09x04 - Reduce, Reuses, Recycle

[bunniefuu]

Good evening.

Here at Sewing Bee we take reduce,
re-use, recycle seriously.

For instance,
these are my original feet.

And everything I am wearing
for today's show is edible.

MUMBLES: Uh... I can't wear it now.

You guys are going to have
to do the intro.

FOOTSTEPS RETREAT

BOTH: Welcome to
The Great British Sewing Bee.

Last time...

So I'm doing like a swoosh.

...the sewers travelled
to West Africa...

I've had a chance to research
what a boubou is,

cos I won't lie -
didn't have a clue.

...where Lizzie soared to the top...

Ooh!
...in both the transformation...

It's a huge success.

...and the made-to-measure.

Lizzie!

After a rocky start...

Oh, no! No, no, no, no, no.

...Fauve rose from the ashes...

It's been really nicely sewn.

...but it was Maria...

Just don't ask me if I'm OK.

...who was sent packing.

I can't believe it
I made it here in the first place,

so I am proud, I'm proud.

Now it's reduce, re-use
and recycle week...

Ooh!

...with zero-waste trousers
which test the sewers' maths skills.

I'm a teacher,
I should be able to do maths.

Disused tote bags
become high fashion...

Shall I just stand there
and see if they give me a mark?!

...and old blankets
hit the catwalk.

To the crochet gods,
please be in my favour.

Who will recycle themselves
into next week?

Not a stitch out of place.
Really, really well done.

And whose garments
will become garbage?

This isn't my finest hour.

Oh! We're neighbours! Oh!

Reduce, re-use, recycle.

Just do it with a bit of flair,
bring our design to it.

I think it's fantastic.

Very excited for this week.

Going into it with my head held high

and I'm going to show 'em
what I got.

This is an old blanket

and an old bedsheet

turned into a crocheted harness

because I thought -
I've started it now,

I might as well keep going
with the theme!

Come forward, sewers.

Welcome back.
How are you all feeling?

Fabulous.

Well, this week we are
reducing, re-using and recycling -

or "the real three Rs",
as I call them,

because there's no point reading,
writing and doing maths

if you haven't got a planet.

Would you like to kick things off,
Esme? Here I go.

Pass them round.

CONTESTANTS GASP, LAUGH

What we want you to make are
a pair of trousers

with a drawstring waist

and two pockets
inserted into the side seams.

Now, that sounds really simple,

but this is a zero-waste challenge.

These trousers have been
cleverly designed

so that not a single scrap
of fabric is wasted.

We're giving you a selection of
dead stock fabrics

that we've salvaged from designer
studios and clothing factories.

And in the spirit of recycling,
let's not waste any more time!

You have three hours,
and your time starts now.

GIGGLING

Whoops, sorry. Don't mind me.

Ooh!

Ugh, right.

The zero-waste pattern has
a little surprise inside...

Oh... just the one piece!

...and a diagram to show how to
divide up the rest of the fabric.

It's given us a rough shape

so we've got to work out
the rest of it on there

to make sure nothing's wasted.

The sewers start with
a specific length of fabric.

They must mark out
the 11 trouser sections

using detailed
mathematical instructions.

Measure the width of your fabric
and subtract 29 centimetres -

so I need a pen!

This measurement gives
the first division of fabric.

So I'm getting the 29 centimetres
and I'm going to go down.

Anything less than
complete precision...

I mean, I'm a teacher -
I should be able to do maths.

...could alter the size
of the fabric pieces...

Got my daughter's GCSE calculator
ready just in case.

...distorting the finished trousers.

Don't blame me if it's wrong.

I got full marks for my maths GCSE.

But that was a long time ago!

Now, zero-waste trousers. Could you
explain what this challenge is?

A normal pattern, you lay various
pieces on a piece of fabric

and you cut round them and you're
leaving little bits in between.

Zero-waste - there are no gaps
between the pattern pieces.

