With Joe Lycett hosting, the eight remaining home sewers head back in time to the 1970s, attempting to revive the glamorous, rebellious and sometimes ridiculous style of the decade. This is more than a stroll down memory lane as they tackle the decade's most fiddly, floaty and anarchic garments. First up, judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young challenge the sewers to get their groove on with the trickiest pattern so far, flared jeans. Creating the perfect bell-bottomed trousers involves grappling with vintage machines, heavyweight fabrics and taking on such daunting technical hurdles as the zip fly and flat-felled seam, hopefully without getting in a flap. For the transformation challenge, fabric flies and anarchy rules as the sewers let rip with their imagination, turning t-shirts and tartan into provocative punk-inspired outfits in just 90 minutes. In the made to measure challenge the sewers take on their final icon of 70s fashion, the maxi dress. Working with sheer, slippery fabrics, they must create a form-fitting bodice and floaty skirt that embodies the glamour that makes the maxi dress popular to this day. Who will boogie their way to garment of the week, and for whom will 70s week signal the end of an era, as they become the third sewer to wave goodbye to the Great British Sewing Bee?
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It's '70s week on The Great British
Sewing Bee, which means retro
challenges vintage fabrics and all
kinds of fabulous period chic.
I don't know much about
the '70s cos I hadn't been born.
I know. Makes you sick, doesn't it?
So I've enlisted the help
of Gavin here, my co-presenter
to tell me more.
Tell me, Gavin, what was it
like in the '70s?
He says it's all about the massive
colours.
You're right, Gavin, it was
a good look and no, I won't go
for dinner with you.
Welcome to The Great British
Sewing Bee.
Last time...
Can you help me get out of this?
..children's week got everyone
grooving.
Oh, I love a dance. Twirl, twirl!
But it was Leah who swanned off with
Garment of the Week.
APPLAUSE
Visually stunning. Well done.
Mercedes and Ben struggled.
I think it's very underwhelming,
actually.
Despite all her sparkle...
There is no fabric left.
..Sheila became the second
sewer to say goodbye.
MUSIC: 20th Century Boy
by T Rex
Now... This is my inner punk
obviously coming out.
..the sewers go back to the 1970s.
And look at the size of that -
that's going to flap.
Proving their "flare" for a
pattern...
This one is going to kill me.
..letting rip in the
transformation...
Your gran wouldn't approve of that,
would she?
..and taking on a made-to-measure...
Where's the end? For crying out
loud!
..that pushes '70s glam to the
maxi.
I've got that awful rising
panic feeling.
But whose week will be vintage...
I feel quite sick right now, I'm not
going to lie.
...and who'll... Get in!
..be history?
Oh! Starting to get in a bit of a
fluster now.
Oh... I mean, that is curtains for
me, isn't it?
MUSIC: You Sexy Thing
by Hot Chocolate
'70s week, yay!
I came with my own creation.
It's very '70s collars
and the opening makes
it like p*rn star!
The biggest thing I remember
about the '70s was my hairstyle.
I had a poodle perm.
I wasn't born in the '70s.
I don't know all that much
about '70s fashion.
Really not sure what's coming.
One little mistake
can be enough to send you home.
So hopefully it's not going to be me
making those mistakes today.
I've had my turn, it's somebody
else's.
Oh, my gosh! For an authentic '70s
experience,
the judges have switched the sewers'
modern machines for vintage ones.
Oh!
My first sewing machine
was one of those.
Oh, that's so cute!
Where's the reverse button?
Hello, sewers, come forward.
Morning, everybody.
Morning.
What do we think of our
new sewing machines?
Whoa! Do you like them? Yes.
They're quite cool.
All right, OK.
Well, it's '70s week.
It's the pattern challenge. Esme,
you have the pattern, go for it.
Right, we have something very, very
'70s. You've got flared jeans.
So what we're going to be looking
for is beautifully symmetrical
pockets, a really accurate fly
and a beautifully applied waistband.
And because it's '70s week
we want to see an appreciation
of fabrics of that era, something
that's going to stand out
from the crowd.
Think of Starsky & Hutch, John
Travolta, the way my dad would dress
if Mum let him.
You have three and a half hours
and your time starts now.
MUSIC: Get It On
by T Rex
Oh, these are really beautiful.
I don't know if these or velvet...
I mean, if they're
a more '70s colour... No, no.
For this challenge the sewers
will need robust fabrics to help
hold their jeans' iconic
bellbottom shape.
Denim is quite thick.
It's quite a classic.
Is that not in yer face?
Let's go for it!
I smiled inside when I heard
we were making flares.
I've never worn a pair of flares in
my life.
They're a sort of comedy
item to me.
Figure-hugging around the waist
with legs flaring up to 26 inches
below the knee, flared jeans
were the first truly unisex fashion
sensation, worn by millions of men
and women who defined the '70s'
most enduring look.
I imagine you're both too young to
have experienced these personally.
Absolutely.
No, I'm joking, of course,
you're both ancient, aren't you?
Tell me more
about this particular style.
We've asked them to do a jeans-style
flare so this has a yoke...
That is creating shape over
this part of the bottom.
I see. It has a jean-style pocket
of course it has a fly front.
And a waistband.
So what you're looking at is
a complicated engineering
construction. Actually, it
might be something that really trips
them up. The fabric choices
are important.
Velvet corduroy was very popular
in the '70s. But it's important,
if you're using a fabric which has a
very distinct nap or pile, if you
run your finger up it, you'll
see it goes a different colour.
So all of these pieces have to be
cut in the same direction.
If you cut it the wrong way round it
will look a different colour. OK.
Makes me wish that I was around
in the '70s, but Dave and Helen
didn't get it on early enough
so here I am.
Wow! Hello.
Look at this little dazzler.
This is proper 1970s.
I'm glad you said that, it's needle
cord. It reminds me
of the carpet in my dad's study.
Really? Yeah. Wow!
Not quite as bright, but...
So you've lined all of this up
carefully? Yes. Yes.
So it goes that way. So you're
getting the pile running down the
trousers.
Downwards, down the trousers.
Very important. Yeah, I'm a...
You're a pile-down sort of person.
I'm a pile-down sort of person,
yeah.
This poncho's coming off already.
I can't figure out if this has got
a nap or not.
I have memories of having corduroy
clothes.
Kind of feels a little bit
like my childhood.
Look at the size of that.
That's going to flap. Ha-ha-ha!
I have made flared jeans before.
I have actually made a pair
of jeans from a '70s pattern.
After last week I really
want to kind of show them
that my technical sewing
is up with the best.
Have you made jeans before?
Yes, I have. Not necessarily in
denim but I've done jeans failing.
