Week 8: Movie Week
This week the Bees stepped into the spotlight for Movie Week! With only five Bees left, the competition is close. The sewing room became a stage for three blockbuster challenges inspired by the magic of the silver screen.
The Pattern Challenge transports the Bees to classic Hollywood, as they recreate the iconic green jacket designed by Edith Head and worn by Tippi Hedren in Hitchcock’s The Birds, a true test of tailoring under pressure, using out favourite fibre - Wool!
Next, the Transformation Challenge rolls out the red carpet for creativity, with the sewists tasked to turn plush red cinema curtains and tiebacks into glamorous outfits fit for a Hollywood party.
Finally, in the Made to Measure, imagination takes a darker turn as the contestants design costumes inspired by characters from horror films, blending theatrical flair with technical skill to create spooky showstoppers!
The Pattern Challenge
The First Wool Challenge!
As autumn arrives, our minds naturally drift toward our next winter warmer, like jackets, coats, and skirts. This week's Pattern Challenge truly kicked us into action, sparking inspiration for new projects.
Kit absolutely owned this challenge once again, 6/8 pattern challenges with their name on it! Orla and Yasmin were close runners up on this challenge however if Caz hadn’t made the rooky error of cutting two gusset shaped holes from her front sleeve she may have had enough time to complete and finesse her jacket to a standard to compete with Kit's! It just goes to show the importance of ‘check twice cut once’ and reading your instructions correctly which she owned up to not doing! And as far topstitching the underarm gussets, this defeated the point of having a gusset at all by removing the ease that it allows.
For a novice, picking a windowpane design as Caz did is a tricky starting point if you're not experienced in tailoring. The herringbones were a much safer and an easier-to-work-with choice for a novice. We love a herringbone and were so excited to see so many in the first proper woollen challenge of this series.
With Fabworks location in the heart of the woollen manufacturing district, it would be remiss of us not to drool over the beautiful tweeds featured in the show. With our own unique collection of high quality and sustainably made wool fabrics, once September arrives it’s all we think about! And clearly, we’re not alone in our love for this fab fabric, as Esme herself couldn’t stop cooing over those that the contestants had chosen. Esme, we couldn’t agree more.
Why We Love Sewing with Wool 🐑
🧶 Beautiful to Handle – Wool has a natural weight and structure that makes it easy to cut, shape, and sew. Perfect for both beginners and seasoned sewists.
🧥 Tailors Like a Dream – From sharp jackets to flowing coats, wool presses well and holds its shape, giving garments a professional, polished finish.
🍂 Seasonal Staple – Warm and breathable at the same time, wool is the fabric we reach for as soon as there’s a chill in the air.
🌿 Sustainable Choice – As a natural, renewable fibre, wool is kinder to the planet compared to many synthetics and we love anything eco-friendly at Fabworks.
🎨 Rich Colours & Textures – Wool takes dye beautifully, offering depth of colour that elevates any make paired with unique weaves - the appearance is truly unique.
🛠 Forgiving Fabric – Small mistakes can often be pressed or steamed out, making wool surprisingly beginner-friendly.
Fabworks Wool Picks
Want to fall down a wool-filled rabbit hole? Head over to our Fabworks Wool Picks blog, where we guide you through our beautifully curated collection of Yorkshire-made wools. Discover more on why wool is such a magical fabric for makers, explore texture, weight, and weave, and uncover the story behind our exclusive Heart of Huddersfield range- locally designed, lovingly woven, and perfect for autumn-winter sewing inspiration.
Transformation Challenge
The transformation challenge brought us some show stopping outfits worthy of the silver screen. The Bees were handed bold red cinema curtains and tiebacks and asked to reimagine them into glamorous outfits fit for a Hollywood party.
It was no small task! Working with such heavy, structured fabric pushed their skills and creativity. Yet the results were anything but ordinary, with each sewer delivering a unique take on glitz and glamour.
This challenge was a perfect reminder of just how important fabric weight is when making a garment. Orla learned this the hard way, her original curtain was so heavy that she couldn’t sew through it. In the end, she had to scrap her first attempt and start again with only 15 minutes left on the clock!