So there's no waste whatsoever.

Yep. The other thing
that's interesting is

we've asked them to use dead stock -
unwanted unused fabric.

Is this one of those challenges
where fabric choice is important?

They need to choose an
appropriate weight and construction.

Not too drapey.

And how are they assembled?

Well, we've got two front legs,
two back legs

and two panels down the sides.

They also have two patch pockets
on the back.

What we want to see is a really
nice, smooth curve around the edge

and both pockets need to be
perfectly symmetrical.

The other thing that's really
important is the side pockets.

You have two parts of the pocket bag

and you have to trap that in
at the seam.

And if you don't,
you will get a raw edge here.

We've got a waistband
that's cut in one piece.

And the drawstring needs to sit
in a neat channel

that's created
on top of the waist band.

It's absolutely crucial
that they cut really accurately.

And if you don't, they might
go wrong on every element.

I've never done anything
like this before, so...

I'm excited to see
how it turns out.

I've not made a zero-waste garment
but I want to learn about it

so when I saw it I just thought,
OK, come on! This is my challenge.

This is my pattern.

Once they've cut out
the 11 pieces,

the back legs are sewn
into the side strips.

The patch pockets are turned down
and attached.

Pocket bags are sewn up
and inserted into the front legs

which are then attached
to the side strips.

The trousers are joined
at the crotch

and pulled together
with a drawstring waistband.

Good morning. Morning. Morning.

So you're marking out. How are you
finding the calculations?

It's straightforward
if my brain was working.

It's too early in the morning.

So this fabric feels like
a cotton and silk jacquard.

In a funny way,
because it's a non-regular pattern

and it's quite busy, it might
disguise the odd flaw here and there

which is not a bad thing.

Best of luck. We'll leave you to it.
Thank you, thank you.

Everything's pink this week.

I thought it would look nice
in this linen as well so...

that's why I chose it!
SHE LAUGHS

Ooh, Lauren's gone for linen,
has she? Surprise!?

Oh, have we got a bit of floral
there, hun?

SHE LAUGHS

Oh, this is lovely.

Quite a slippery fabric.

Pocket bag halfway point.

Hi! Get that straight.

This challenge really is all in
the accuracy of marking it all out,

so do not rush this. OK.

In a funny way, because
you've got a checked fabric,

it might actually help.
It should help.

Of course, the checked fabric
might also then highlight

any non-straight lines
in the finished garment.

Oh, Patrick!

I am done with the drawing,

so on to the cutting instructions!

If you cut it out wrong, you've gone
very wrong because it's zero-waste.

And even that tiny bit
is going to make a difference.

This is very nerve-racking.

I hope I got all the lines right.
Whoa, whoa!

Lovely.

I've just cut out the patch pocket
and that makes half a trouser.

So I've cut everything out.
I've gone on to step one of sewing.

Hello. Hello.

I imagine you've sewn
a drawstring trouser?

I've got a failed attempt
on my board.

ESME CHUCKLES

I mean... that is a spectacular
failure! Oh, that's a joke!

It's like a harem pant.

Hang on, how straight
are your straight lines?

They should be
perfectly symmetrical.

It's just you're standing at
a slight angle, you are, Patrick.

Am I? Yeah. And then you're
holding it up too high now.

PATRICK LAUGHS

It's not flat, see.
It's my fault, OK! Course it is!

Well, look forward to them
being nice and straight.

Pin and sew the back legs
to the side seam strips

from the waist to the hem.

The sewers begin assembling
their leg panels

by stitching the back
and side strips together.

Well, but I got it right
on that one, I think.

Both need to be exactly the same
length to achieve an even hemline.

They're all the same.

Just literally the length.

I think I've cut the side panels
too short...

...because they don't match up.

If I cut another piece to
match it up, I'm wasting fabric.

So...

This is one of the back legs
with the side panel strip on.

