New Look 6734 is a super contemporary design with one shoulder and cut out effect with optional waist tie and cover up wrap skirt/sarong included. It reminded us of Lauren's make. New Look 6734 swimsuit and cover up pattern

Oh my goodness how do we all need a good old splash of sequins, glitter and party dress after the year we've had?! We have SO many gorgeous party dress patterns and luxurious fabrics perfect for this task too. Sewing Bee Patterns and Fabrics Sewing Bee Patterns I recently spent 2 unplanned weeks in hospital. When I got home I edited a commercially produced machine embroidery design to make it personal to those who were looking after me and made an embroidered thank you card. Fortunately I can still use a computer - my embroidery machine does the rest apart from changing threads. The Sewing Bees were tasked with transforming three high vis safety wear pieces into a party outfit. Leah expertly created gathers for her dress by hand, but you can use a gathering foot to make life much easier and you can find a video on how to use one here. Cut out dresses have been so on trend in recent years, in fact I made one for my friend's wedding last year and I love it dearly. There are so many patterns to choose from to sewalong with the Bees and I wish I had time to make them all. Here's some of the ones we spotted on the show. Sewing Bee Patterns

Fauve is a trainee solicitor from Swansea and has represented Wales at golf. Fauve sews in the evenings from her sewing cupboard, making herself feminine puff sleeve dresses. Summer week: episode 3 of the Sewing Bee series 8 is sure to have our pulses racing with beautiful shirred summer dresses and tropical two piece co-ordinated trouser sets. We'll be updating you every week so do stay tuned - we will share the weekly Sewing Bee scoop with you in our newsletter. The Pattern Challenge: A Shirred Midi Dress There are so many off the shoulder gown sewing patterns to choose from, this Vogue 1655 design is a serious show stopper and would look beautiful sewn up in one of our luxury fabrics mentioned above:

Children's week: Sewing Bee series 8 episode 5. It's cuteness overload in children's week when the Sewing Bees sewed up sailor suits, spooky costumes and refashioned school uniforms. We'll be updating you every week so do stay tuned - we will share the weekly Sewing Bee scoop with you in our newsletter. The Pattern Challenge: A Sailor SuitFauve made a Twiggy inspired 60s dress with a cute collar and I thought Simplicity 9371 would make a great replica. Simplicity 9371 vintage dress pattern You can't beat a tailored shirt for a satisfying sew, but I'm not sure I'd want to rustle one up in the time allocated for the Bees! They certainly didn't disappoint and I would especially love to own the dresses created by Leah and Juliet. Sewing Bee Patterns and Fabrics Who would sew the most red carpet worthy gown and steal the Sewing Bee crown for 2021? Sewing Bee Patterns and Fabrics Sewing Bee Patterns My lovely friend Ali produced a fab, fun A-line mini and I loved the corset produced by the biker from Middlesborough. Challenge 3: Made to Measure Tea Dress

Boiler suits have been incredibly popular in recent years and I can see why thanks to the comfort and practicality they offer without compromising on style. Having to transform with a fancy dress costume idea and doing it under severe time pressure makes it even more terrifying.The other Tony on the show this year, Tony R is a postman from Cornwall. He can often be spotted out and about on one of his bikes or his skateboard.

Time for more glitz and glamour on the Sewing Bee this week with the theme 'music and the movies'. As the five remaining contestants really come into their own and step up those sewing skills I couldn't wait to see what delights they created. The Pattern Challenge: Baby's Dirty Dancing Dress Simplicity 9370is a Mimi G design for knit and jersey fabrics or even stretch velvet. There are options for varying hem and sleeve lengths and each design has a sexy cut out at the waist on one side and is finished with a waist tie. This would sew up well in our John Kaldor Ritual fabricavailable in a range of fun colours. McCall's 8238 dress pattern A lot of the tools and techniques used to apply eyelets can also be used to apply plastic, fashion and anorak snaps, rivets, and jeans buttons all of which are useful techniques to learn and can be used on a wide range of garments. The huge pattern pieces caused some confusion with a couple of the Bees initially creating circle skirts rather than trousers. Sewing Bee Sewing Patterns

You can see our range of pliers here and you can also use them to apply woven snaps, jersey snaps, rivets, jeans buttons and anorak snaps. Prym Love Vario Pliers