Have you seen the latest Sewing Bee? I was a little late watching it this week, but it was a good one. Episode 4 was reduce, reuse and recycle week – where the sewists focused on using second hand materials and fabric scraps in each of the challenges. They sewed a quilted bag, transformed discarded […]
The Sewing Bee
Great British Sewing Bee: Christmas Special 2023!
The Great British Sewing Bee is back for a Christmas special, airing in just a few days time! We loved this year’s series of GBSB, so it’s lovely news that it’s back on our screens for a festive special. Get your mulled wine and mince pies ready and enjoy a crafty, cosy episode from our […]
Great British Sewing Bee 2023 Final! Episode recap and sewing inspiration
This week was the final of the 2023 Great British Sewing Bee! It seems to have come around very quickly. We’ve seen some beautiful and interesting makes this series, and it feels like we have a nicely varied bunch for the final three. I’m going to recap the Series 9 final in this post, so […]
The Sewing Bee: Episode 9 – Utilitarian Week (semi-final!)
This latest week is the Great British Sewing Bee’s semi-final, and the sewists are making all things workwear. Quarter-final week saw Lauren leave the show after a mishap sewing the sleeve of her smoking jacket in fashion icons week, while Asmaa won garment of the week again. She’s on fire! Back to Utilitarian Week! It […]
Sewing Bee: Episode 7 recap and 90’s sewing pattern ideas!
First off, sorry we missed Children’s Week! We’re back with a longer post for 90s week, including a recap and some 90s pattern ideas. The previous episode saw Fauve leaving, with only six contestants remaining. 90s week recap This episode comes complete with a fabulous 90s playlist, dial-up tones (did anyone else use to sing […]
The Sewing Bee: Episode 5 recap – art week!
This week the Sewing Bee took its inspiration from the world of art. It challenged the sewists to be extra creative as they tackle modernist skirts, painted canvasses and surrealist made-to-measure dresses. Check out our recap for Episode 4 if you missed Reduce, Reuse and Recycle week. Pattern challenge This week’s pattern challenge came in […]
The Sewing Bee – Episode 4 recap and zero waste pattern ideas!
It was reduce, reuse and recycle week at the Sewing Bee! I was really pleased to see this theme for the Sewing Bee last week. It’s easy to generate a lot of waste when creating things, but there are things we can do to make sure we create consciously. Have a look at our article […]
Sewing Bee: Episode 3 recap – West Africa week
Thanks for joining us on this recap of the 2023 Sewing Bee’s third episode! This week the sewists celebrated West Africa, exploring the iconic batakari, Àdìre fabric and boubous. They were joined by Lagos-based fashion designer Banke Kuku, whose luxury designs have been on the red carpet and catwalk. It was great to see a […]
The Sewing Bee: Episode 2 recap and swimsuit ideas!
Although the the theme for last week’s Sewing Bee was ‘holiday’, there was no time off for the sewists. Each challenge tested new skills and required both imagination and technical ability. In this post I’m recapping Episode 2 of this year’s Great British Sewing Bee, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know […]
The Sewing Bee Series 9 – Episode 1 recap
We’ve been eagerly awaiting the 2023 series of The Great British Sewing Bee, and loved watching the first episode last Wednesday! We finally got to meet this year’s sewists, and see the theme for the first three challenges. It’s on weekly on BBC 1 at 9pm – if you miss it, you can catch up […]
The Great British Sewing Bee 2023 release date is here!
We were so excited last night to read that the Sewing Bee will be back on our screens on Wednesday 24 May. Now we have the official release date we’re counting down the days until we can see who the next sewists are, and what they’ll be making in the challenges. Check out our recent […]
Great British Sewing Bee: Apply Now for 2024
The Sewing Bee is back on our screens in May 2023, broadcast on BBC1. Are you nifty with a needle or handy with a hem? Put your skills to the test! We’re looking for more talented home sewers to take part in the next series of The Great British Sewing Bee. If you or someone […]
It’s nearly time for The Great British Sewing Bee 2023!