I'm just going to go with it for now

cos it's only going to affect it
at the hem.

If I need to turn the hem up
to even them out, I will.

Hiya, Fauve. Hello!
How's it going?

Been better.

Do you not like this?
No. I liked it until...

Uh-oh.

The side panels are cut too short.

Patrick commented
on the length of my trousers.

Oh, Patrick! I mean...

I blush every time I see the man.
Do you? Yeah.

Is that why you can't sew?

We'll have to stop Patrick going
round, he's putting the sewers off.

Well, don't STOP him coming around,

just don't let me
look into his eyes.

You-you're...

You are halfway through!

We've had an hour and a half?

Oh, man.

I'm just making the patch pockets.

So I've folded it once and twice
and now I'm top stitching.

I've just folded that.
It's just a bit weird.

As the patch pocket is the only
feature on the entire garment...

Got to get my curves right.

I'm just going to iron them
so they're neater.

...they must be both identical
and symmetrical

and have a smooth curved edge.

It doesn't say to snip the edges, however...

because it's a curved edge,
I need to snip it.

I've got to try and follow
that curve.

It's not that easy.

So now it's time to sew them.
Argh!

Top stitch down the sides
and around the bottom curve.

I want this to be
as neat as possible.

I want to do it precise.

Needs accuracy.

Oh! So you've got a tricky curve.

What will you do - go slowly?

I'll be going very slowly and I'll
probably stop breathing for a while!

If you hit your head on
the sewing machine, I'll do CPR.

You got to do Stayin' Alive.

Oh, yeah? Shame it's not
Back To Life by Soul II Soul.

That would have been great,
wouldn't it?

That's what I'll sing to you
once you are alive. Oh? Sweet! Nice!

An hour to go. Hopefully I'll have

sorted out the recycling by then.

You have one hour left!

God.

Once the patch pockets are attached,

it's time to move on
to the side pockets.

I'm attaching the pocket bag
to the front of the legs.

Pin and sew the front legs
to the side seams

from the waist to the hem,

being careful not to catch
your pocket opening in the seam.

Must go in there.

That needs to go around there.

Unlike the patch pockets,

the side pockets must be completely
invisible from the outside.

Oh... Jesus.

OK, this is the tricky bit.

I'm not going to lie.
I'm going to make this bit up.

I should have pinned this.
But I haven't pinned it.

It's just all being done by feel.

You've just got to make sure
that you catch that corner

because otherwise it will be messy.

There's something wrong.
It doesn't make sense to me, that.

Trust the process, Tony.

But I've got that pocket bag there.

And that's there.

Do you always talk to yourself?

Yeah. Don't we all, really?

Little pocket.

Yay!

So now we've got that pocket in.

I'm not happy with this.
I'm not happy with it.

This isn't my finest hour.

You've got 30 minutes left

to bid on this recyclable sculpture
of Patrick.

30 minutes left.

HIGH-PITCHED: Ooh!

I mean...
DEEPER VOICE: ..huh.

I might finish yet.

The next thing is putting
the legs together.

Pin and sew inside leg seams.

So you have to put
one leg inside the other

and you connect them at the crotch.

I've just sewn the crotch seam.

Once I finish this seam,
there should be a pair of trousers.

Ta-da!

Huge big old pair of trousers.

I mean, seriously... wouldn't
you want to wear these trou...?!

SPLUTTERS WITH LAUGHTER

ATTEMPTS TO IMITATE PATRICK:
Oh, hello, Fauve.

I just wanted to see if you wanted
to come to dinner this evening

and maybe give you
some sewing tips?

Just going to... just...
SARA GUFFAWS

Lost him!

15 minutes!

Not long left.

SIGHS IN RESIGNATION

Next, a waistband. OK.

Oh, it's never-ending!

Sew two short ends of the waistband
together to form a loop.

I can do that.

I'm going to be stitching it
along the top of the trousers.

For some reason
it's trying to eat my fabric.

