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feather_ghyllWeek 5 (?) was reduce, reuse, recycle week – and such a brilliant theme, green, calling for a different kind of inventiveness, and Esme was really into it.
In terms of the choice of materials and look, I liked Riccardo’s blouse the most – I think I’d have liked Juliet’s more if her bow had been pinker or redder. Mercedes, as per usual, did not take in the instructions, and despite making it easier for herself in theory as a result, didn’t in practice.
Brilliant transformation challenge! I almost think they should have kept it for the end of the series for emotional heft. With free rein, everyone went in different directions. I liked the idea of Jen’s skirt when she first described it and put together the fabrics, but not the execution. Leah caught the eye by making a children’s costume. Juliet’s outfit was very her, and Mercedes’s deserved all the criticism it got. I agreed with the points about Riccardo’s choice of colours next to each other, but wasn’t fussed about the style of the outfit. So, I was pleased that Janet got her top spot. She’d also picked colours well (she’d been clever about that in the previous challenge), but I liked the shape more, and it being a reversible outfit, harking back to the weird tent challenge, worked.
The bit about BIBA was interesting, with the underlying tension that one wanted to frown at it for starting throwaway fashion!
Could Mercedes do enough to recover after being clearly the weakest sewer? When she started talking about the pattern matching problems, I thought not. In fact, given that they’d had a chance to practice, there seemed to be quite a few self-created problems with the choice of material (Leah) or pattern (Jen – having a relatively bad week for her). Riccardo’s dress was better, although it did have an air of crumpledness, and like Juliet, he used the curtain detailing. I felt we didn’t see enouh of Juliet constructing her dress (where did the turquoise underdress come from? We saw little of her sewing it). But she had a storming week. Mercedes did not, though it’s obvious Leah is feeling the pressure, and as the overall number drops, there are fewer spots at the top
They promise an upset next week!
Quarter final week/British and Irish materials
I expected Juliet (or Jen) to go from the build-up, but Janet had clearly come bottom of two challenges, so it felt inevitable, while Riccardo had another good week, and Jen remained constant, which Juliet and Leah did not – which was good for Leah.
Joe’s outfit was one of his better looks, in all seriousness (excluding the hanky headcovering). They all found the linen jacket difficult, bar Jen, whose experience helped her again.
The transformation challenge was cool. I liked Janet’s star, but the rest of it didn’t quite work – ditto Juliet’s. Riccardo showed off his style in the bathers; I liked Jen’s skirt and I liked the top, but wasn’t sure if they worked together; it was fun to see Leah’s inventiveness combine with finish and win.
I liked the ideas for Jen, Riccardo and Leah’s coats. My problem with Janet’s was where the applique bits went. And then they just had to make them. Riccardo’s coat slightly reminded me of bathrobes, but was clearly the best. I liked the colours of Jen’s and Leah’s, but they got forensically critiqued, as did Juliet’s. Janet was upset, and rightly so – the fact hers was the most unfinished probably did it for her.
Semi-final week/World sewing week
Another surprise result out of the context of the last third of the show.
We started in India with the judges’ glee at making it tougher with minimal instructions palpable. By the way, I thought Esme’s lizard necklace was more effective than the pattern of Patrick’s jacket. But all the sewers seemed flummoxed. Just as I thought that Jen must be pleased to have mastered the challenge and won when she wasn’t familiar with the tradition, she re-used her credit in the bank metaphor, while clear loser Leah remained the most entertaining competitor, although I thought she’d leave at this point.
The bit about Ghandi and relative poverty was very interesting.
Round 2 went to west Africa for transformations. Joe, of course, enjoyed strutting around in his outfit – he was clearly missing a pile of competitors to interrupt and chat with. Juliet was excited because she knew the material the best, I was excited to see Riccardo’s outfit based on his description, and it was a shame it wasn’t quite finished. I didn’t quite share Patrick’s enthusiasm for Leah’s dress, but I was very happy for her. Jen’s shorts and shirt just made me laugh, and she seemed really dispirited.