So, I've done...the fly's
up and the jeans' pockets
and the yoke. All right.
And you very cleverly wore
them today so you can see
how it should all look.
I have. I can check.
There's lots and lots and lots of
really tricky bits in trousers...
So a bit of a construction puzzle.
Once the sewers have cut the 13
pieces of fabric they need,
they must attach the two yoke panels
to each leg.
These are then sewn together to form
the back. Pockets are then inserted
at the front, followed by a zip
fly.
Both sides are stitched together,
a waistband, metal button
and buttonhole put in,
and the legs neatly hemmed.
Change glasses cos everything's
making me feel sick. So I've got
to attach the yoke to the back leg.
That's a yoke! So you can see
it's this piece here.
Oh!
So, what are you wearing?
Gosh, take me for dinner
first, darling.
Attaching the yoke correctly means
tackling a seam they've not yet
encountered in the sewing
bee.
This is a felled seam,
which I'm trying to understand
what it is.
And the drawing looks
like this.
Felled seams are robust
and highly durable and are used
to make the bottom in jeans
extra hardwearing.
I just need to work out now
how this works.
It's a real tricky one.
The raw edges are folded
over each other so they end
up being encased inside.
I have to tuck that under there.
And then fold that over and pop a
pin in it.
I like pins, they're my friends.
And then you fold it like that,
and you twin needle top stitch.
Right, let's start actually doing
some sewing.
Do these come with manuals?
To construct their flares,
they'll need to sew every seam
using 40-year-old domestic sewing
machines.
MUSIC: Stuck in the Middle with You
by Stealers Wheel
It's a little bit twitchy but
it's a nice piece of engineering.
Although they're well designed,
compared to modern models...
Oh, no...
..they can be cumbersome to use.
Oh, it looks like it's going to take
off!
Jen, yours sounded like a blender.
Wheatgrass smoothie? Yeah!
This reminds me,
when I was a student... Yes?
..I drove a Fiat Panda.
Sew, please, machine.
After folding, they'll have
to flatten their felled seams
with two lines of top stitching...
Neatness is so important
when you're top stitching.
..which the judges expect
to be perfectly parallel.
I'm using red thread,
so this should stand out.
That looks OK. One down, one to go.
Well, that's messed up
the back bit.
It's all caught up and tangled.
The threads keep catching.
The back yoke I have to redo.
It's just an absolute mess.
You have had one hour.
Oh, my God.
You have had one hour.
No! Sew together,
centre, back, crotch, seam.
Then use twin needle to topstitch.
What was it like in the '70s?
SHE LAUGHS
They say if you can remember it,
you weren't there.
Or is that the '60s
they say that's about?
Can you remember either of them?
SHE LAUGHS
My dad, in the '70s,
he was so cool.
Big afro,
massive flared-bottom jeans.
Oh, my days!
I now need to go on
to the next thing,
so I've got to do a bit of reading.
I'm still trying to flat down
my seams.
Are you still on your yoke? Yes.
Blimey! I don't feel so bad now.
Thanks for that.
Once they've completed the back
of their flares,
the sewers must tackle the front.
OK, it's the pockets.
Pockets on trousers are so important
cos, you know, what pair of trousers
doesn't have pockets?
Pattern picture.
Look at the picture, Janet.
Look at the picture.
Sew the pocket bag to the front leg
along the curved seam.
I've never done it like that before.
But there's a first time
for everything, so...
It's a nice construction, this.
It's kind of a one-piece pocket.
I'm going to turn it round, so that
the pocket's all sealed and inside.
It's important to roll this
and press
so you don't have
any pocket material creeping out
around the front.
So I just re-made the yoke,
and I'm just going to quickly
attach the two back pieces together.
So now I just need to pick up
the pace. Would you wear flares?
I have worn flares. Have you?
Yes. For a fancy dress or...?
For life. For life.
I mean, some people would argue
that my clothes in real life
are pretty much fancy dress anyway,
but... Yeah. I would say so.
People in glass houses.
HE LAUGHS
In the '70s, flares were
the uniform of the high street,
but they started life
as a very different uniform.
In the 19th century,
bell-bottom trousers were a
very practical option for sailors.
If you fell overboard,
it made it much easier
to grab a man and pull him out.
Sailors were even allowed to get
tailored styles of bell bottoms,
especially in World War II.
It became something of a marker
of pride as well as something
that was part of a uniform.
After World War II,
sailors' uniforms moved on,
but their bell-bottoms were about
to be given a new lease of life,
thanks to London's blossoming
second-hand clothes scene.
This was probably about '67.
There were a couple of characters
who ran a stall
in Chelsea Antiques Market -
Adrian Emmerton and Vern Lambert.
They bought up lots of sailors'
trousers, which they then dyed
outrageous colours,
and these sold like hotcakes
to people like Anita Pallenberg,
Marianne Faithfull,
The Rolling Stones.
This was a way of co*cking a snook
at the older generation.
And by sewing maybe a little flower
onto the military ware,
or a peace symbol,
you were making a statement
about your view of such things
as the Vietnam War.
Flares were very much
a countercultural move
before they moved
into the mainstream.
By the early '70s, flares had gone
global, and second-hand supplies
were running critically low.
Home sewers had a solution.
By inserting flaps of contrast
fabric into straight trousers,
they could join
the fashion revolution.
You know, we'd all be waddling
around in these giant trousers,
looking like kind of Wombles,
and I kind of mourn that,
because you look
at most people today,
and it's all very straight
and neat and calm.
This was a time when it was kind
of chaotic and weird and fun.
Flares have come a long way
since their Navy days
and have gone on to sum up
everything we love about fashion
and home sewing in the '70s -
resourceful, rebellious
and just a little bit ridiculous.
If this was the 1970s, it'd be 1975,
because you've got half your time
left.
Wow. Speedy, speedy.
For those with finished pockets...
Oh, gosh, we've got to do a zip.
..the engineering headaches
aren't about to go away.
They are not making this easy.
Look how complicated this looks.
Yeah, I know. Exactly.
The zip is the focal point,
and it absolutely terrifies me.
Gosh, it's been ages
since I did a fly zip.
You're wearing trousers,
so you've got
your own personal reference.
Oh, I want to undress
and just check.
If I were doing this at home,
I'd just switch on YouTube.
YouTube it.
For the perfect fly,
they must first attach the right
side of the zip to the right leg.
A folded flap of material
it's sewn on top
and topstitched into position.
A second flap is then joined
to the left leg on the other side
of the zip attached to it.
So when it closes,
the zipper is completely hidden.
Fly construction is a bit
of an engineering challenge.
This needs to completely conceal
the zip, and then the top stitch
around the edges
needs to be nice and neat and even.
