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 what happened! I’m also going to be sharing some of my favourite swimsuit patterns – with the weather warming up and summer approaching they make a fun sewing challenge!
What happened in Episode 2
The first challenge for holiday week was making rucksacks! This tested the sewists’ ability to follow complex instructions under time pressure, as well as picking out the best materials to make a robust bag – it was important to pick a sturdy enough fabric for the outer layer. Gillie picked a lovely, fun print, but the cotton was quite lightweight and not what the judges were looking for.
The transformation challenge was a fun one this week! The sewists were tasked with transforming a windbreak into a weather-proof beach outfit. Some went practical with hoods and capes, other (ahem.. Vicky) added a touch of comedy to the episode with a one-piece featuring a very well fitting crotch.. (it’s OK, everyone seemed to see the funny side and Vicki did well!)
The made to measure this week featured swimsuits! These can be a great, fun sew, but they can be hard to get right. Of course, a perfect fit is everything in this challenge. It’s one thing making a swimming costume for yourself, but another to fit it perfectly to a model that you’ve only just met.
Mia took a risk on using a very structural scuba for the top half of her suit, and it absolutely paid off. Her piece was architectural, but also soft and playful. It was definitely on brief and finished beautifully. It earned her garment of the week.
Gillie’s costume was more simple than the judges were looking for, so sadly we said goodbye to Gillie last week. She’d also run behind on some of the other challenges and hadn’t chosen the best fabric for her rucksack. It seemed like she’d had a lovely experience though, and we loved watching her for these first two episodes.
Sewing swimsuits!
Nervous to try sewing your own swimwear? It might seem daunting at first, but if you’ve ever tried making t-shirts or sewing with jersey, you already have some experience. As with everything, practice helps, but here are a few pattern ideas to get you started.
Accessible and beginner-friendly sew: Tilly and the Buttons – Sewing Coralie
This is a lovely, classic swimsuit pattern with an optional ruffle around the neckline and scooped back. Tilly’s patterns are well laid out and designed to be accessible to beginners.
The good all-rounder: Megan Nielson – Cottesloe
This pattern comes with four different views, so you only ever need to buy one pattern! It’s also got a more athletic shape, so it’s perfect for activewear. I’ve started wild swimming lately, and I think it’d be a good option for an active suit!
The glamorous bikini: Friday Pattern Company – Vernazza Two
Probably better for poolside lounging than jumping in lakes, the Vernazza Bikini is such a fun make. It looks technical, but the construction for the central twist is actually quite simple. The high waisted bottoms are comfortable, and you can have fun choosing a patterned print or colour block your fabric.
Pick up your swimwear haberdashery at William Gee!
Once you’ve chosen your pattern and fabric, don’t forget to stop by for some swimwear elastic, threads, and other swimwear essentials.
Check back next week for more Sewing Bee content – only one more day until Episode 3!
Lorna x
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