stitchers with turning a hammock into a gorgeous garment with plenty of fringing and macrame elements. The contestants had the option of using the trim as straps or ties, but we were really impressed when Angela challenged herself to make an entire macrame panel. Now this is a spoiler free zone so we won’t tell you who won this section of the Sewing Bee, but we will give you a tiny hint in the form of this Frilled Dress from Amanda Walker. Featuring a fabulous halter neck, it has elements of the winning design and would only be enhanced with the addition of fringing. Or, if you prefer to keep things simple, there is already a gentle frill at the front of the dress that is mirrored across the back.

Last but not least, the Made to Measure Challenge required the contestants to sew a chic co-ord. They were able to work on their designs at home, but in the sewing room, they needed to make accurate adjustments so that their designs perfectly fit their models. If you haven’t already watched the episode, be sure to look out for Sara Pascoe’s references to Love Island – it was hilarious to see Esme and Patrick completely baffled by the terms ‘fire pit’ and ‘cracking on’. We were also amazed to discover that Esme is responsible for the iconic shirts worn in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet – what a coincidence that Steve decided to make a co-ord inspired by her original designs!

If you would like to make a co-ord of your own, this may be a fantastic opportunity for you to embrace upcycling. This lovely set has been made from an old dress in need of a new lease of life. As you can see it is a fitted style, but for a more boxy and relaxed look, try releasing the darts in the bodice and letting out the side seams. 

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