If they follow the instructions,
it'll look clean and neat,
but it could be
a right dog's dinner.
How's your crotch going, Mercedes?
This is the bit I'm concentrating
on the most because it's the bit
I've never done before.
Have you had a good look
at Riccardo's? Oh, I don't dare!
Position and pin zip
to left fly facing,
but what it doesn't say
is quite how far away.
If they get the position
just a millimetre wrong...
Starting to get in a bit of a
fluster now.
..their zip will still be visible.
Oh-ho-ho... That went wrong.
We'll just sew down as far
as we can, and consider
that a fait accompli.
I'm stitching.
This is the bit that the judges
would see,
so I have to make it precise.
Oh, they're going to see that!
Esme is going to kill me.
One hour to go! Just one hour.
You're kidding me! Geez!
I'm just throwing them together now.
You can't do a proper job
when you're going this quickly.
I feel quite sick right now,
not going to lie.
I'm just closing up the trousers,
front and back seams.
This flare looks good.
It should swing nicely,
cos you've got to swing the flares,
haven't you?
Well, yes,
that's what I've been told.
I've never done it myself.
They're really starting to feel
a little bit more like
a real pair of trousers now.
I'm just about to start
putting the waistband on.
Start by pinning it
onto the wrong side.
You then fold it over to make a
nice waistband like that. the
waistband
shouldn't take too long
to put on.
The body of the trousers
has more fabric in it
than the waistband, so you'd stretch
the waistband into place.
But fail to control the two layers
of fabric,
and the waistband will overstretch.
Argh! OK, I pulled it
a bit too much.
Or worse still...will be too short.
Oh, God, what's going on?
The waistband wasn't long enough.
I was a centimetre short
when I got to the end.
I am going to do it again,
which is very frustrating
because it was going fairly well.
15 minutes to finish those flares!
Just 15 minutes.
Holy Moley! Definitely starting
to panic now.
Oh! Bobbin's run out as well.
That is curtains for me, isn't it?
Just very rapidly going to sew
the hems up.
Do you see a look of grim
determination on my face?
I've done both.
I need to pop on the button.
I have no idea how you do this.
It's in German.
Oh, you've got to bang it down
with something.
I can bang a thing down if you want.
Which way, man, is the button?!
There you go. Is it in?
And then that clicks in.
The button hole have to go
on the front? Is on the left.
Well, that's on. It is on.
Check it out. Get in!
Panicking does not even begin
to describe how I'm feeling.
Three minutes to go!
Flares on mannequins now!
That's not going to happen. And
it's not going to get a hem on it.
Whoo! That is a pair of flares.
Oh, mine won't fit!
I have no other option.
They're on. You've had your time.
Oh, dear, what a joke.
Which is also what a lot of people
would say about flares.
That was a tough one!
That's a long morning.
Bring your mannequins forward,
please.
# You're so sweet
You're so fine... #
Eight pairs of flares,
fashioned from scratch,
in just three and a half hours.
What will the judges make of them?
Jen, you're up.
# Oh, girl
I'm just a Jeepster for your love. #
Well, I have to say,
you've finished.
The overall look
of this is really neat.
You've bagged the pocket out
and we can't see the pocket bag.
Fly has a good clean line
of twin-needle topstitching.
We can't see the end of the zipper.
It looks like you really got
to grips with it.
It's really very well handled,
so well done. Thank you.
# Yes, you're my love. #
Right, the first thing we noticed...
Oh, no! Front and the back
are not cut the same way.
Oh, I didn't even see that!
This is a very good example
of cutting fabrics with piles
the wrong way round.
You can absolutely see,
it's piled round up there. Yep.
Which is a shame...
Because it's nicely made.
Fly's well done. The top stitching
on the front is nice and clean,
and on the pocket.
It's all pretty neat and tidy.
Thank you.
# They said get back, honky cat
# Better get back to the woods. #
I helped with the button on this.
Oh, did you?
So if there's anything wrong
with the button, speak to me.
All right.
Oh.
LAUGHTER
Well... Well, you're very good
at putting buttons on
is all I can say.
D minus on the button.
I'm really sorry, Janet.
Your yoke's nicely put together.
The top stitching is neat.
You've had a little bit
of a calamity with the fly.
You haven't pushed that flat,
do you see?
So you've got extra here,
and it's really ugly.
Right. Well, the one thing that
kinds of hits you in the eye.
This isn't over far enough.
It's peeping out.
Also it's not very neatly finished.
This is a shame.
But actually, the overall look
of it is pretty good.
OK. Shall I start with
the good bits first?
You decided to take off your yoke.
Put it back on again. Yeah.
And that, I think, was a great
decision - much neater and tidier
round the back. But that's where
it all starts to fall down.
It just looks lumpy and bumpy
and untidy on the front.
The fly is not covering the zip.
The top stitching is really wobbly.
We can't say more about that,
can we?
I'm sure you could if you tried.
Well, yeah.
Nice low-key fabric.
Yes.
Hold on while I reach for my shades.
Well, Mercedes, the one thing
that absolutely jumps out
is that you've sewn the zip wrong.
That is never going to cover that.
Oh, right! The zip should be further
over. OK. So that...
Should have been... There.
We've got one up, one down. One sort
of lumpily finished hem.
Shot down in flames.
# Gypsy. #
You ran out of time.
No button and button hole.
You haven't given us a hem.
It looks to me like you've twisted
this waistband.
Cos I was rushing so much.
Yeah. The fly looks pretty neat.
It's doing exactly
what it should do.
The double lines of top stitching
are really neat.
Actually, up until this point,
it was looking really good.
# Black night
is a long way from home. #
Everything is crisp.
It's a good choice of fabric
because it is going to give you
a nice sharp finish. Yes.
The fly looks really nice
and neat and flat.
And you've covered over the zip.
Yeah. Because that's the place
your eye goes to. Yeah.
Oh, hang on. It looks like you've
stretched. Waistband's a bit...
Esme and Patrick will now rank
the flared jeans from the worst
to the best.
OK, have you made a decision?
We have. All right, put us out of
our misery.
In eighth place, Ben.
It's just untidy
in the most prominent of areas.
In seventh place is Alexei.
You aren't finished.
No button, no top stitching.
Mercedes is sixth, Janet fifth
and Juliet is fourth.
In third place...
..is Leah.
You cut them going the wrong way.
Yeah.
In second place...
..it's Riccardo.
Some really nice, clean sewing.
Beautiful top stitching throughout.
Very well done. Thank you.
OK. In first place...
..is Jen.
It's beautifully sewn.
The fly is absolutely correct.
Everything about it is great.
Thank you.
Well done, Jen. Well done, everyone.
Go and have a break.
Let's come back and do
the Transformation Challenge.