Wish I'd chosen a different fabric now.

Am I doing OK?

I just got to finish these

otherwise you'll have a go at me
for not finishing them.

I can never win with you.

So the waistband went in
quite smoothly, I think.

That's good.

Oh, perfect, perfect.

That's as messy as a messy thing.
I'm not happy with that.

Five minutes, guys!

Five minutes? Oh, God.

You're seeing flappy Tony now.
You haven't seen flappy Tony yet.

Once I've hemmed them,
I can then put the drawstring in

and then I should be done.

Speed hemming.

Drive that pin home!

I am in genuine fear of
not finishing this.

It's just such a messy hem.
It is awful.

Well, that's my hems done.

Lovely! Matthew,
you've turned up in weirder stuff.

THEY LAUGH

You're so rude!

I'm putting this loop turner
through the hole of the waistband

and then I can thread my drawstring
to it and then pull it out.

I can't get my drawstring through.

It's not going through the seam.
Argh!

One minute left!

Drawstrings in.

I can do this.
Come on, Lizzie.

Am I going to make it?
You can do it, Asmaa. You can do it.

Strewth.

Oh, my God! Ugh!

Ooh, we're getting dressed.

Oh, goodness me!

Really hard to get on.

Oh, my good God.

Yay. Pleased with them.

I'm pulling a right face.

Needles up, sewers!

You have zero time left of
your zero-waste challenge.

SIGH OF RELIEF

I've got massive pockets.

Just realised my pockets were
the story of my life today.

Mannequins forward, everyone!

MUSIC: Baggy Trousers by Madness

They're like the longest trousers ever.

I'm not going next to Vicki's
because Vicki's always good.

♪ Baggy trousers, baggy trousers

♪ Baggy trousers! ♪

Zero-waste trousers
made in just three hours.

Nine topless guys!

Twit-twoo!

It's like Magic Mike!

First impressions?

They might be zero-waste,
but I think from here at least

they look like 100% great trousers.

Ooh.

♪ Baggy trousers, baggy trousers

♪ Baggy trousers. ♪

Mia, these look terrific.

The waistband is perfectly neat.

Your side pockets are
pretty much perfection.

These back pockets,
this side's better curved,

I think, than that side. Yeah.

Your hem is pretty accurate
and neat.

These are almost perfect.
Well done.

Thank you.

Right, Lauren.

The pocket you haven't
caught in properly.

These back pockets
don't have a nice, smooth curve.

They look a little bit...

...angled, which is a shame.

The seams are well pressed,

the sewing on the whole
looks fairly accurate.

It's just those pockets, for me. Yeah.

The side pockets - pretty good.

Let's look at the back pockets.

Nice curve.

The channel is ever so slightly out.

The hem depth looks
accurate and level.

Overall I think they're pretty good.

The shape of the pocket
is not a curve.

We've got angles as it steps around.

The bottom hem is
a little bit uneven.

It's quite a lot deeper here
than it is there.

Overall just a few little
inaccuracies here and there.

Tony, these look great.
Really nice curve on that side.

A tiny little angle there.

We've got a slight tuck,

but it's only slight,
in the back seam.

Let's have a look at your hem.

Double-turned, neat and accurate.

I would say
these are very good, Tony.

Because we've got
a very visible check,

we'll be able to see exactly
how neat your stitch rows are.

The top stitching could be
a little closer to the edge

but actually the shape of those
curves is actually really very nice.

Overall they look pretty good.

Oh, my gosh!

The hem... Yeah.
...is all over the place. Yep.

Your side panel seems much shorter
than your main leg panels.

I think the fabric choice

probably was wrong.

You needed something
with a bit more stability

and something with less drape.

Right, Tony.

The top of this pocket
is not caught into the seam

and that will make it not usable.

I mean, that's a major mistake. Yeah.

You haven't turned
the ten centimetres over

so we've got
a really long, long pocket.