The Great British Sewing Bee is one of the highlights of our year at William Gee’s Online Haberdashery! It should return to our screens any week now, and we can’t wait. The challenges, creations and friendships we enjoy throughout each season have charmed the nation, and it’s something to look forward to whether you sew […]
A guide to the best independent sewing pattern companies
The past few years has seen a rise in smaller sewing companies and now there seems to be patterns to suit everyone, whatever their style. From French style to vintage inspired, here are a few of the best independent sewing pattern companies out there and the pick of my favourite makes. If you know of […]
Sewing Bee Part 3: Interfacing
Part 1: Tools of the Trade | Part 2: Pattern Hacking | Part 3: Interfacing | | Part 4: Fastenings It’s what’s on the inside that counts… It’s an old adage that it is what is on the inside that counts, and when it comes to constructing a professional garment, it makes a huge difference to collars, […]
Sewing Bee Part 2: Pattern Hacking
Part 1: Tools of the Trade | Part 2: Pattern Hacking | Part 3: Interfacing | | Part 4: Fastenings After part 1, your sewing studio should be fully equipped and we are ready to move on to the interesting part – designing and making clothes! To make clothes there are two ways of starting: draping on a […]
Sewing Bee Part 1: Tools of the Trade
Part 1: Tools of the Trade | Part 2: Pattern Hacking | Part 3: Interfacing | Part 4: Fastenings Ever wondered what goes on in a professional sewing studio? Has the Sewing Bee inspired you to give it a go yourself? Here are some useful tips and insider secrets on how to take your projects from amateur home […]
HUGE NEWS! Great British Sewing Bee is set to return in 2019!
That’s right, you heard correctly, our favourite TV Programme is back! Though one person will be missing from the mix…We can confirm that Claudia Winkleman will NOT be presenting the show, which as of yet does not have a broadcasting date. Head to William Gee Online for professional sewing, dressmaking & fashion design tools with FAST […]
Sewing Bee Part 4: Fastenings
Part 1: Tools of the Trade | Part 2: Pattern Hacking | Part 3: Interfacing | Part 4: Fastenings Unless your garment is super stretchy you are going to need some kind of fastening to be able to get into it and keep it closed. Keep it Zipped! The most obvious thing to use is a zip. […]
Sewing Bee 2016 Flash Sale – 48 HOURS ONLY!
To celebrate the series finale of the Great British Sewing Bee, we are having a FLASH SALE! From the moment the Sewing Bee winner is announced, we’ll be reducing our online prices by a further 10%! But hurry, our flash sale is only on for 48 hours! Get ready to save on sewing tools, fashion design […]
Sewing Bee Giveaway: Enter to win loads of sewing goodies & craft bags!
It’s competition time! To celebrate the start of the 2016 Sewing Bee tonight, we’re giving you the chance to win a William Gee Goodie Bag full of crafty treats and sewing goodies! The Great British Sewing Bee is back on our screens Monday 16th May at 9pm on BBC2 – and we can’t wait to see what’s in store this year! […]
A Beginner’s Guide to the Best Sewing Classes in the UK
For anyone who has thought about starting to sew, making your own clothes and accessories can seem overwhelming. There’s plenty of help out there – craft bloggers, social media, and even Youtube videos – but if you just don’t know where to start, or you want to learn from a sewing teacher, why not look for a […]
The Great British Sewing Bee 2016 – Applications Now Open!
The Sewing Bee will be returning in 2016 for its fourth series – how exciting! William Gee have been supplying GBSB with various haberdashery and sewing products since the series started. If you need some inspiration to apply – just look at the textiley success of some of the previous contestants below… – – – – – – […]
The Great British Sewing Bee is back!
When The Great British Sewing Bee started with its 1st series back in 2013, we were obviously very excited. Now the Sewing Bee is back for a 3rd series, and we can’t wait to see what the new group of designers come up with as the weeks progress. As lovers of all things traditional, it was really […]