Why Fabric Weight Matters in Every Sewing Project:
When starting a new sewing project, it’s easy to get caught up in the colour, print, or fibre of a fabric. But there’s another detail that can completely change the outcome of your work: fabric weight.
Weight affects drape, comfort, strength, and ultimately, the overall success of your project. By considering it, you can be sure your fabric not only suits your design but also performs the way you need it to.
The GSM (grams per square metre) is a real influencing factor when it comes to picking the right fabric for a project. If only Orla had the GSMs of the curtains! That’s why we include GSMs in all our fabric descriptions as well as all the other fine details we can muster, to help you choose with confidence and create garments that look and function exactly as intended.
Made To Measure Challenge
Some of you might already know me- I’m Chloe, the developer and designer behind The Pattern Stash. My background is in Theatre Costume, so when I watched last night’s episode of The Sewing Bee I was absolutely buzzing with ideas. Costume is such an exciting subject- it’s the place where imagination really gets to run wild. You can go gloriously over the top with your designs, and every little detail helps tell a story.
Of course, coming up with a brand-new concept for a character within a set theme can feel daunting (you could even say scary!). There’s just so much to think about. For me, research is always where it starts. Understanding the world your character lives in, and the conventions of the genre you’re designing for, gives you a solid foundation. That’s why the Made to Measure challenge is such a good test– the contestants have time to research, experiment, and practise before they bring their ideas to life.
When it comes to designing a character, the first step is always figuring out who they are. Are they bold and heroic, mysterious and secretive, playful and whimsical, or dark and intimidating? Once you know this, everything else starts to click into place– the silhouette, fabric choices, textures, and colour palette. A powerful, commanding character might call for strong tailoring and structured shapes, while a romantic dreamer might be better expressed in something floaty, soft, and light. The legendary Edith Head was brilliant at this– her clean, defined lines often said more about a character than words ever could.
Here are some fun starting points if you fancy creating your own character:
- Follow what excites you. If the theme was horror, what really creeped you out as a child? A storybook villain? Clowns? The boogeyman? Personally, masks give me the chills, so I was peeking through my fingers when Orla’s creepy doll character appeared on screen – but wow, what a design!
- Give them a backstory. Ask yourself: what happened to them? Why do they act the way they do? This narrative helps shape the costume.
- Add symbolism. Little details can speak volumes about personality or history.
- Reference iconic features. Don’t copy, but borrow recognisable cues – like Dorothy’s gingham dress – so your audience instantly gets the vibe.
- Show status with structure. Think of Caz’s dramatic collar – instantly regal, instantly powerful.
- Play with colour. Brights can feel childlike and playful, while darker tones ooze menace and mystery.
- Choose fabrics with care. Flowing cloaks can feel dramatic and powerful, while delicate lace suggests fragility or romance.
- Don’t forget the details. Trims, accessories, or even something subtle like Orla’s skeleton detail can really bring a story to life.
Image: Chloe’s final Graduation collection an interpretation of the movie Stardust through the world of Victorian toys and dolls. Yvaine as a fragile porcelain doll, cracked and broken from her fall but repairing as her story unfolds, alongside Captain Shakespeare as a toy soldier, his naval roots reflected in structured, military-inspired details.
Ultimately, the magic of costume comes from how all these choices combine. The best designs don’t just dress a character- they become the character, helping the audience to instantly connect with them.
I loved that the judges couldn’t decide and awarded two Garments of the Week. Honestly, we weren’t surprised- our group chat was lighting up with the same favourites! Both Kit and Orla’s creations were spectacular. They nailed the brief, showed off real skill, and, most importantly, gave us a strong emotional reaction: spooky, intrigued, and desperate to see the movie version.
Sadly, it was Gaynor’s turn to leave. After a few shaky weeks, it didn’t come as a shock. Her final costume was beautifully made, but compared to the others, it just didn’t deliver the same impact or sense of horror beyond its backstory.
What’s the “big scary project” you’ve been too afraid to start?
Is it some soft tailoring or is it a costume? Hopefully this week's tips and tricks will help you dare to start.
If you enjoy our reflections on this episode (Movie Week - Episode 8) make sure to check back in next Wednesday at midday where we'll have a full rundown of Episode 9 - 1920's Week!
Images courtesy of BBC1 The Great British Sewing Bee