I had an absolute nightmare with
those pockets today, I won't lie.

Your channel looks pretty even.

Ooh! The pockets are very neat.

Thank you.

The curve on your pockets
is absolutely beautiful

and the quality of the top stitching
is exemplary.

They hang so nicely.
They're extremely well made.

Yeah, they are. Thank you.

Patrick and Esme will now rank
the trousers from zero to hero.

Ninth place, Tony R.

Big issues with both the
side pockets and the back pockets.

The error on the side pocket
is pretty bad.

In eighth place is Fauve.

Your pockets weren't great,
your hem is a nightmare.

Matthew is seventh, Lizzie is sixth,

Lauren is fifth, Tony fourth

and Mia is third.

In second place...

...is Vicki.

Really well sewn. What can I say?
Thank you.

Which means first place is Asmaa.
MOUTHS: Thank you.

APPLAUSE

Pretty much not a stitch
out of place.

Really, really well done.

Congratulations! You've completed
the first challenge

of reduce, re-use, recycle week.

Tea on the terrace will be comprised
of half-eaten snacks

from my dressing room! Enjoy.

♪ I've just come down
From the Isle of Skye

♪ I'm no' very big
and I'm awfu' shy

♪ And the lassies shout
when I go by...

Anybody want coffee?
♪ ..Donald, where's your troosers?

They spotted the hem and
I knew the hem was a mess anyway.

I think if the cameras
weren't around

I would have cut it off and hid it
in my pocket. But there we are.

When I saw the pattern,
I was slightly anxious

because I've not done
that sort of thing before.

But I just went for it,
and it worked.

It was a bit of a nightmare today.

I got thrown out completely
by the pockets so I'm feeling like

I've got to raise my game
going into the transformation.

♪ Donald, where's your troosers? ♪

Welcome to the transformation.

Now, recycling is
all about transformation.

Using a broken watering can
as a doorstop.

Pretending old yoghurt
is a posh cheese.

Calling something vintage when
he's actually just your grandad.

What we doing this week, Patrick?

We reckon you're going to have
bags of fun with this challenge.

CONTESTANTS GASP

Oh! Oh, I love it.

We're giving you tote bags!

Now, many of us will have
piles of these at home.

Whilst in many ways they are
more environmentally friendly

than plastic bags,
they do have up to 100 times

the carbon footprint.
So you need to use them lots

to get the full benefit. We'd like
you to use them to make a top.

What's important to us is how you
combine the colour and the print.

Now, the judges are off
to the local landfill

to find Esme's old hard drive

because she forgot
she left some Bitcoin on there.

So they won't know whose is whose,
but they will come back much richer.

See you later, guys.

You have 90 minutes,
and your time starts now.

♪ I was walking my bag through
a 20-storey nonstop storm

INDISTINCT CHATTER

Has anyone got any blue
that they didn't want?

No, I've gone for the greens again.

♪ My bag, me and my good thing
are just about as close as can be. ♪

I was quite excited to see
we were working with tote bags.

Because they're built to last,

they can hold some sort of shape.

I love a tote bag. I've got a tote
bag down there that I've made.

This week is basically what
transformations are, really,

aren't they, like using old things
and making them into new things.

So Esme, tote bags.

Most of these ones here
look like they're made out of

cottons and linens,
things like that.

There's a huge variety
of colours and patterns.

It's really crucial
what they choose to put together.

With the straps,
they could do all sorts of things.

They could make decorations,
they could do bows.

I think we would give them
extra credit for using

as much of the bag as possible

in an interesting and creative way.
Yeah, definitely.

So I've just picked up six bags.

There's a bit of shocking pink,
there's green,

there's lots of neons in there.

Don't know what I'm doing with them
just yet.

All I know is we have to do a top.

I'm thinking a corsety type
with a peplum.

That's the same colour as that,
and that's the same as that.

It all matches.

Hiya, Lizzie! Hiya, Sara.

