I think I’m probably the only person who went to the Great British Sewing Bee Live, only took one photograph and didn’t buy a thing! There was a good reason for this. My lovely friend and co-sewing group organiser, The Draper’s Daughter, had a stand at the show and I offered to be her assistant on the Friday.
Here’s Karen making sure everything is displayed perfectly. She’s wearing a fabulous Camber/Inari dress hack she made up in one of her fabrics – which also features on the top shelf of the photo.
Karen had been on her own for the first day of the event which had been incredibly busy and she’d only manage to visit the loo thanks to the kindness of someone on another stand who also took her a cup of tea! Friday was busy but not nearly as overwhelming. The stand looked amazing. The Merchant & Mills Top 64 pattern seemed to be the bestseller and I’m not surprised. It’s a great pattern which I wrote about here and Karen had sewn a dress version for the sample rail which I’m definitely going to copy.
Talking of the sample rail … I offered to make up a pattern and went with the Merchant & Mills Trapeze Dress. I love M & M patterns for their simplicity and style. The Trapeze sewed up very quickly despite my decision to bind all the hems for extra neatness given that the whole world would be looking at it! There are no darts or fastenings which makes life very easy. The dress has three sleeve variations – sleeveless, short and long. I went for the short sleeves.
I really like how the dress turned out but I’m not sure it’s ideal for someone as short as me (5′)! The size 8 fitted perfectly at the top but I looked a bit overwhelmed in it. I’ve seen some great versions out there and particularly like the short sleeve version styled with a long sleeve white shirt underneath. Check out @sewingblue on IG for a good example. If only I was a little bit taller!
I was planning to write a more detailed post about the Trapeze for Karen’s website but I’m not sure she’ll be too impressed by my lack of progress photographs. I always forget to take them!
On the day I wore my new Cleo dress made up in one of Karen’s fabrics so I could be a good ambassador. I’ll be writing about this one in a separate post dedicated to my new love of the dungaree dress.


Sadly I did NOT see Patrick in the flesh but I did spot Esme who was looking very stylish. I caught up with lots of sewing friends – and met some IG friends IRL. We also met sewing royalty in the form of Liesl Gibson of Liesl & Co and Oliver + S who visited the stand.
I really enjoyed spending the day with Karen but four days on the trot must have been so exhausting! I see that the dates for 2018 have now been released, three days, 8 – 10 June. Let’s hope that the huge crowds this year have shown the BBC that there’s a real passion for sewing in the UK and the Great British Sewing Bee will be back on our screens next year.
Lovely neat sewing as usual Jane. Very smart dungaree dress. xx
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Thank you!
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I am one of the people who examined your trapeze dress and yes, I marvelled at your beautifully finished interior ! Loved the show.
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Thank you! So glad you enjoyed the show and approved of my Trapeze dress! It was a bit nerve racking thinking that people were going to examine it up close!
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Oh and here it is again at Thread at Farnham Maltings !
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A got excited when I saw you was going then realised we were going on different days. Hopefully we’ll meet up one day! Next year falls on H’s 16th birthday which is on the 9th so I’m not sure I’ll be able to make up though. x
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I know! I was so excited when I thought that we were going to meet up in person! What a shame we weren’t there on the same day. Hopefully there will be another opportunity. x
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Lucky you – enjoyed the day and come home with money in your purse! The atmosphere must have been great, but shame you missed out on seeing the man himself. My husband just doesn’t understand why us women all swoon at the sight of Patrick. It’s a girl thing and most of us just aren’t into big muscles and bigger egos:)
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It was good to see so many smiling faces in one place! I shall definitely make a bigger effort to see Patrick next year!
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No your’e not the only one! I went on thursday helped on the Madeit patterns stall (next door) and didn’t buy anything either!!
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I’m glad I wasn’t the only one! There’s such a temptation to buy things at these events that it was probably a good thing I was otherwise occupied. You must have been busy on Thursday – I know it was Karen’s busiest day.
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