Great British Sewing Bee Episode 5 – patterns and sewing tips

Click here for our ultimate guide to The Great British Sewing Bee series 5 2019!
We have searched the sewing pattern database to bring you the best selection of patterns inspired by the the fifth episode of the Great British Sewing bee #gbsb. If you haven’t already seen our dedicated Sewing Bee page do take a look, we’ve got loads of exciting Sewing Bee goodness!
Sewing Bee: Pattern Picks
Task 1: Colour Blocked Dress
A new pattern release, inspired by this week’s Sewing Bee episode. The Mondrian dress was originally designed by Yves St Laurent for Vogue patterns in the 1960’s and McCall’s have bought it back to life for a limited time only. This Vogue® Pattern V1557 is a hack of V9048 and included instructions on how to alter the pattern for a colour block look.
If you fancy having a go at making the exact 1960s colour block dress pattern as sewn up by the contestants on the episode you can get your exclusive copy in the GBSB book Stitch to Style by Wendy Gardiner, published by Quadrille. Read our full review here!
Task 2: Vintage Jackets and Alteration Challenge
PVC Alteration challenge patterns
Vintage Jackets patterns
Some of the vintage patterns used by contestants are no longer in print (e.g. Jade used Butterick 2181 and Joyce Vogue® Patterns 7666). Read our guide on sourcing vintage supplies and patterns here.
Sewing Bee: Tutorials and top tips
Here are some tips and tutorials from indie designers and bloggers so that you can learn the techniques used to make the patterns in the show from 1960s week.
Task 1 – Making a colour block dress
Colour blocking 101 with Oliver & S patterns.
Megan Nielsen has a tutorial on how to deal with the dreaded lapped zip!
If you haven’t sewn double or fish eye darts before, Colette have all the tips. These darts really help to give shape to shift style dresses.
Task 2 – Sewing with PVC
Plush Addict have a guide to the different types of waterproof fabrics in case you have a spare shower curtain hanging about in need of refashioning.
Sewing tips for using PVC (Vinyl) fabricwith Christine Haynes (for Craftsy).
Task 3 – Vintage jackets
Karen at Did you make that? blog gives some good tips for choosing wools and tweeds.
Grainline Studio have lots of help for sewing with wools here.
Em Makes patterns shows you how to draft your own raglan sleeve.
Learn how to sew a vintage lapel style collarwith Lucky Lucille.
Master the art of sewing welt pocketswith Jennifer from Workroom Social.
Learn how to make fabric covered buttons, not just for your coat but to use as earrings as well with Lisa Comfort!
If you have the time and hate sewing button holes, why not create Button rouleau loops with this tutorial from Tilly and the Buttons.
And finally what is all this bagging out business about? Let Grainline Studio give you all the tips to master this technique.