ALL: Thank you. Well done!
# Tell me, tell me, tell me
Have you seen my honey...? #
Well done.
Och, I'm proud of myself
for managing to do that.
It was great that they couldn't find
anything to pick fault with.
That was a sweet moment.
Not finishing
is definitely frustrating.
But, if I'm being honest,
it's the story of my life
because my nature means I'll always
prioritise quality over speed.
Kind of managed to mess that up
quite spectacularly.
Oh, God, I feel sick.
Not worried at all!
Can't grind me down.
Talk to me after
the Transformation Challenge.
After conforming to a pattern,
the sewers' next challenge
involves a dose of '70s anarchy.
OK, sewers, it's now time
for the Transformation Challenge.
Patrick, what have you got for us?
Well, never mind the bobbins,
sewers.
It's a bit of punk.
We're going to give you a T-shirt,
a pair of trousers
and up to three tartan garments
to make us a punk outfit.
In the haberdashery,
we've got chains, we've got
padlocks, we've got safety pins,
so pogo over there.
Do you know what pogoing is?
You don't know what pogoing is?!
I don't know what pogoing is!
You don't know?! It's the dance!
Go on, then, show us what a pogo is.
It's like... Right, OK.
LAUGHTER
That's something I never
thought I'd see.
Yeah! OK. The judges
are going to leave us now.
One, because they don't want to
know who's made what.
But also Patrick, when he hears
the word punk, gets overexcited
and talks about smashing the system.
Have fun!
All right, you have an hour and
a half, and your time starts now!
For their punk transformation,
the sewers will need to create
a provocative outfit
made up of two garments.
Please somebody use some of this.
That is cool!
I wasn't into punk in the '70s.
It's an era that passed me by.
Or I passed it by.
How are you going to shock people?
By making something really
in your face.
I'm not sure you can shock Esme.
She's more likely to shock me.
But without giving too much away,
you were designing clothes
at the dawn of the punk era.
I certainly was.
I had my own company.
There were four young women.
We used plastics,
straps... Metalwork.
Well, actually, we had a dress
called the padlock dress.
It was a big reaction against
what had gone before in the '60s
and all that hippy dippy stuff.
So we're looking for kind
of deconstruction, asymmetries.
Yes. Showing parts of the body
that would have been shocking.
And also going
against what we consider.
well-fitting and well-tailored.
Riffing on tartan and tartan's
association with rebellion.
It was one of the key visual
elements.
I would like it if they made things
in a way that told that story,
that punk...your story.
All right, let's put my glasses on.
I can remember them showing
all the punks on the news,
and one style that I used to love
was the tartan and the chains.
So what I'm going to do -
round the waist, down the side
as sort of like a half skirt,
and then joined round front
to back with chains.
I'm going to try and do a skirt
and a top.
So the skirt's going to be
a tartan mini.
And the top... I have
some fantastic PVC stuff here.
We'll see where that takes me.
So I'm trying to make a pair
of skinny trousers
out of this skirt,
and then I'll add these zip.
Even though it doesn't have an end
or beginning, it's really, like,
maybe to use it
as something like this.
All right, Leah? Hi, Joe.
How punk are you feeling right now?
Well, you know what?
I've got a bit of a crush
on Debbie Harry.
So that's kind of where
I'm taking my inspiration from.
Oh, nice. So this is Debbie.
Hello, Debbie.
These are all going to be held on
likely with safety pins,
or something like that.
And I'm going to use elastic
to, like, punch it all up the side,
so she's got a bit of leg going.
Love it.
I haven't exactly decided yet.
Yeah, yeah. This is anarchy.
Unfortunately, I know almost
nothing about punk fashion.
Well, I'm going to cut the sleeve
off and try and make tassels
from the chain.
I really can't even envisage
what it looks like.
So I'm just making something
with lots of chains and fastenings
on, and ripped bits.
I'm making, like,
a pair of hot pants.
It's not really my style,
but I am adding frills at the hem.
All I'm thinking is, "Juliet,
you can't mess this up."
Esme's got to love it.
Oh, look at this! You're turning a
shirt into a... Into a skirt.
It's supposed to kind of
look vaguely like
it's just been tied round the waist.
Yeah.
And then, on the top,
I'm going to be having a kilt,
which will be draped over. Nice.
It'll be cut short.
Punk, is that your sort of well?
Do you listen to punk music?
Punk, I can be down with.
Would you get a piercing?
No, but I'd get more tattoos.
More tattoos?
Where are your tattoos?
Oh! What is...? Is that a song?
It is.
It's Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
So punk!
# One, two, three, four! #
You've got one hour remaining!
Slash the system!
Just cutting off the buttons
and having great big holes
in it is not a problem.
Doh, I just... Can't go back
once you've cut it.
When I think of punk,
I think Juliet.
You've got to be kidding me!
It's always the quiet ones.
Oh, look, we'll have that
over there as a bit of anarchy.
So I'm just adding the zip to
the trousers.
This is the challenge when you don't
want to be neat and clean.
You want to be more rough
on the edges.
These are going to be pinned
to the hot pants.
I know it's punk and everything,
but they still might want
some neat edges!
I'm just putting netting on
underneath this to try and make
this skirt kind of...
Try and bulk it out?
Yeah! That is quite saucy,
isn't it? Siouxsie and the Banshees.
I don't know who
Siouxsie and the Banshees...
You don't know who Susie...?
I was more sort of S Club 7.
Oh, dear.
The next thing
will be to attach this lot.
The sleeve effect will look cool.
Kind of garters.
Are you an anarchist?
No. I'm an engineer.
So you've got a saucy top here.
And then this is a skirt, shorts?
No, this is...
This is a pair of trousers.
One leg black, one leg tartan.
Let's see if I can do that.
Last challenge you didn't enjoy
because it was making trousers...
And now I'm making another pair
of trousers!
Glutton for punishment, clearly.
I started to have an idea
that it looked like a kilt
over a pair of trousers.
And I made the zip
the way I want it.
It crosses all the way down!
30 minutes remaining,
30 minutes to go! Oh, wow.
I think it's time to just start
doing things that are just
a little less decent.
Yeah, mine's looking a bit neat.
Have you not got to be neat?
A proper punk top is so easy to do,
you just - a couple of squares
of fabric and pin it together.
So this will be different.
So I'm turning this T-shirt
into a dress.
I've sewn up the arms
so they can be brought towards
the back,
so I can tie it corset-style.
I'm going to make the back
of my bustier.
I'm sewing on this very, very sticky
PVC stuff,
so I am sewing onto tissue paper
so that it can slide on the foot.
Well, I'm just adding the zip
from the front.
I really like it.
