Get To Know Sewing Bee Finalist Debra Drake

Sewing Bee finalist DEBRA DRAKE chats self-confidence and her brand-new sewing school

1 I started making clothes when I attended an evening class at my village school. I was hooked…

The Great British Sewing Bee - Week Eight

Are you a fan of old school Hollywood glamour? If so, then you’re in luck! Last night’s episode of the Sewing Bee paid homage to the 1930s, bringing reams and reams of…

The Great British Sewing Bee - Week Six

This week marks one of our favourite themes: of course, it’s got to be Music Week! We could barely contain our excitement as the sewers presented their fantastic garments. Musicians have…

The Great British Sewing Bee - Week Five

One of the best things about The Great British Sewing Bee is that it gets better with every episode. Even when you think it isn’t possible for the garments to be…

The Great British Sewing Bee - Week Four

If we could choose one philosophy at Sew HQ, it would be ‘make do and mend’. And there is no other challenge which demonstrates this better than Reduce, Reuse & Recycle week. It’s all…

The Great British Sewing Bee - Week Three

It was raining at Sew HQ yesterday, but we were still celebrating summer thanks to episode three of The Great British Sewing Bee. Summer Week has to be one of…

The Great British Sewing Bee - Episode Two

If there was one phrase that could describe the second episode of The Great British Sewing Bee, it would be ‘Let’s get physical!’ Yes, you guessed right - it was Sports Week. We don’t…

The Great British Sewing Bee - Episode One

Well it finally happened, episode one of The Great British Sewing Bee reached our screens and we couldn’t have been happier to see the show’s return. When you anticipate something for so long it…

The Great British Sewing Bee is Back

We couldn’t be more excited to announce that Series 8 of The Great British Sewing Bee will be making its debut on Wednesday 27th April at 8pm on BBC One. So, in…

Great British Sewing Bee Series Six Dates Announced

After a two-year hiatus, The Great British Sewing Bee was back with a bang at the start of 2019! With the show’s brand-new presenter Joe Lycett in tow, Patrick Grant and…

Stuart Hillard’s Garden Tote and Kneeler

With the arrival of spring, many will be preparing to get out in the garden for some much-needed maintenance after the colder months. Make it less of a chore with…

Updated - How To Enter the Sewing Bee

It’s been nearly two years since the fourth season of The Great British Sewing Bee last graced our screens – although for many of us, it feels like a lot longer! After…

Stitch Create and Craft’s Cactus Embroidery Hoop

Cacti and succulents remain popular motifs, inspiring this fun embroidery hoop hanging by Create and Craft’s sewing ambassador and The Great British Sewing Bee winner of 2016, Charlotte Newland. The following…

Cactus Embroidery Hoop (see blog post for instructions)

Get Ready for Sew Saturday 2017!

Mark Saturday 21st October in your diaries now – for this is when Sew Saturday will once again be taking place at fabric and haberdashery shops around the UK! Now in…

Sewing Bee Betty Dress

This elegant tea dress, featured in The Great British Sewing Bee: Sew Your Own Wardrobe by Tessa Evelegh features a floaty bias cut skirt and flirty little sleeves. Use your…

Customised Cover-Up

This glamorous cardigan by Chinelo Bally is perfect for keeping warm on a night out - hard to believe it began life as a plain cowl neck jumper! Use velvet…

The Great British Sewing Bee Palazzo Pants

The Great British Sewing Bee Palazzo Pants

Place Your Vote NOW – The Dressmaker of the Year Reader’s Choice

The Dressmaker of the Year competition, launched by Sew and our sister title Make It Today Dressmaker, has received a huge number of fabulous entries, showing just how talented our…

Sewing Bee Series Four - Meet The Winner!

As we weep into our stitches at the thought of not sitting down to watch the Sewing Bee this Monday evening, we chat to series four winner, Charlotte Newland as…

Sewing Bee: The Final!

Series one contestant Stuart Hillard was on tenterhooks with the rest of us for the GBSB final – who would come top for Evening Wear Week and be the ultimate winner!

