The Great British Sewing Bee: Sustainable Style

I recently bought this book to coincide with the new series of gbsb. Couldn't wait to get started and began to make the summer dress for my daughter. I've traced a cut the pattern and the fabric. However there is a mistake in the pattern. There is no seam allowance on the bodice centre front and side front pieces. So when joined, they are smaller than the corresponding back bodice piece. Very disappointing and waste of money on the book and on the fabric. 😞

So I thought I would see what all they hype about the book was, I am very disappointed, the only sewing bee related stuff is forewords by Patrick and Esme and a few pics of about half the contestants - not rreally the great british sewing bee book then is it (and the patterns are the ones you can get free off the web so bot from this current series)

I started to make the blouse version of the summer dress. First issue I found has already been mentioned here - front bodice pieces do not have seam allowances on the pattern. Fortunately I had the fabric to cut new pieces. I then found that the cuffs have not got seam allowances either, and would not have gone over my small hands. Cut new cuffs with extra for the seams! Noticed that the back of the peplum skirt was 7cms longer than the front! So I would have to lose 7cms off the back! The final straw was that the sleeves did not fit into the armhole. As an experienced sewer I am used to gathering a sleeve head and then easing it into the armhole. In this instance the armhole was considerably bigger than the sleeve! Totally wrong! At this point fabric, pattern and book all went into the bin!

I’m pleased I bought this book though it may not be right for everyone. Primarily I wouldn’t say it is really suitable for beginners - it’s much more like improvers and intermediate. The first part of the book has sewing advice, tips, techniques etc which is a useful reference if you don’t have anything similar. (I also own another sewing bee book and this reference part is very similar). The main thing I bought it for was the sewing projects and the patterns, and there are plenty to choose from. The patterns are all printed double sided, colour coded for ease in tracing, as obviously you can’t cut out the originals. The tracing is a bit fiddly but not too difficult once you get the hang of it. The pattern instructions are good with helpful sketches for the trickier bits. There are at least 4 patterns in the book which I will try, but there are several that are just not to my taste. This is always the way in this kind of book and it still works out as good value if you only make a few of the projects. For those people watching the current sewing bee series, it’s worth noting that the patterns on the book do not follow those on the programme. There are some similarities (wrap skirt, sleep set) but they are not the same throughout. Finally, I’m not sure about the title Sustainable Style. There are some project ideas for reusing and adapting clothes but most of them use new fabric, so worth being aware.

If you're needing a lockdown treat this is it! It arrived 6 days early and it's the best GBSB book so far. The projects are great with a range of skills from beginner to pretty advanced, but are sensible - no neoprene ball dresses!It says it is aimed at the "confident home sewer" and I think this is a good description. The emphasis on sustainability goes all the way through from the forward to the very last page - they even show how you make a beginners light jacket from patch-working offcuts.Really innovative and original which is quite impressive when there have been several GBSB books - they also include all the printed patterns - overall a glorious, indulgent treat to ease a home sewers isolation :)