I'm going to make a nappy panel
for the back of these shorts.
A nappy panel? Yeah.
And it's the idea
that the nappy panel comes off? No?
Well, it's removable. Removable...
So when you've had an accident,
you can...
I don't... I don't know
if you've understood...
I thought it was all about
being rude and dirty and...
LAUGHS: I'm not sure punks just need
a more convenient way
of getting to the loo, Janet.
All right, what have I got to sew?
It's that bit and the back bit.
OK. So I'm adding sleeves
to the T-shirt.
And I'm going to, like,
cut them into, like, ripped...
I'm sewing this tape on with holes
in cos I've got one side
of the outfit that hasn't got
a way of closing yet.
I am loving this one!
This is my inner punk obviously
coming out.
I'm currently adding some chain
to this.
So this goes round the neck.
Because it's punk,
I can just shove it in
with some safety pins.
I've tried to slash three of
decreasing sizes on the leg.
I wanted to attach this.
That's cool. From here, down to
that one.
Handy little padlock as well.
Yes. If you go
to the leisure centre.
How long left, do we know?
Just three minutes to go, guys!
Time to get everything
on your mannequin.
I've run out of safety pins!
My nappy panel.
Would you wear this? Of course!
I'm not sure where.
Waitrose!
What I really want to do
is make a nipple feature.
Your gran wouldn't approve
of that, would she?
All right, needles up,
that is your time.
This is daft punk.
Bring your mannequins forward,
please.
Well done, everyone.
Mine's maybe a bit Avril Lavigne.
# Whatever happened to...? #
Eight punk transformations
in just 90 minutes.
And Patrick and Esme have no idea
whose creation is whose.
Wow!
I don't think we've seen
so much anarchy in the Sewing Bee.
# No more heroes any more. #
Slogan's on the front.
Did you want to reveal?
It says "something the patriarchy".
Is that me? Am I the patriarchy?
They blocked it off.
We can imagine what's underneath it.
BLEEP the patriarchy. Yes!
You've got lacing in the back.
This is made
from the T-shirt sleeves.
Got a little mini skirt
over the shoulder.
A shoulder kilt! Yeah.
I think the whole thing works
really nicely.
It definitely says punk.
Well that's a hell of an amount
of work in 90 minutes.
Is this a shirt that
they've chopped up...?
Chains are then attached
down this side of the leg.
So it's a sort of semi bondage.
I really like that they've thought
to use the speed clips
with this line of studs.
Now, we've got a padlock.
I wouldn't wear it to church,
but I think it's terrific.
# Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love... #
This one is sexier.
This looks a bit too nice.
It isn't quite so punky as those.
# I can't see much of a future
# Unless we find out
what's to blame. #
Oh, look at the back.
The sewer refers to
this as a nappy flap.
THEY LAUGH
I think this is fantastic.
Mind you, not very much fun
sitting on that.
Overall, it's actually quite nicely,
neatly sewn in.
I wish it had been a bit more punky.
# Ever fallen in love with someone
# You shouldn't have
fall in love with. #
So they've made a corset.
They've used this rubberised fabric
on the back and they've put
the straps on and put some net
behind. Yep, which makes...
Gives it the stiffness.
I think there's lots of this
that feels very right
for that era.
There's quite a lot of sewing
on this one, actually.
I think this is super.
I really liked it. Looks great.
# Boogie woogie... #
I like the zip and the slashes
on this side.
And this would be quite rude.
But then, you know, we've got
a D ring to keep things decent.
I think it's a shame they hemmed
this. What, you'd rather left
it raw? Yeah. More punky.
# I said, "Go, buddy, go, buddy
Go, buddy, go, go, go. #
This feels slightly preppy.
I like the way that they've created
a cut-and-shut trouser,
but I don't think this is enough.
No, I agree.
I think we've got three slashes
here. This could have been something
a bit more mad. Disruptive.
Look at this.
I think what they've done is chopped
the skirt and then made the legs,
and then they've cut
that fullness there.
The zip's quite amusing.
Yeah! It's really arresting.
It definitely feels
completely anarchic.
Yeah. Really clever.
So who's ripped up the rule book
to transform old tartan
into an outfit that captures
the spirit of punk?
Right. In eighth place is the...
..half and half trousers.
That's Alexei.
Not having much luck
with trousers today, am I?
You were so pleased with the
trousers! I know!
They just should have been
a little bit rougher. Thank you.
In seventh place,
it's the nappy flap.
Janet. A great piece of work,
there was just
some that were more punky.
It's fine. Well done, Janet.
I loved the nappy flap.
Juliet is sixth. Fifth is Leah.
Thanks.
And Ben is fourth.
And we won't ask what you'd like to
do to the patriarchy.
THEY LAUGH
In third place, it's our two-piece
over here with the chain necklace.
Well done, Mercedes. Mercedes!
What was going through your mind?
It's a fantastic effort.
We love it. Thank you.
In second place...
..is...
..our bustier and mini skirt.
Jen. Yeah.
I loved how all the seams
are shooting off
in different directions. Thank you.
Which means top punk
for this week...
It's Riccardo!
Yay!
Really, really love how you've
turned that kilt into trousers
and cut it. I just think
that's really clever and cool.
Are you happy, Riccardo?
Yeah. Thank you.
Well done, everyone.
First day of '70s week done. Go off
and have some fun doing a spam
fritter, and we'll be back tomorrow
for the Made-to-measure Challenge.
Brilliant. High ten.
Finally, I won a challenge!
That was amazing.
I got a third!
I'm absolutely buzzing about that.
That's brilliant.
I'm not going to lie,
this morning was a disaster.
Gone from the bottom
to the top half of leaderboard,
it feels better being
in this position.
I really liked my trousers.
They were cute.
But the brief was to come up
with something crazy.
And my only option now,
given that I'm very much
at the bottom of the pack,
is to do a really good job
on my made-to-measure.
# Zoo time, is she and you time?
# The mammals
are you favourite type... #
There's one challenge left
in '70s week. In just a few hours,
someone will win Garment of the Week
and somebody else will leave
the sewing room.
# This town ain't big enough
for the both of us. #
OK. '70s week.
Are we enjoying it?
Good standard so far?
Well... Well...
It's been up and down.
Yes, it has.
You're absolutely right.
Riccardo and Jen, pretty safe,
right?
Riccardo had a fantastic day
yesterday.
His transformation was
one of the best we've seen.
Jen's flares -
very neat and put together properly.
Who's potentially in danger?
Ben's trousers were awful,
on all sorts of levels.
But Ben's transformation was better,
wasn't it? Oh, yes.
Alexei was a long way
from finishing.
No button, no button hole,
no top stitching.
He's really going to have to do
something fantastic today.