“So…

5 Tips For Combating Puzzling Patterns

Even for the most experienced stitchers dressmaking can be a tricky business, as we’ve seen on The Great British Sewing Bee. This week contestants had to contend with a Japanese asymmetric…

Sewing Bee Episode Seven: The Lowdown

Series one contestant Stuart Hillard on the GBSB semi-final, where the contestants faced their ultimate challenge so far, Puzzling Patterns and Pattern Cutting Week!

“The Sewing Bee semi-final was all about challenging…

Sewing Bee Episode Six: The Lowdown

Series one contestant Stuart Hillard discusses how the GBSB contestants got competitive for Active Wear Week!

“The semi-final of the Sewing Bee this week brought a whole new set of challenges…

10 Essential Active Wear Sewing Tips

Inspired by the Sewing Bee’s Active Wear Week to make your own workout gear? Melissa Fehr, of indie pattern label, Fehr Trade, offers her top advice

Only a few years ago, active wear…

6 Top Sixties Style Sewing Tips From Lisa Comfort

Our favourite stitching show wowed us with vintage designs and sixties materials this week. Lisa Comfort, founder of www.sewoverit.co.uk, and a lover of all things vintage, shares her tips on…

Sewing Bee Episode Five: The Lowdown

Series one contestant Stuart Hillard travels back in time with the GBSB contestants for Sixties Week!

“With all of the male contestants gone, it was ladies only for Sewing Bee’s fifth week, which…

Chinelo Bally’s Essential Measurement Advice For Garment Construction

GBSB series two contestant, and freehand cutting fashionista, Chinelo Bally is the queen of achieving that perfect fit. Measuring is one of the most key elements of the making process…

Freehand Cutting Tips From Chinelo Bally

In 2014, Chinelo Bally wowed the Sewing Bee judges with her talent for freehand cutting. Here she shares her top tips on creating garments, without the fuss of a pattern.

Freehand…

Sewing Bee Episode Four: The Lowdown

Series one contestant Stuart Hillard watches GBSB go global for International Week!

“So, we have reached the halfway mark on The Great British Sewing Bee and the remaining seven sewers tackled garments…

GBSB’s Ghislaine On That Babygrow Challenge & More!

Ghislaine, 43, was the second sewer to leave series four, and although we loved her colourful flair, her children’s challenge didn’t quite go to plan. We caught up with the French-born stitcher…

Sewing Lingerie Tips From House Of Pinheiro

We loved watching how the contestants constructed beautiful lingerie on the Sewing Bee this week. So if like us, you fancy having a go without getting your knickers in a…

Sewing Bee Episode Three: The Lowdown

Series one contestant Stuart Hillard comments on GBSB’s lingerie challenges!

“The Sewing Bee got intimate with a lingerie-themed week and within moments of entering the sewing room, Jamie tried thinking of the judges…

Tips For Sewing Lingerie by Flo-Jo Boutique

Oh la la! We’re all frolics and frills following tonight’s lingerie week. After two exciting episodes we were anticipating another great show, and of course we weren’t disappointed. This week’s challenge saw the eight hopefuls…

Sewing Kids’ Clothing Tips From Wild Things

In light of the Sewing Bee children’s week, we’ve teamed up with Kirsty Hartley at Wild Things. Here she shares her top tips for designing comfortable, fun clothes for little ones.

1 Will they…

Sewing Bee Episode Two: The Lowdown

Series one contestant Stuart Hillard gives his verdict on GBSB’s Children’s Week!

“Small and perfectly formed, episode two was Children’s Week and anyone who thinks that little means easier has got a harsh lesson…

Sewing Bee Pattern Challenge: Children’s Week

We’re two episodes in and it’s safe to say we’re already hooked to our screens. With an exciting and somewhat challenging first episode last week we were keen to see what the judges would…

Garment Construction Tips From The Fold Line

Have you been inspired by the Sewing Bee to start making your own beautiful garments, but struggling to know where to start, or confused by some terminology on your patterns?…

Sewing Bee Episode One: The Lowdown

Series one contestant Stuart Hillard on the first episode of GBSB 2016!

“The Great British Sewing Bee is back, this time with a different sewing room situated in a former Victorian leather…

Sewing Bee Pattern Challenge: Week 1

Have you been inspired by the return of the Sewing Bee? While we love watching from the comfort of the sofa, we love learning new techniques that we can apply…

Meet the new Sewing Bees 2016!

