GREAT BRITISH SEWING BEE 2024 – SEWING PATTERNS S10 EP 9

It's the ninth episode of series 10!

In the semi-final of The Great British Sewing Bee series 10 and it's icons week. Four remaining contestants are challenged with making Balenciaga's draped dress, and a Coco Channel made to measure. 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 10. If you haven’t already seen our ultimate guide to the Sewing Bee  do take a look.

If you want to chat about the episode and the challenges then do join us each week in our Facebook group event.

Pattern Challenge 1: Balenciaga's Dress

The first challenge of the seventh episode was to make a dress inspired by Balenciaga. Why not try this sewing pattern to recreate this look at home? This super dress has a waterfall back.

Vogue Dresses V1982

Buy the V1982 Dresses sewing pattern from Vogue. It’s perfect for an advanced beginner/intermediate dressmaker. Fitted, lined cape dress has jewel neckline, front waist and bust darts, back princess seams, back slit and invisible back zipper. Attached unlined cape (wrong side will show) also has an invisible back zipper and baby hem.

Sizing: B5 (8-10-12-14-16), Y5 (18-20-22-24-26), approx. UK sizes B5 (6 – 12), Y5 (14 – 22/24). based on our standardised size chart. Please also check the designer's size chart and finished garment measurements.

Transformation Challenge 2: Upcycling Ties

In the upcycling challenge contestants had to upcycle old ties into a completely new garment. 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: An outfit inspired by Coco Chanel

In the last challenge of the semi finals, all the contestants had to sew a made-to-measure outfit inspired by Coco Chanel. Here are our pattern picks for the contestants and where sewing patterns have been self drafted or hacked we have suggested an alternative.

Suzy's Monocrome dress

Features: Panelled black and white dress with boning.

Pattern: Gracie Steel Bustier Dress

The dress was fitted through the bodice flared our past the hip. Suzy used boning to make a feature of this. 

Ailsa's Box Tweed Waistcoat & Ruffles skirt

Features: A cropped waistcoat, shirt bib with tiered skirt.

Waistcoat pattern: Common Stitch Pipit Vest

This waistcoat is a little looser that the one Ailsa made but we thought the shape was really good. You'd just need to tweak the fit a little to make it tighter. 

Skirt Pattern: McCalls skirts M8150

There are so many fantastic ruffle skirt pattens out there. We love the McCalls 8150 and the proportions felt really close. 

Luke's Little Black Dress

Features: A tailored dress with statement quilted collar.

Pattern: Vikisews Harely Dress

This is such a great pattern, it's close fitting with waist darts. It looks like Luke altered the sleeves on this pattern to give it a bit of extra drama.

Pascha's 30's dress

Features: Bias cut dress with flutter sleeves & ruffle at the bottom

Dress pattern: Simplicity Dress S8875

This lovely dress has a nod to the 30s with it's flutter sleeve. I looks like Pashca might have mixed some of the styles together to get the look.