What does the B stand for?

I'm making a utility top
for my allotmenting.

Ooh! So it's for the bees!

That's the back, and then I think,
get these old flamingos in there.

Yeah, definitely get a front
if it's for the allotment

or they will ring the police.

I'm going to try and use

as much fabric from these tote bags
as I can.

I've gone for three colourful.

One side of this is going
to be very neutral,

the other side is going
to be very bright.

I've got a real bizarre
array of patterns.

I thought they'd
kind of go together?

I'm going to do like a weaved top.

I'm making a puffy blouse

but it's going to have
front yoke gathers

so it sort of comes out like this,

bit of a sleeve, and I'm going to
match some of that on to there

to connect some of the patterns.
Ah, sounds brilliant.

I went for some florals,
went for some blue tones.

I mean, this bit's ready.

Shall I just stand there
and see if they give me a mark?!

My plan is a corseted base
with like a puffy sleeve.

I really like the animal print

and I thought to offset it
I'd put in some bright colours

and like channel
almost like the '80s.

I'm doing a festivally top
kind of vibe.

I just kind of grabbed
as many as I could that matched.

I'm just a pink and yellow girl,
I think.

This is calling to me.

It's got this nice button feature
down the front.

That'd look like a really nice
sort of top piece.

You're just going straight in.

Yeah. I need something at the bottom
because I need drama.

I don't know what planet this is,

because you wanted drama at the
bottom and that might be Uranus!

HE CHUCKLES

Oh. You are halfway through!

Halfway through? Oh, sugar!

I'm going to attach some straps

with a little ruffle sleeve
with a bit of volume

so it sort of stands up.

I think that would look good.

Many of the sewers are using

the original straps
from their tote bags...

Ready-made halter neck.

...to add details to their top.

Right, I'm going to do the neck
binding with all my straps.

Not even time for pinning.

Very brave.

I've got hemming
on the bottom to do,

I've got to get the strap on,
I've got to get a zip in.

This is like nothing I've probably
ever made before in my life.

I'm going to use the shoulder straps
from the bag.

You've put little loopy holes -
that's very sultry. Yeah.

Is this how the person
will get it on?

I'm hoping it will just go
over their head.

I think it will go
over their heads, yeah.

Especially when they've got
such a small head! Yeah!

THEY LAUGH

15 minutes, everybody!

Loads of time...

LAUGHS

I'm just going to use
some of the other fabric

to add to the back panel.

Don't know how well
it's going to work.

With their tops assembled...

I have got a concealed zip.

...the sewers can add
the finishing details.

Ideally you'd want to match
this binding up

but we haven't got time for that.

I'm almost done with the base bit.

I might sacrifice the sleeves
and just focus on the binding.

So what I've just done is
I've just popped a zip in.

It's just a concept
if you can't get in and out of it.

I am now working on the peplum,

then I'll do the belt
with all the leftover straps.

So I'll use this one
to do a ruffly open back.

Can I get it over the bum? Ooh!

I'll be able to show you a sleeve

if you can bear the suspense
for another few seconds. God...!

I'm going to close my eyes
so it's like a big reveal. Ooh!

And we've got...
a sleeve with a B on it.

Oh, my gosh!
That looks so cool.

I think it's too simple.

I don't know what to do.
The challenge is not me.

One minute left!

Oh, come on.

Oh...

Press...

I can't think
how I put this on now.

I hope it fits.

Yes, it does.

Neckline's a bit baggy.

Needles up, sewers!
That's your time.

Bring your mannequins forward

and muddle them up like
they've moved to a new borough

and they're confused
about the recycling rules.

I think this is
the best we're going to do.

Oh, it's done.

What's done is done.

Oh, whoa!

Oh, Matthew, yours is so you. Mm!

I see it as like Kat Slater.

Yes. Pat Butcher
and Kat Slater had a love child.

I'll... I'll take that.