It’s time to start counting down to Monday 16th May, when series four of The Great British Sewing Bee airs for the first time! In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek at this…

BREAKING NEWS! Sewing Bee Series Four Trailer!

We can officially get excited! (Not that we weren’t already!) The Bee is back and we can now catch a glimpse of the contestants set to hit our screens Monday 16th…

Stop Press! Latest Update from Sewing Bee HQ

The Great British Sewing Bee is back and we couldn’t be more excited to meet the class of 2016!

The much loved show will return Monday 16th May to BBC2, and will see…

5 Reasons Why We Can’t Wait For The Sewing Bee!

With season four of The Great British Sewing Bee just around the corner, we’re gearing ourselves up for more stitchy fun with the new contestants! And here’s why we can’t wait for the…

BREAKING NEWS! The Great British Sewing Bee 2016 When It Starts

We are so excited for the new series of the Sewing Bee that we’re very nearly fit to burst! Here’s everything you need to know about series four!

1. Lights, camera, action!

The much…

Sew Remembers Sewing Bee’s Lorna Monje

Series 3 finalist, Lorna Monje has sadly passed away after a lengthy battle with Aplastic Anaemia. The Great British Sewing Bee star was a much loved contestant, with her amazing…

6 reasons why we think May Martin is awesome!

With her shock departure from the Sewing Bee, we look back on some of the lives she’s changed and why she’ll always be the heart of the Bee.

“I really do LOVE May Martin……

EXCLUSIVE! May Martin speaks about GBSB shock news

Following the shock announcement that Sew columnist, May Martin will no longer be co-judging series four of The Great British Sewing Bee, we caught up with her for an EXCLUSIVE…

BREAKING NEWS: The Great British Sewing Bee - Line Up Change!

As we gear up for the next series of the well-loved show, we’re shocked to hear there will be a new judge alongside Patrick Grant. Here’s what you need to know!

The…

The Great British Sewing Bee 2016: Everything You Need To Know

We can barely contain our excitement at the news that The Great British Sewing Bee will be returning for a fourth series next year! Here’s what you need to know!

1. Lights,…

12 Ways To Refashion, Reuse, Rework, And Reimagine A Basic Men’s Shirt

To tie in with www.makery.uk’s Refashioners Get Shirty challenge we thought we’d share some of our favourite reworked men’s shirt ideas to get you in the upcycling challenge mood! An array of bloggers will…

14 Reasons To Visit Your Local Fabric Shop

There’s no better feeling than walking into the wondrous world of fabric shopping! If you’re a fabric hoarder, like us, you’ll probably spend most of your spare time, and money, in haberdashery…

25 Quick And Easy Fashion Upcycling DIYs

Whether it’s just a little additional accessory or a whole new going-out item to wear after work, you can update your outfit with these super quick and easy DIY lunchtime upcyling…

Introducing… Sew Saturday!

We have been very busy over at Sew HQ, putting plans in motion for our fabulous Sew Saturday event. It might seem like a long time off, but we have…

Top 5 Patrick Pics

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Here at Sew HQ we thought we might celebrate a little differently, and rejoice in a slightly different Patrick, can you guess who? Patrick Grant of course!

The…

Claire-Louise Hardie on Pattern Hacking

Sewing Producer on The Great British Sewing Bee, Claire-Louise Hardie shares her top tips for successful pattern hacking.

What can we expect from your new book, The Great British Sewing Bee:…

Read Now

Sew meets… The Singer Girls

We are feeling nostalgic at Sew with episode three of the Sewing Bee gearing up for a retro revival. And if you love history and tradition, then The Secrets of…

4 Sewing Bee Sewalong Makes

With The Great British Sewing Bee back for another series, we know many of you will be stitching while you watch! We have four fabulous makes to help keep all…

Watch Sewing Bee contestant Jenniffer Taylor live on Create and Craft TV!

The Great British Sewing Bee’s Jenniffer Taylor is now bringing her quirky style to our television sets, as she appears live on Craft and Create TV this Saturday 17th January. The one…

Sewing Bee contestant, Jenniffer Taylor, talks May’s slippers, upcycling and revolution

“Sewing gives me the freedom to create exactly what I’m looking for”

My addiction to sewing first began when I decided to make my own wedding dress. I had only made small…