Meet the 7th Sewing Bee to leave the Sewing Room!

Spoiler alert! Read on to learn all about the most recent Bee to pack their bags

Joe Lycett hosts as temperatures drop and winter hits the sewing room, with challenges themed around keeping warm and adding sparkle to the coldest months of the year.

Patrick and Esme’s Pattern Challenge this week is a man’s flannel shirt. The sewers must create cuffs and collars, challenging both their construction technique and precise sewing skills.

The sewers wrap up warm for the Transformation, turning old scarves into a new wearable garment in a mere 90 minutes.

Finally, in the Made to Measure, they are asked to make a festive winter party dress. Working with tricky-to-handle fabrics, including velvets and sequins, each must create a perfect fit for their model. Who will cheer the judges’ spirits and win Garment of the Week, and who will be sent out into the cold?

We absolutely loved this week's wonderfully wintery Sewing Bee. But sadly with another week comes another elimination and we were so sad to see Andrew go! We have loved watching Andrew throughout this series so we sat down to get to know him even better! Leave a comment below if you think Andrew should have stayed and all of your favourite Andrew moments!

*How did it feel to be filming this series?

The experience was intense; filming at twice the pace of the transmission and being isolated in our apartments.  That said, having most of our activities dictated did mean that we didn’t have to make too many decisions for ourselves.

*When did you first start sewing and why do you love it so much?

I started making clothes for my teddy bears at a young age!  I remember being able to have a go on my Mum’s sewing machine while I was at primary school.  I love being able to sew things which I wouldn’t be able to buy – Bespoke curtains and clothes which are unique are my loves.

*Who was your mentor ?

I didn’t really have a mentor for learning to sew.  I was shown the basics by my mum and her mum  (my Gran) was a skilled sewer – inspiration rather than mentoring.  I am largely self-taught.

*What is your favourite garment to sew/or your speciality?

I love making shirts!  Easy fabrics to work with, opportunities to add features and create interest and, with a bit of precision sewing, a garment which is better than bought!

*Why did you want to be a Great British Sewing Bee and who did you want to most impress of the Judges, or both?  And when the sewing got tough, was Joe a welcome ally?

I have been inspired by watching the GBSB, and having made outfits for my parent’s diamond wedding celebration, there were several friends who said I ought to go on the show.  I resisted!!  However, the lockdown and watching GBSB S6, nudged me in the right direction and I applied.

I wanted to impress Patrick whilst not getting slaughtered by Esme!  Joe is such a kind person – his good humour and encouragement certainly helped when the going got tough.

*Describe your experience on first walking into the sewing room on this year’s Sewing Bee, and which challenge were you fearing the most the first week -  Pattern challenge; transformation challenge, or Made to Measure challenge?

Although the Sewing Room is in a different (and bigger) location it felt so familiar – it was like stepping through the TV screen and into a new reality.  I was looking forward to the pattern challenge – just how difficult could it be!!  I dreaded the transformation challenge – what would they think up this time – how can I make anything in 90 minutes?  And was confident in the pattern challenge until I saw what everyone else was making!

*What was your best and worst moment that first week?

It was fantastic to get into the sewing room for the first time.  The low point was trying to get a reluctant sewing machine to sew a button hole in the last few seconds of the pattern challenge.

*How did you try and stay calm when things were going badly wrong or you ran out of time in the first week?

I don’t think I had a strategy for keeping calm – just for pushing myself to finish!  Horrible feeling to be all fingers and thumbs when you want to be super accurate and dextrous.

*Do you have an attachment to a sewing tool, and why is it special to you?

I love the vintage hemmer that we acquired when the shop my mum worked in closed down.  It was great to put it to use in creating level hems.

*In your sewing life: What has been your worst sewing disaster - and your biggest triumph?

I think all my highs and lows have been on the Sewing Bee!  Everything else is just regular and without extremes.

*Do you make for family and friends as presents?  And most asked for garment?

I don’t routinely make clothes for others but it’s great to be able to make something for a special occasion when I am more than happy to pull all the stops out.  I have made a couple of stage costumes for friends and hope to make more of these.

*Describe your style, and how much of your own clothes do you make?

My style would be a “Gentleman’s Wardrobe”. Classic clothes made to fit me.  At the moment about a quarter of my clothes are home made but this is set to increase as I sew more in the future.  I like a bit of sparkle and it is great to be able to add something special to your wardrobe.

*Can you give a sewing tip for amateur sewers who have been enjoying the show?

The more you sew – and the more patterns you follow – the more you understand about techniques involved.  And then you can begin to create your own variations and own patterns.

*What is the best way to describe the relationship between this year’s Bees?

We were thrown in together for both filming and living.  You get to know so much about people and yet realise there is so much yet to know!  We got on well despite our different backgrounds – sewing can unite communities!

*What will you take away from your experience of being on The Great British Sewing Bee?

I will be working out how to stop facings showing having got this pretty wrong on every garment!!  It was great to be sewing as part of a team – it can be a very solitary experience otherwise.

*Next for you in the sewing world?

I want to promote sewing for men – both men sewing and making things for men.  It can be really difficult sourcing suitable patterns and materials.

**Best and worst moment for you during the whole series?

Worst: Watching the bow fall off my winter festive dress in Episode 7 and realising that I wasn’t going to make it to the quarter finals!

Best:  Smashing the transformation challenge on more than one occasion.

** Favourite challenge overall and why?

I think it has to be the transformation challenge in Children’s week Episode 5, and making the crab!!

**Outfit you loved the most….

I think the reversible coat for my child model was my favourite – I loved the finished look.