So, we were left with Juliet and Riccardo being solid – he seemed glum that he’d consistently come third, which was now bottom from last – and the other two switching places. Obviously, everyone’s job was to finish the last outfit, whatever else. Cue a new, fascinating made-to-measure challenge, that was more about the draughtsmanship and manipulation of materials than sewing. Patrick enjoyed showing off his Japanese.
I liked the idea of Juliet and Riccardo’s designs, but couldn’t quite grasp the other two’s, although for different reasons. Leah seemed to not be playing to her strengths, but it turned out that Jen really wasn’t. Ultimately, I thought Juliet’s yellow top was too heavy – and my design suggestion would have been for the bow at the bottom of the back to be more Japanese. I agreed with Patrick about the length of the back of Leah’s top, but Jen’s zip scuppered her timing, so she hadn’t finished, and her top really was too creased. Meanwhie Riccardo’s top was wowzer.
I did not expect the powerhouse of consistency and very experienced Jen to leave. Juliet has always been one of the strongest sewers, and Riccardo has come into his own – like Esme, I associate him with ‘style’ – and even Leah has ascended to peaks, but still, like the last week, one of the sewers everyone turned to for advice went.
Finals week
I’d forgotten that they’d be doing three challenges as per normal, instead of the made to measure. The pattern challenge was so very tense, with everyone reverting to type: Leah flapping about, Riccardo picking wild patterns and Juliet – as we’d been reminded, the one who’d won the pattern challenge the most – comparatively calm and able to offer advice to the others. While tailoring hasn’t been her strength in the past, she got the fake pockets right and her waistcoat was clearly the best.
Riccardo and Leah seemed less stricken in the transformation round, but Juliet had a complete and utter meltdown, and all Joe could do was remind her that she really needed to use the net curtain in the outfit somehow. She said she had too many ideas, but I wonder if she was obsessing over the fact that she’d already done a net curtain gown. She got more praise than I was expecting, because the other two did use the net as a more central part of their design. Riccardo’s outfit seemed to get worse the longer he worked on it. I liked the original long skirt, I liked that the patterns matched between top and bottom, but by the time he’d put the sleeve and collar on, it had got baggy, and I thought it was more of a structural issue than a lack of pressing and finishing. But Leah’s outfit was clearly better, and Joe was able to offer her, like Riccardo, actually sensible suggestions, or at least something to satisfy Esme’s bow fetish. Esme was pickier than Patrick throughout, wasn’t she?
So, to my slight surprise, Juliet and Leah were on top after day one – am I the only one who thinks it would be nice if they changed outfits for day two instead of wearing the same outfit all episode? I presume they are filmed over two days because of the timings involved. Juliet was the only one I’d predicted to be in the finale from outset.
As for the gowns, I liked the design of Juliet’s and Leah’s, and especially Juliet’s colour. Yes, the idea behind Riccardo’s outfit was clever, but it’s like modern dance and art, if you need to explain it, you’re not conveying your message through the medium you’re using. Riccardo’s friend was of the ‘being supportive by being catty about everyone else in a language they don’t understand but the BBC can easily subtitle’ school of thought. Leah got to be the one offering advice on fit, and her sister was the spit of her, but she crucially didn’t finish. I liked the bottom part of Riccardo’s jellyfish skirt once the final overskirt went on, although I think Esme’s point about the seams was fair. She was also right about Juliet needing to heighten the asymmetry.
As ever, everyone’s return was welcome. You can’t argue with Juliet’s elation at winning. She deserved it after the whole series, I think, and finishing the MtM. I liked the lovely pic of them all meeting up since the series wrapped, and news the show will return next year: yay, although the challenges must surely be daunting for anyone considering entering.
It’s been interesting that when I tell people I’ve been watching this, a lot of them reference the pottery throwdown show and say how much they enjoyed that.
In other news, I am feeling liberated, because on Friday night, I decided to give up on a book that had taken a direction I didn’t want it to. I had avoided it for days and was just thinking I’d have to force myself to finish it before moving on to something more enjoyable, when I realised that no, I didn’t. The bookmark was taken out on Saturday and the book put in the bag for the charity shop.
