Net weeI love Vintage week! I love vintage clothes, not so much some of the nylon and polyester fabrics though from the 70's though!
The Pattern Challenge this week is to make a pair of flared jeans! Oh my word, those flares were huge! They are also having to use a vintage sewing machine. I have a vintage sewing machine, but I haven't got it going yet. It needs a specific bobbin.
Mercedes chooses a vibrant paisley pattern fabric but I fear this will be her downfall on this challenge due to pattern matching. Ben chose a heavy velvet in mustard yellow, very in keeping with the 70's but he struggled putting it through the machine.
I never knew that bell bottom trousers were sailors uniform because if they fell overboard it would be easier to grab them by the trousers and get them out. I would think the flares might help them float but it would have to be a light fabric or it would do the opposite and weigh them down.
Engineering headaches during the construction of the trousers. Pockets and fly zips challenged everyone. I think Ben will really struggle putting so many layers of heavy fabric in the machine for the zip. Applying the waistband proved to be a challenge for nearly everyone.
8th place: Ben; 7th place: Alexei; 6th place: Mercedes; 5th place: Janet; 4th place: Juliet; 3rd place: Leah; 2nd place: Riccardo; 1st place: Jen. Jen's flares were finished and had great sewing throughout.
The Transformation Challenge involves a case of 70's anarchy punk style and they hvave to make a punk outfit from trousers, a t shirt and 3 tartan garments. Patrick demonstrated the Pogo dance thing, hehehehe.
Riccardo came up with a racy design using a zip on the skinny trouser hes makes. I won't say what it was here so you'll have to watch the show. slashes in t shirts, mini tartan skirts, safety pins and chains were all used. I really liked Juliet's and Leah's transformations.
8th place: Alexei; 7th place: Janet; 6th place: Juliet; 5th place: Leah; 4th place: Ben; 3rd place; Mercedes; 2nd place: Jen; 1st place: Riccardo.
The Made to Measure challenge was to make a maxi dress in 5 and half hours. I noticed Merccedes was wearing a lovely necklace with a silver pair of open scissors pendant. I wonder where she got it from?
Jen makes a Lee Bender dress in a bold vibrant pattern and using shoulder pads. Mercedes is making a 1973 pattern with a yoke and sleeve piece and makes it in a vibrant floral fabric. Janet is making a dress from 1973 and its in a ditsy print with bishop sleeves and scooped neckline. Juliet is making a modern pattern with vintage flounces off the shoulder in a fine georgette fabric to get a floaty feel. Riccardo is making a tiered skirt dress from a pattern he self drafted. Ben is working from a self drafting pattern and a unique mushroom printed fabric he prints himself, with a pleated skirt, although his pleats weren't precise. Leah makes a sheer silk cotton dress with french seams. Alexei is satin lined dress with bell sleeves.
I thought all the dresses were fantastic. You really should watch it to see the designs. Leah thought she had lost a sleeve and was frantically searching for it, before realising she had already attached it. I know that feeling! You really have to keep a close watch on all your pieces in dressmaking. I was really impressed with Leah's floaty dress and Alexei's dress was beautifully shaped due to the 12 darts! Mercedes dress was elegant and fitted the model perfectly.
Alexei thinks this is his last week although he and Ben are on the cards to leave this week. I really hope they can make a fantastic dress and stay in the competition.
As it always happens, someone must leave every week and this week it was Ben. I feel he struggled quite a bit with his construction but I really like his prints that he designs himself. I hope someone picks up that talent and he finds a great job designing fabrics!
Garment of the week was Mercedes maxi dress, with great praise from Patrick.
Next week it is technical fabrics, swimsuit fabric, a dog coat and sportswear for the made to measure challenge. I'm looking forward to that. Sports wear fabric is hard to work with and get to fit perfectly, but also, cute little doggies are going to be modelling their garments! I saw a cute sausage dog.