We're passionate about sewing and dressmaking at Sew Me Sunshine, and we love watching the Great British Sewing Bee every year. Every week we will break down the episode and sign post you to some sewing patterns and fabric.
The Great British Sewing Bee is back for 2024 and this year marks it's 10th season! We wish all the contestants the best of luck and know they will make some incredible garments.
This week we are looking at episode 4 which was reduce, reuse, recycle week. The contestants were tasked with making a quilted bag from scraps, transforming unwanted clothes into a new outfit, and using wedding dresses to make a party outfit.
Pattern Challenge: Quilted Bag
The first challenge was to make a quilted a bag. The contestants were asked to use organza and fill it with small scraps of fabric and then quilt this to make a new textile, which they then used to make a bag.
One bag pattern you could use is the Arch Clutch by Kylie and the Machine or Le Sac Banane by Atelier Brunette.
Top Tip: There is a great YouTube video from @scrapupsewist who shows the process of making your own fabric by quilting fabric scraps and organza.
Top Tip: Sarah Hearts has a written tutorial for turning your fabric scraps into a quilted cloth.
Image from Sarah Hearts
At Sew Me Sunshine we recycle our fabric scraps using First Mile. Items in good condition are sent to wholesalers in developing countries for resale in local markets, and items that can't be reused are repurposed as new materials such as insulations, sports equipment filler and carpet underlay.
At Sew Me Sunshine we sell lots of remnant fabrics at reduced prices. Not only could you use these remnants to make yourself a garment but you can also use them to make accessories. Here are some great scrap buster projects:
- Square Neck Top by Friday Pattern Company
- Malo Skirt by I AM Patterns
- Zoey Tank by True Bias
- Kids clothing doesn't require lots of fabric
- Underwear such as the Iris knickers by Tilly and the Buttons
- Swimwear doesn't require large amounts of fabric, such as the Cottesloe by Megan Nielsen
- Scrunchies (Top tip: We have a video tutorial for 3 different types of scrunchies, you can find the info here)
- Bags
- Hats
- Scarfs
- Eye Mask (Top tip: Tilly and the Buttons have a free pattern)
- Detachable collar (Top tip: Tilly and the Buttons have a free pattern)
Transformation Challenge: Making a new colour cohesive outfit from unwanted garments
In the up-cycling challenge the contestants had to make a new colour cohesive outfit from unwanted garments. Every year 92 billion kilos of textile waste goes to landfill so this challenge was to highlight this and show the audience that you can transform your unwanted clothes. Everyone's ideas were unique and creative so we aren't able to signpost to specific patterns or fabrics, but we have put together some sewing projects for you that you can use to transform some of your own unworn or unwanted garments.
Up-cycle denim jeans or jackets
Lots of us will have unwanted or unworn jeans in our wardrobe. Denim is a great fabric to repurpose because it is a hardwearing fabric. It can sewn into lots of different items - bags, panelled skirts, jackets, dresses and lots more. You could use more than one colour or type of denim in your chosen project.
L-R: Le Sac Banane by Atelier Brunette, Painter Jacket by Wardrobe By Me, Reed Skirt by Grainline Studio, Crossover Dress by Puff and Pencil.
Up-cycle Curtains or Upholstery Textiles
When looking in charity shops we often come across heavy-weight curtains or upholstery textiles. These fabrics can be used to make wearable garments. Due to their weight they are often very structured making them ideal for structured dresses, skirts, overalls or jackets.
L-R: Sonny Jacket by Tilly and the Buttons, Upton Dress by Cashmerette, Jenny Overalls by Closet Core Patterns, Bernadette Skirt by Friday Pattern Company.
Up-cycle Quilts or Quilted Blankets
Perhaps you have inherited a quilted blanket or you have found one in a thrift shop and you would rather make it into a wearable garment. You can use quilts to sew yourself a pullover, jacket or a fashionable vest top.
L-R: Hovea by Megan Nielsen, Hathor by I AM Patterns, Pogonip by Friday Pattern Company.
Up-cycle Tablecloths, Duvets or Lightweight Curtains
Using unwanted duvets, tablecloths and lightweight curtains to make a garment is a great option. Often these items are made from cotton or linen. They are perfect for lots of different garments: shirts, shirt dresses, blouses, tiered dresses, skirts, pyjamas and more.
Wilder Gown by Friday Pattern Company, Jaimie Pyjamas by Tilly and the Buttons, Estuary Skirt by Sew Liberated, Nell by Tilly and the Buttons, Balka Dress by Wardrobe By Me.
Made To Measure Challenge: Transform a wedding dress into a party outfit
In the made to measure challenge the contestants had to repurpose a wedding dress and sew a party outfit. As they didn't use virgin textiles we aren't able to signpost you to any specific fabrics. Some of the contestants painted on the wedding dress fabric to transform it.
Here are some simple ideas for painting on your own fabric at home:
- Use hard fruits or vegetables (such as apples, carrots, turnips, celery). You can cut out your chosen fruit / vegetable using a cookie cutter to create a shape. Then apply fabric ink with a paint brush to each piece and press it down firmly on your fabric
- You can purchase stencils or create your own stencil using tracing paper and a knife. Place your stencil on top of your fabric and apply the fabric ink by using a sponge roller
- You can use a cardboard tube (toilet roll for example) and dip the end into fabric ink and press it firmly onto your fabric to produce circles
- You can wrap elastic bands around an object such as a box and dip this into fabric ink to produce an irregular line pattern
- You can also do lino block printing from home
Images found on pinterest + directly from handprinted.co.uk. Handprinted has lots of amazing blog posts that talk through different ways to print onto fabric. You can also buy your supplies needed from here.
Party Dresses by Indie Sewing Pattern Designers
A lot of the contestants used patterns from non-indie designers or hacked patterns together so we aren't able to signpost you to any specific patterns. However, we have had a look through our catalogue and have found some patterns that would make perfect party dresses.
L-R: Kielo Wrap Dress and Jumpsuit by Named Clothing, Saltwater Slip Dress by Friday Pattern Company, Queenie Dress by Style Arc, Jo Dress and Jumpsuit by Closet Core Patterns, Roseclair Dress by Cashmerette.