In terms of the choice of materials and look, I liked Riccardo’s blouse the most – I think I’d have liked Juliet’s more if her bow had been pinker or redder. Mercedes, as per usual, did not take in the instructions, and despite making it easier for herself in theory as a result, didn’t in practice.
Brilliant transformation challenge! I almost think they should have kept it for the end of the series for emotional heft. With free rein, everyone went in different directions. I liked the idea of Jen’s skirt when she first described it and put together the fabrics, but not the execution. Leah caught the eye by making a children’s costume. Juliet’s outfit was very her, and Mercedes’s deserved all the criticism it got. I agreed with the points about Riccardo’s choice of colours next to each other, but wasn’t fussed about the style of the outfit. So, I was pleased that Janet got her top spot. She’d also picked colours well (she’d been clever about that in the previous challenge), but I liked the shape more, and it being a reversible outfit, harking back to the weird tent challenge, worked.
The bit about BIBA was interesting, with the underlying tension that one wanted to frown at it for starting throwaway fashion!
Could Mercedes do enough to recover after being clearly the weakest sewer? When she started talking about the pattern matching problems, I thought not. In fact, given that they’d had a chance to practice, there seemed to be quite a few self-created problems with the choice of material (Leah) or pattern (Jen – having a relatively bad week for her). Riccardo’s dress was better, although it did have an air of crumpledness, and like Juliet, he used the curtain detailing. I felt we didn’t see enouh of Juliet constructing her dress (where did the turquoise underdress come from? We saw little of her sewing it). But she had a storming week. Mercedes did not, though it’s obvious Leah is feeling the pressure, and as the overall number drops, there are fewer spots at the top
They promise an upset next week!
Quarter final week/British and Irish materials
I expected Juliet (or Jen) to go from the build-up, but Janet had clearly come bottom of two challenges, so it felt inevitable, while Riccardo had another good week, and Jen remained constant, which Juliet and Leah did not – which was good for Leah.
Joe’s outfit was one of his better looks, in all seriousness (excluding the hanky headcovering). They all found the linen jacket difficult, bar Jen, whose experience helped her again.
The transformation challenge was cool. I liked Janet’s star, but the rest of it didn’t quite work – ditto Juliet’s. Riccardo showed off his style in the bathers; I liked Jen’s skirt and I liked the top, but wasn’t sure if they worked together; it was fun to see Leah’s inventiveness combine with finish and win.
I liked the ideas for Jen, Riccardo and Leah’s coats. My problem with Janet’s was where the applique bits went. And then they just had to make them. Riccardo’s coat slightly reminded me of bathrobes, but was clearly the best. I liked the colours of Jen’s and Leah’s, but they got forensically critiqued, as did Juliet’s. Janet was upset, and rightly so – the fact hers was the most unfinished probably did it for her.
Semi-final week/World sewing week
Another surprise result out of the context of the last third of the show.
We started in India with the judges’ glee at making it tougher with minimal instructions palpable. By the way, I thought Esme’s lizard necklace was more effective than the pattern of Patrick’s jacket. But all the sewers seemed flummoxed. Just as I thought that Jen must be pleased to have mastered the challenge and won when she wasn’t familiar with the tradition, she re-used her credit in the bank metaphor, while clear loser Leah remained the most entertaining competitor, although I thought she’d leave at this point.
The bit about Ghandi and relative poverty was very interesting.
Round 2 went to west Africa for transformations. Joe, of course, enjoyed strutting around in his outfit – he was clearly missing a pile of competitors to interrupt and chat with. Juliet was excited because she knew the material the best, I was excited to see Riccardo’s outfit based on his description, and it was a shame it wasn’t quite finished. I didn’t quite share Patrick’s enthusiasm for Leah’s dress, but I was very happy for her. Jen’s shorts and shirt just made me laugh, and she seemed really dispirited.