♪ The handbags and the glad rags

♪ That your grandad had to sweat
so you could buy... ♪

Once a selection of
pre-loved tote bags -

now transformed into nine
unique tops in just 90 minutes.

Release the judges!

Patrick and Esme have no idea
whose top is whose.

What do you think?

You could say they're
tote-ally awesome!

♪ The handbags and the glad rags

♪ That your poor old grandad
Had to sweat to buy you. ♪

It's extremely well-constructed.

I love the graphic nature of it

and this big shocking pink back.

I like where they've placed
the bag handles.

I think it's terrific.
I think it really works very well.

This person has really considered
where they put the fabrics.

So we've got stripes here,
we've got a stripe on the cuff.

From the front I love it.

I just don't think this green
and blue works terribly well.

You could have a pair of knickers
and this is the bikini top.

I like the way
they've used the colours.

I think it fits the model
extremely well.

Got a little elastic section
in the back.

I think it's quite dramatic.

I think it's really nice.

So I actually think
this is pretty wearable.

I like it. It's got a slight
Bet Lynch vibe to it, but on acid.

MATTHEW SNORTS

I really like the way that
they've used the neon sections

to give it a little pizzazz.

I love the way
the colours work together.

I really like the shape.
I love these dramatic shoulders.

I'm quite intrigued at how
they've managed to keep this up.

They have used the straps to
form the straps over the shoulder

and the belt.
It's got tons of drama.

It looks actually very wearable.

Right. So how many bags...?

You've got the blue.

And you've got sections
of tartan in the front. Yes.

You've got a section of
a different tartan in the back.

I feel the colour combination
doesn't work.

But it's quite smart
the way they've used the handles

to create these interlocking loops. Yes.

And that's echoed with
this plaited strap on the back. Yes.

I think the two fabrics
go really nicely together.

I mean, they're obviously
a horrible clash,

but actually it works
quite well for me.

I think that's imaginative.

I like the idea of using
the handle as a binding. Yeah.

I just think because it's very stiff

it's sitting away from the body
in a slightly awkward way.

I do like the contrast between
the very graphic black and white

and this blue.

I think it's been well engineered.

The fabrics work
really well together.

Yeah, I think it's good.

Patrick and Esme must now rank
the tops from worst to best.

In ninth place,
the palm trees and the bees.

That's Lauren.

We liked the shape of it,
it was just that using the binding -

which was a clever idea -

actually makes it a little bit
lumpy and bumpy on the front.

In eighth place, the tartan top.

That's Vicki.

I liked your loops.
I'm not very keen on the colour.

Tony is seventh,

Fauve is sixth,

Matthew is fifth,

Tony is fourth
and third is Mia.

In second place...

...the top with the B on the sleeve.

That's Lizzie.

Love the colour combination.

I think it looked great.

Thank you.

Which means that first place...
is Asmaa.

APPLAUSE

Somebody's having a good day.

We asked you to think
really carefully about

how you placed the pattern
and the colour from the bag,

and this is the perfect example
of how to do that.

We loved it, well done.
Thank you so much, thank you.

Well done, everyone,
you've worked so hard

and you've made it through
your first day of

reduce, re-use, recycle week.

And we'll see you here tomorrow,

when you're going to be
turning these tops back into bags!

Only joking. Love you, bye!

Yay! I got it!

Asmaa, you superstar.

I was first!

Can't really believe it.

I was really proud of my garment.

I'll probably take it home
and give it to my niece

because her name begins with a B
so she'd be delighted with that.

I'm just going to spend the evening

just trying not to dwell on
the fact that I've come last

and just take tomorrow as a new day.

Let's bounce back,
let's be positive,

let's smash out a made-to-measure.

Thank you very much. Mm-hm!

Ooh!

MUSIC: Wouldn't It Be Nice
by The Beach Boys

Just one challenge remains

before the sewers find out who
will reclaim Garment Of The Week...