For the final garment of '70s week,
the sewers have been able to
practise at home.
Hello, gorgeous. Hi!
But now they'll have to perfect
the fit on a real-life model.
We're going to nail it today.
Dear, it's exciting again, isn't it?
Welcome back, sewers.
It's the Made-to-measure Challenge.
This week, as it's '70s week,
the judges want you to make
a maxi dress.
You have five and a half hours
to make a dress that fits your model
perfectly, and your time starts now.
# Lovin' you... #
All right.
I need to check my pattern on you.
Let's do some measurements.
I like a maxi dress.
A nice elegant maxi dress.
I do have vague memories of seeing
women wearing things like this.
It's a kind of glamorous look.
I'm definitely a fan.
It hides a multitude of sins,
you don't have to shave your legs
before you wear it...
Launched by Oscar de la Renta
in 1968,
the maxi dress exploded
into mainstream fashion
during the '70s.
Its form-fitting top and flowing
full-length skirt
gave it a glamour still popular
to this day.
Esme, Patriarchy,
how hard is it to make a maxi dress?
This is going to test their ability
to handle much more diaphanous,
floaty materials,
like Georgette crepe...
And they're going to have to get
a really good fit over the waist
and bust,
and then a flowing skirt
that moves while they walk.
It's a challenge.
What sort of cutting patterns
would they use?
There are modern patterns
inspired by the '70s,
but what would be great
would be to see original patterns.
That would be really intriguing!
One thing about the '70s patterns,
people were much thinner
in those days.
A size 12 wouldn't be
what a size 12 is today.
People were thinner back then?
Gosh, I wouldn't have survived.
THEY LAUGH
What I want to do is pin this
onto your strap here.
To create the iconic floor-skimming
'70s style maxi dress...
I don't want to pin you.
..means that adjusting their
prepared pattern pieces accurately
has never been more important.
The bodice is the bit where the fit
matters.
For the '70s,
it was really important
to have this really nice
and fitted shape.
That is the main piece
of your garment.
So I'm going to drop that dart
about half an inch. Yep.
Risk it for a biscuit.
This pattern,
I think it's the early '70s.
It's by a designer
called Lee Bender,
who opened a shop called Bus Stop.
And I was telling my friend Polly
about this,
and she sent me a couple of photos
of her wearing a Bus Stop cape
in the '70s.
It's just so nice to have
that contact with the history
of the thing that I'm making.
Jen's also embracing
the bold colours
and prints of the period in a design
featuring an ankle-length skirt
and a bodice
with imposing shoulder pads.
And the vintage pattern, the
instructions are quite different
from the instructions
we would have today.
The sizing is quite different.
So I redrafted the pattern
to Rochelle's measurements.
If I can get the fit right,
Rochelle's going to look stunning.
If I pull it off, Rochelle. I will.
And Jen's not the only one
breathing new life
into an old pattern.
This is the pattern I'm doing.
Oh, it's a proper old 'un. 1973.
OK. I managed to use
the old internet and find out
the exact date for it. Oh, look!
We've got no shoulder seam here.
The sleeve, the yoke,
are all one piece of fabric.
I just loved the idea
of trying that out.
It's a really interesting shape
around the top.
Mercedes' quintessentially '70s
yoked shoulder piece will be added
to a gathered bodice
with an elasticated waistband
for a loose fit
around the waist and bust.
What bits of fitting
are you going to do for us?
I found the pattern was two sizes
smaller than...that my model needed.
Well, it would be. And also,
the neck was so tight. OK.
So I've added a small piece
at the front and the back.
I really like the look of it.
It could look stunning.
"Could."
Hello, Janet.
Hello, Joe.
Is this an original '70s pattern?
It is.
It's actually a pattern
that I made in 1973.
You made this?! I actually made
the dress for a friend's wedding,
and it would have been a similar
ditzy print pattern
because that's what I liked
at the time,
and it just reflects me.
Janet's dress features bishops'
sleeves and a scooped neckline.
She's trimming her waist and hem
with ribbon
and an embroidered frill.
That's broderie anglaise.
Broderie anglaise?
It's French, and it translates
into English embroidery.
It's a very feminine style.
Well, I love that you're using
an original pattern.
Best of luck. Fortunately,
it doesn't smell old, so...
No, it just smells like gin.
THEY LAUGH
While some sewers are using
vintage patterns to ensure
an authentic '70s look...
So I'm ready to start putting it
together.
..others are hoping a modern maxi
with retro features will be enough.
The top half of it is very flouncy,
and that was a big feature
in the '70s.
How do you describe a flounce?
It's like...
You draw a circle like that,
and then you cut it out
and it's just, like, opened out.
Juliet will sew delicate flounces
across her neckline,
running them off the shoulder,
and she's made it doubly difficult
as she's working
with fine Georgette fabric.
This flounce is the heart and
soul of this garment, right?
So any mistakes I make
would be disastrous.
And it's so fiddly.
Ay, ay, ay!
I decided to have everything
that I know from the '70s,
so there is this frill on the
top, very big and puffy sleeves,
and the tiered skirt. The idea is,
when you walk, it's really bouncy,
like it would bounce from here
to all the way down the bottom.
To put the spring
in his model's step,
Riccardo's self-drafted crepe maxi
has an ambitious tiered skirt,
requiring him to gather
more than 6m of fabric.
There's loads of it, isn't there?
Yes, because my dress
is a tiered skirt.
Yeah. So I need a lot of fabric.
Have you practised this one?
Yes, we did fabric that was a bit
thicker than that.
It looked nice. The thinner it gets,
the harder it is, right?
Yes, because, yeah,
because it's very slippery.
So you've got slippery crepe. Yes.
So I've drafted my own pattern again
and I designed this mushroom print.
The DNA this is entirely '70s.
You know, I've tried to put a bit
of a modern spin on it.
I want it to be also me.
As well as self-drafting his design
and creating a unique print,
just like last week,
Ben's manipulating his fabric,
this time to create
an elaborate pleated waistband.
That one's a bit dodgy, that's why.
That's why that one
was hidden over there.
I was hoping you weren't going to be
looking at that one!
Tape measure out and start... Look.
That's almost twice that. Yeah.
3.8. 2.1.
Given that the pleating
is a very clear feature...
Mm-hm. You've got to get it right.
Yeah.
# Try just a little bit harder. #
I'm just working on the neck.
This is the delicate bit.
Rest.
Could be a little bit more
gung ho. Looks very intricate.
Oh, it's very intricate.
I have to take lots of care.
But it says at the top "easy".
Hey! They're not easy to make.
"Easy" pattern. Hey, put it away!
Look at this one.
"This pattern is really easy.
Stop it! "Ages 4-plus."