So, we were left with Juliet and Riccardo being solid – he seemed glum that he’d consistently come third, which was now bottom from last – and the other two switching places. Obviously, everyone’s job was to finish the last outfit, whatever else. Cue a new, fascinating made-to-measure challenge, that was more about the draughtsmanship and manipulation of materials than sewing. Patrick enjoyed showing off his Japanese.
I liked the idea of Juliet and Riccardo’s designs, but couldn’t quite grasp the other two’s, although for different reasons. Leah seemed to not be playing to her strengths, but it turned out that Jen really wasn’t. Ultimately, I thought Juliet’s yellow top was too heavy – and my design suggestion would have been for the bow at the bottom of the back to be more Japanese. I agreed with Patrick about the length of the back of Leah’s top, but Jen’s zip scuppered her timing, so she hadn’t finished, and her top really was too creased. Meanwhie Riccardo’s top was wowzer.
I did not expect the powerhouse of consistency and very experienced Jen to leave. Juliet has always been one of the strongest sewers, and Riccardo has come into his own – like Esme, I associate him with ‘style’ – and even Leah has ascended to peaks, but still, like the last week, one of the sewers everyone turned to for advice went.
Finals week
I’d forgotten that they’d be doing three challenges as per normal, instead of the made to measure. The pattern challenge was so very tense, with everyone reverting to type: Leah flapping about, Riccardo picking wild patterns and Juliet – as we’d been reminded, the one who’d won the pattern challenge the most – comparatively calm and able to offer advice to the others. While tailoring hasn’t been her strength in the past, she got the fake pockets right and her waistcoat was clearly the best.
Riccardo and Leah seemed less stricken in the transformation round, but Juliet had a complete and utter meltdown, and all Joe could do was remind her that she really needed to use the net curtain in the outfit somehow. She said she had too many ideas, but I wonder if she was obsessing over the fact that she’d already done a net curtain gown. She got more praise than I was expecting, because the other two did use the net as a more central part of their design. Riccardo’s outfit seemed to get worse the longer he worked on it. I liked the original long skirt, I liked that the patterns matched between top and bottom, but by the time he’d put the sleeve and collar on, it had got baggy, and I thought it was more of a structural issue than a lack of pressing and finishing. But Leah’s outfit was clearly better, and Joe was able to offer her, like Riccardo, actually sensible suggestions, or at least something to satisfy Esme’s bow fetish. Esme was pickier than Patrick throughout, wasn’t she?
So, to my slight surprise, Juliet and Leah were on top after day one – am I the only one who thinks it would be nice if they changed outfits for day two instead of wearing the same outfit all episode? I presume they are filmed over two days because of the timings involved. Juliet was the only one I’d predicted to be in the finale from outset.
As for the gowns, I liked the design of Juliet’s and Leah’s, and especially Juliet’s colour. Yes, the idea behind Riccardo’s outfit was clever, but it’s like modern dance and art, if you need to explain it, you’re not conveying your message through the medium you’re using. Riccardo’s friend was of the ‘being supportive by being catty about everyone else in a language they don’t understand but the BBC can easily subtitle’ school of thought. Leah got to be the one offering advice on fit, and her sister was the spit of her, but she crucially didn’t finish. I liked the bottom part of Riccardo’s jellyfish skirt once the final overskirt went on, although I think Esme’s point about the seams was fair. She was also right about Juliet needing to heighten the asymmetry.
As ever, everyone’s return was welcome. You can’t argue with Juliet’s elation at winning. She deserved it after the whole series, I think, and finishing the MtM. I liked the lovely pic of them all meeting up since the series wrapped, and news the show will return next year: yay, although the challenges must surely be daunting for anyone considering entering.
It’s been interesting that when I tell people I’ve been watching this, a lot of them reference the pottery throwdown show and say how much they enjoyed that.
In other news, I am feeling liberated, because on Friday night, I decided to give up on a book that had taken a direction I didn’t want it to. I had avoided it for days and was just thinking I’d have to force myself to finish it before moving on to something more enjoyable, when I realised that no, I didn’t. The bookmark was taken out on Saturday and the book put in the bag for the charity shop.
