GREAT BRITISH SEWING BEE 2023 – SEWING PATTERNS S9 EP7
It’s the seventh episode of series 9!
In the seventh episode of The Great British Sewing Bee series 9, six contestants are challenged with making a 90s’ cargo pants, upcycling household textiles to create a 90s celebrity-themed fancy dress outfit and a made-to-measure bodycon dress for a model. For episode seven we have put our detective hats on to discover the sewing patterns from independent designers and commercial pattern houses used in Sewing Bee TV show. The patterns below are all matches or inspired by the designs used in the seventh episode of the Great British Sewing bee series 9. If you haven’t already seen our ultimate guide to the Sewing Bee do take a look.
The theme was ‘1990s’ and all seven contestants had to make three garments. The challenges included making 90s popular cargo pants loved by British girl bands, upcycling household textiles into a 90s celebrity-themed fancy dress outfit and a made-to-measure bodycon outfit, popular with supermodels, to fit a model. Take a look at our sewing pattern suggestions below, we’ve tried to find the exact patterns used but where we haven’t been able to we have plenty of suggestions so that you can recreate these looks at home for your handmade wardrobe. Kate also talks through her favourite pattern options from the episode on YouTube in our special mid-week sewing bee vlog.
If you want to chat about the episode and the challenges then do join us each week in our Facebook group event.
Sewing Bee: Pattern Picks
Pattern Challenge 1: 90s Cargo pants
The first challenge of the seventh episode was to make a 90s cargo pants. Popular trousers with hip-hop musicians and British Girl bands like All Saints, these trousers include bellow pockets and a fly zipper. Here are two cargo patterns you could try at home.
This straight leg cargo pant features an elastic waist, faux fly, front slant pockets, back patch pockets, and patch pockets with a flap and inverted pleat over the side seams.
Sizing: 4 – 16 or 18 – 30 (approx. UK 4/6 – 16/18 or UK 18/20 – 32, based on our standardised size chart). Available in the shop: Yes, paper pattern.
Casual top and pull-on pants. Pull-on V-neck top with long sleeves and waistband, designed for stretch knits only. Pants, designed for woven fabrics, have elasticated waist, cuffed or turn-up tabbed hems. Side-seam and cargo pockets.
Sizing: A (8-10-12-14-16-18-20) which is approx. UK sizes A (6 – 16) based on our standardised size chart. Available in the shop: Yes, paper pattern.
Transformation Challenge 2: 90s celebrity-themed fancy dress outfit
In the upcycling challenge contestants had to upcycle household textiles to create a 90s celebrity-themed fancy dress outfit. Specific patterns weren’t used for these tasks as contestants had to create a garment from existing materials in a fixed time so it’s a bit tricky for us to make sewing pattern suggestions based on these design ideas.
Made-To-Measure Challenge 3: bodycon dress
In the last challenge of episode seven, all the contestants had to sew a made-to-measure bodycon dress to fit a child model. Here are our pattern picks for the contestants and where sewing patterns have been self drafted or hacked we have suggested an alternative.
Vicki’s Corset Dress
Features: Crepe back satin, ivory satin encased boning and a leg slit.
Pattern: Daria Patternmaking Rose Cafe dress.
Available in the shop: Unfortunately not.
Asmaa’s Bustier Dress
Features: Bra, stretch jersey and lace, straps and a pleather fishtail skirt.
Pattern: Vikisews Ornella Dress. Ornella is a close-fitting evening gown with a waist seam and adjustable straps. The corset bodice of the dress features separate cups pleated at the bottom. The cups are supported with underwires. The front, back and side seams of the bodice feature rigilene boning inserted into applied channels. The skirt is bias-cut and flared toward the bottom. The front of the dress is floor-length while the back extends into a long train. The dress closes with an invisible zipper inserted into the centre back seam and topped with a hook-and-eye.
Sizing: 34 – 52 (approx. UK 6 – 20, based on our standardised size chart). Available in the shop: Yes, paper of PDF.
Mia’s Mix Hurley Inspired Dress
Features: Gold chains, slit and back velvet.
Pattern: Robe Bustier Avec Bonnets
Available in the shop: Unfortunately not.
Lauren’s Bias Cut Slip Dress
Features: Cowl neck, spaghetti straps and bamboo silk.
Pattern: Sewing Patterns By Masin Sicily Slip Dress. Sicily is a romantic bias cut slip dress. Inspired by summer road trips through southern Italy and sitting in a cafe in sunny Sicily, this slip dress is going to make you feel flirty and beautiful. The pattern comes with two views. View A has skinny straps, a low cowl neck and a midi-length. View B has wider straps, a higher cowl neckline and the hem falls above the knee.
Sizing: A – J (approx. UK 6/8 – 28). Available in the shop: Yes, PDF or PDF + printed copy shop.
Lizzie’s Gold Slip Dress
Features: Fine satin and spaghetti straps.
Two similar patterns would be Vikisews Lucia Dress and Papercut Patterns Maya Cami and Dress.
Pattern: Vikisews Lucia Dress. Lucia is a close-fitting slip dress with an accentuated waist. The fit of the dress is achieved by the bias cut and a centre back seam. The front of the dress features bust darts. The front and back of the dress are finished with facings. The garment has spaghetti straps criss-crossing at the back. The back of the dress is open, V-cut, and framed with an insert at the waistline. The dress is midi-length.
Sizing: 34 – 52 (approx. UK 6 – 20, based on our standardised size chart). Available in the shop: Yes paper, PDF or PDF + printed copy shop.
Pattern: Papercut Patterns Maya Cami and Dress. This bias cut beauty with spaghetti straps and a gathered bust cup detail is a wardrobe staple for sure. Perfect for a night out or a casual day of running errands. The Maya can be made as a cami, a midi or an above the knee length dress. Wear it over a tee or turtleneck on cooler days or just as is for a minimalistic feel.
Sizing: 1 – 8 (approx. UK 4 – 20). Available in the shop: Yes, paper.
Tony’s Body con dress
Features: Diagonal seam and side slit.
Pattern: McCalls M7999 dress. These close-fitting, pullover dresses have sleeve variations and a stitched hem. A: Collar. B: Neck band and side slit. C: Collar and back slit.
Sizing: A (XS-S-M-L-XL), approx. UK sizes A (4 – 18/20). Available in the shop: Yes, paper pattern.