That's what...
THEY LAUGH
This is a French seam.
You sew your fabric wrong sides
together,
turn it round and sew it
right sides together.
So you basically sew
every seam twice.
So I've got to get crack-racking.
Leah is using French seams to hide
messy raw edges
which might be seen
through her risque
full-length silk cotton dress.
The fabric feels gorgeous,
and the sneaky, slightly cheeky
weightlessness of it makes it
transparent.
So you may or may not be able
to see a slight undergarment,
or perhaps...
..a bikini underneath
or something like that.
Alexei, what's going on here?
This is the lining fabric.
It's gorgeous.
Have to line the dress
because it's see-through.
Are you on time? No.
OK. You are behind.
How are you feeling about this week?
This is my last week.
You think you're going? Well...
I don't want you to go.
No, well, I don't want to go either.
Make a nice dress, then.
I'm trying, Joe!
Distract them with a nice dress.
I'm trying!
By fully lining his chiffon maxi,
Alexei is doubling his workload,
and he's giving himself even
more to do with
a complex fitted bodice.
There are 12 darts in it. 12?!
Yeah. On the outer, there's some
curved bust darts. OK.
Two darts in the back,
so that's four,
and two darts in the sleeves,
that's six.
And on the lining, there are
straight bust darts
and front darts and two back darts.
So 12 altogether. Oh. Crikey.
I know.
You've given yourself
plenty to do. I certainly have.
I've sewn the facings
onto the bodice so my model
can try this on, and I can
just check the fit on her.
Right, let me just put that
over your head.
So there's your arms.
Only a perfectly fitting bodice...
So, I'm happy.
..will give the flattering
silhouette that makes the maxi
a '70s fashion icon.
It fits nicely across the boobs.
I'll lower it down there
a little bit.
That's not sitting
as I want it to sit.
OK, let me pin out
a little dart there.
I've done the facings, and the neck
doesn't sit as I wanted it to.
So I'm just going to put
little tucks there.
But both Alexi and Ben
are a long way off getting
a garment on their models.
As I'm using this clear elastic
to gather my bodice piece,
I'm doing what I can do.
But don't panic now.
I'm sewing this curved dart.
They're kind of like a tooth shape.
You know, like a...like
a dragon's tooth.
Getting it all done in time
is tricky.
So I'm increasingly unsure
of whether I've made
the right decision.
So I need to do the sleeves.
This is a bishops' sleeve,
which is voluminous at the bottom.
I like a bishops' sleeve
cos I like somewhere where
I can tuck my hankie.
I don't know if bishops
wear them like that.
I really have lost a sleeve.
You're not sitting on it, are you?
No, I'm not sitting
on a sleeve. OK...
Oh, it's on...! Is that it?
Oh, my gosh! No.
That's so embarrassing.
I already attached it!
Sewers, as you have one hour left.
But don't let that panic you.
Oh-ho-ho!
Does that one feel OK?
This feels a bit...
That's nice.
I'm pleased with these.
This is the bell end on the sleeve.
I'm going to start working
on the skirt.
I need to start speeding up now.
According to my measurement,
the first tier of the skirt
is 1.5m.
The second would be 2.10m.
And the third, 3.15m.
These are all to gather.
I should be able to do it.
I hope I can.
I'm currently attaching my facings
over the bust, and it gives it
a bit of structure around the top,
it helps shape it
in around the chest.
This is the tricky bit.
Once I've done this, it actually
gets pretty quick.
So that's the six darts
in the chiffon there.
I more or less have to sew
the same thing again,
but in the lining fabric.
I've done a good job sewing
the bits that I've finished.
The question is always,
how much will I finish?
The vultures are circling.
Well, this has proved suitably
tricky. It has.
Riccardo hasn't got the skirt, so...
He's got a lot to do.
Unbelievable how fast
stress makes you.
Ugh!
Well, Alexei, I don't think,
has fitted to his model.
That's very worrying.
He's in the lap of the Gods,
really, isn't he? Yes.
I just really hope
that it fits my mannequin.
My mannequin?! My model.
She's alive!
I think Ben's going to struggle.
He's got to finish his skirt,
he's got a huge hem.
He's got to join it all together.
I'm not 100% convinced
he's going to finish it.
I'm just gathering the skirt now.
It's all a bit stressful.
How long have we got?
Half an hour to go!
Agh! New levels of stress.
Find the end of this...
I've got the hem to do, which is
going to take me some time.
Where's the back, where's the back
where's the back?
I'm using a narrow hem foot.
So annoying.
Sometimes it doesn't catch.
Preferred it to have
been a bit tidier,
but it needs to be done now, so...
Just go with it.
I need to finish this bias tape,
which will not behave itself.
Five minutes,
just five minutes to go.
Oh, no!
Sew as fast as I can!
I'm starting to get that awful
rising panic feeling in my stomach.
Just go and give it a press.
My waist doesn't look neat.
I might do something that you can
tie it on your waist.
Where's the end,
for crying out loud?!
Oh, this is such a disaster.
Sewing these shoulder pads in...
Get your maxi dresses
on your models, guys!
Are you ready?
OK, OK... Do you want to get behind
the screen?
Oh, yes!
That's it.
That is your time.
As far as we're concerned,
it is now 1980.
You look beautiful.
Oof...
So nice.
I think it looks better than the one
I made for myself in the '70s.
Oh, my God!
It's just like, how did I do
that in five and a half hours?!
That's absurd.
# I believe in miracles
# Where you from
# You sexy thing
Sexy thing, you... #
Eight 1970s maxi dresses
made-to-measure
in just five and a half hours.
# You sexy thing... #
I like it. The choice of fabric
has worked really well.
Moves very gracefully.
Let's have a little closer look.
You've failed to catch
the fabric in the seam here.
Oh, no!
You did French seams didn't, you?
I did, yes. That's a rookie error.
The sleeves fall beautifully.
The shape of them is very good.
I think they're fitted
just nicely onto the wrist.
It's right on the money.
You should be very pleased.
Thanks.
This fabric is so light and bouncy.
This flounce sits delicately
and moves in a very beautiful way.
Ooh! Wow, OK.
Yes! You've done a double hem.
Oh... You've just missed it
in a couple of places.
But I think it looks great -
and it really suits you.
Thank you very much.
# Got on board a westbound 747... #
She looks like one of the Charlie's
Angels on holiday.
Well, first impressions -
it moves so nicely.
The belt looks like a last
minute addition.
Yes. It's not finished.
Can I take this belt off you?
Actually, without the belt...
Oh, it looks much better.
I mean, honest to God,
here - take that. It looks
much nicer without the belt.
I'll have that.
I think the fit...
It's just a fraction loose.
