The first challenge as always is the Pattern Challenge and this week they were tasked with making a swimsuit. You can see why swimsuits cost so much when you make one. The difficult fabric with 4 way stretch, fraying and the power mesh. I liked the pattern that was chosen, a nice 50's style swimsuit with a peekaboo bow and lots of pieces of fabric. Quite a few of the contestants put the side panels on upside down and had to to unpick it and restitch it. Janet sewed up a storm, figuring out the pattern first, so then everyone else came to her for help.
7th place: Alexei chose a black suit with abstract panels
6th place: Mercedes used big white polka dots with black panels
5th place: Leah had green fabric with white flowers and a contrasting pink panels and bow
4th place: Riccardo chose a red fabric with red floral panels
3rd place: Jen used a red fabric with small ditsy floral panels
2nd place: Janet had black fabric with leopard print panels and bow
1st place: Juliet made a silver and black swimsuit
I really feel that Juliet is in the running to win the series, but I also know that the judges usually choose someone who improves the most over the course of the competition, so although Juliet is winning a lot of the challenges, it doesn't automatically mean she is going to win the series.
The Transformation challenge was amusing. This week they were presented with old tents and had to make a coat, for a dog from the fabric! Winston, the rather cute sausage dog, was modelling a cute coat but the contestants didn't have a real dog model. That would have been chaos!
7th place: Riccardo created a rather bizarre coat with carry handles. I know a lot of underground trains want you to put your dog in a bag to use the transport so I see where he was coming from.
6th place: Janet
5th place: Leah
4th place: Alexei
3rd place: Mercedes
2nd place: Juliet
1st place: Jen
At this point in the competition Riccardo, Alexei and Mercedes were at risk of going home and those staying were the three J's, Juliet, Janet and Jen.
The final challenge as always is the Made to Measure and this week they were tasked with making a men's luxury tracksuit with a statement stripe in a synthetic fabric. I'm not going to tell you what designs they chose so you'll have to watch the episode.
Garment of the Week was won by Jen for her tracksuit in a grey scuba fabric.
Unfortunately, Alexei struggled this week and it showed in his construction and he was sent home. I really hope he continues sewing and making dresses for his wife as he does this really well. I feel he was a little out of his comfort zone with a lot of the challenges.
I've found some pattern from this week you might like to try for yourself.
Swimsuit: www.sewdirect.com/butterick-b4526/
Swimsuit: www.sewdirect.com/butterick-b5795/
Dog coat: www.sewdirect.com/8824/
Dog coat: www.sewdirect.com/simplicity-1578/
Men's tracksuit: www.sewdirect.com/6397-11516/
Searching through various sites for these patterns makes me realise that there is not much in Menswear apart from fancy dress costumes or pyjamas. It makes me want to develop lots of patterns for men, more variety.
Anyway, next week on GBSB it is Sustainability week, using off cuts and old curtains, and recycled fabrics. I also think you can transform old garments with simple changes and this will be covered in one of my workshops!