And, actually, the seams
aren't matching up.
The way you've got this
cascading tier of skirt
is really effective.
It's dramatic.
Thank you. I thought me and Laura
had similar waists, but, um...
THEY LAUGH
# Seems it never rains
in Southern California... #
I like the print.
I think it's a great choice.
You've handled the fabric
extremely well.
I see you've put shoulder pads.
Was that specified in the pattern?
It was, yes.
Hang on a minute...
You've put them in back to front.
This end should have been here.
Can you see there's a
little step here? Yeah.
Which is doing that.
They're pulling it, and ruining
the line of the bust.
I mean, the truth is,
the shoulder pads
are doing absolutely nothing good,
because Rochelle's shoulders
are wider than the pads are, anyway.
Might have been better
just to have taken them out.
# Heathcliff it's me, I'm Cathy
# I've come home, I'm so cold
# Let me in... #
Well, Alexei,
I think it looks great.
We've got the bias binding...
..and this is stretched - but
actually I think it's pretty good.
There's a lot of complicated
construction in here.
There are 12 darts inside,
and they're all doing their job
phenomenally well,
because the shape through here it's
absolutely terrific. Really good -
and you've got the lining
which was tighter, wasn't it? Yeah.
And then you've got the top layer.
That is quite tricky sewing,
and it fits really well.
That was lucky! Yes.
# Ooh, it gets dark, it gets lonely
# On the other side from... #
Overall I think it has a lovely
pleasing shape to it.
I think the cloth choice
has worked well.
This band at the bottom
and at the waist
is probably one of those
Marmitey things.
I agree.
You've tucked it in the front here
to try and get it sitting more
cleanly... Yes. ..across the chest -
but it's just given us a ridge.
You've done it through the body
of the garment, and the facing.
Well, really, you should have
unpicked it between there and there,
done a little tuck here and then
resewn it. Yeah.
That, for me, is a bodge.
You printed this, which is really
impressive -
but it doesn't fit great.
It needs something
like this happening.
The pleats look uneven.
Yes. This one is smaller than that.
We clearly know you love
experimenting
with the way you use your fabric,
and I think it's to be absolutely
applauded -
but you haven't had the time to do
them justice... No.
..but the overall effect is really
rather pleasing -
it definitely feels of the '70s.
# Oh, but love grows
where my Rosemary goes
# And nobody knows... #
So, who supplied the flowers?
Oh, fabulous.
So, they're these, aren't they?
Yes. Pink and flowers.
Yeah, exactly.
I love this fabric, and it's got
a fantastic weight to it,
so it moves really nicely - and
I like the length of the sleeves.
It's nice that it lines
up with the waist.
It is absolutely beautifully
put together.
I mean, it's perfectly balanced -
and this single piece flows
so beautifully across the front.
I mean, this neckline is just
impeccably sewn. It's beautiful.
It fits your figure perfectly -
it's modest, but it's elegant.
Really well done. Thank you.
Well done, everyone.
Judges now need to go and deliberate
and decide who's got Garment of
the Week, and who's going home.
So, go and have a rest,
and we'll be back - but, well done.
I'm absolutely blown away.
I could just...just...
Yeah! No, what? Huh?!
I'm afraid that's it -
random words.
It's all you're going to
get from me today. Sorry.
Patrick said it was right
on the money.
So, actually, I like that comment -
it's right on the money.
I love that design.
I love that print.
I think I've showcased quite a lot.
I would be really sad
if I went home.
I gave so much in that,
there's nothing left.
I've...
I've learned that I can do more than
I thought I could, you know?
I didn't...
I didn't think that I'd be able
to pull that off.
'70s week. I mean,
some fantastic sewing...
Yes. ..and some slightly
less fantastic sewing. Yes.
Let's talk about
Garment of the Week.
You loved Riccardo's
Transformation Challenge.
How he turned that kilt
into a pair of trousers -
I just loved that.
And we loved two
of the made-to-measures.
Mercedes.
It's hard to find fault.
It's really neat and tidy...
Yes. ..and super clean.
I like Leah's.
I mean, there's nothing to it.
It's so... Ooh, ooh!
..bouncy and kind of diaphanous.
So, who's the person or people
that should be worried?
Alexei...
With the exception of the finish
around the neck,
this was pretty successful,
on the whole.
It fitted very nicely -
and then, Ben - as usual,
he was doing fabrications,
and it didn't work great.
So then I think we need
to have a look at yesterday. Yes.
This was Ben's.
And I loved that skirt.
It was really clever.
Alexei's we had at the bottom
of the pile... Yes.
..and it just didn't feel punky
enough. Punky.
It's close between them,
but I think, for me, I think I know
who stays and who goes.
And so do I.
Well done, everyone,
we got through '70s week.
We've got two things to do -
a nice thing, and then we find out
who's going home.
Who is Garment of the Week?
Our Garment of the Week
this week is...
Well done, you! Thank you!
Bravo, Mercedes - it was absolutely
the very embodiment of the 1970s,
and, oh, so beautifully sewn.
Well done.
Thank you, so kind of you.
Thank you.
Now the not so nice bit -
the person going home
this week is...
..Ben.
Well done, Ben.
It's been lovely
getting to know you. Likewise.
Likewise.
Well done, Ben. You did very well.
Oh...
I've had the best time.
The saddest thing is not getting to
see these guys all the time.
This has taught me that, actually,
what inspires me
and what drives me
is being ambitious.
Being a bit unusual and not
just doing what everybody else does.
I think, in life,
that's a good thing.
Well done.
Ben, I think, was one of the most
adventurous sewers we've ever seen.
He's just always aiming for
something, you know, extraordinary -
and I love that in him, I think
it's a wonderful characteristic.
It's a big, big shame,
because he's really talented -
but this week, his sewing
really was not up to it.
Getting Garment of the Week,
I can consider that a gold medal.
Not a little one, but a big one!
It was an uncomfortably close shave.
I'll just ride this train
for as long as it wants to have me.
Maybe I'll make one of those dresses
for my wife,
cos she'll look amazing in it.
Next week...
It's going to be a little bit more
Primark than couture.
..as the sewers near
the halfway point...
Ow. I think I've broken a needle.
..they take on technical fabrics...
Aah! Do you want it soft or tight?
I have no idea. I don't know what
I'm doing!
..with a pattern that throws them
in at the deep end...
I mean, when have you ever
ironed your swimsuit?
..a canine couture transformation...
I don't do dogs.
I've got cats.
..and a manly made-to-measure...
Did you watch the game?
It was a good game, wasn't it?
Good squad.
Really good squad.
..that gets everyone...
Panic, panic, panic! Oh, no!
..in a sweat.
Oh...sugar.