All right?

...and who will be reduced
to the recycling bin.

Here we go again.

Welcome back, sewers.
It's time for made-to-measure.

The judges would like you to
make an outfit

from second-hand
crocheted blankets.

You can make whatever you want

but they want the blankets
to go from warm to worn.

You have five hours for this
challenge and your time starts now!

OK.

We're going to move your bust up slightly.

Might take the dart a bit higher
but that should be fine.

The sewers have all had to source
the crochet blankets

from charity shops
and second-hand online stores.

Somebody's loved one has made
this blanket for them especially.

But as every crochet blanket's
so unique...

Because they're all
handmade crochet blankets

you can't just buy two of it.

...this will be the first time
they've had a chance

to make their outfits.

Every crocheted item is
going to be slightly different

depending on who's made it,
what stitches they've used.

Crochet's made up of series
of interlinked loops -

so that's made up of three stitches,
three stitches and three stitches

and it joins into a chain
along the top.

Crochet is often likened
to knitting,

but instead of using two needles
it's created using one hook.

The most common beginner's project
and most familiar patterns

are colourful blocks called
granny squares.

So this challenge is hot -
both in literal and fashion terms.

Is that why you chose it?

Yeah, it is having a real moment
at the moment, crochet.

A lot of designers have
picked it up again.

But the crochet blankets
that we've asked them to source

will come in all sorts of
different designs.

Some very classical squares -
you can get them in diamonds.

How they use the pattern
in their crochet

and how they use the colour

is critical to how
this garment will look.

So is crochet a difficult fabric
to work with, then?

I think so, yeah.

Like all knitted fabrics,
there is the potential

for it to stretch in a way
that might be unusual.

They could stabilise the fabric
with a bit of interfacing

which would fundamentally change
the nature of it.

Depending on what garment
they're going to make,

how open the crochet is,

then if it's open
you'll definitely need a lining.

Hm, this is a sort of deviously
difficult challenge, isn't it?

It's a very difficult challenge. Yeah.

This challenge is very much me.

I love crochet -
as you can see I wear crochet a lot.

I used crochet to make
this lovely harness.

Like sewing,
crocheting is having a renaissance,

but its fashion heyday
was in the late '60s and '70s.

There was one craftsperson
in particular

who was pivotal in bringing crochet
to the upper echelons

of the capital's music scene.

In 1967, a young Swedish artist
called Birgitta Bjerke

arrived in London

and she started selling her wares
from a tiny vintage clothing stall

at Chelsea Antiques Market.

Chelsea Antiques Market was the
place to be for the latest fashion,

and stars like Jimmy Cliff
and Roger Daltrey

were soon drawn to
Birgitta's flamboyant designs.

In 1968, Eric Clapton wore

a specially commissioned
Birgitta jacket.

He appeared in one of
her bright orange creations

for a performance with John Lennon

at The Rolling Stones'
Rock And Roll Circus.

The garment was typical of
Birgitta's bold style.

Today we've seen a resurgence
of fashions from the '60s and '70s

both off and on the runway,

and the crochet trend
has been really boosted

by celebrities like
Harry Styles and Tom Daly.

Morning, Vicki. Hi.
What are you doing there?

I'm making a dress. Good.

Tell us about the blankets
that you're using.

So I've got a couple.

This was a blanket I was given
when my eldest daughter was a baby.

And you're going to chop it up?

I know. I'm sacrificing it!

Vicki's bohemian dress
will feature granny squares.

Her daughter's blanket
will form the raglan sleeves

which will be connected
with a scallop trim.

I wanted to use this as a trim
for details.

You think it needs it?

Well, I think the overall scheme,

already you've got a lot
going on. Yeah...

Like, you don't have to
throw everything at it.

Well, I'm going to see how it goes.

While Vicki is using
three blankets...

That's very autumnal.

...Lauren is taking
a different approach.

How many blankets have you got?
I've got one. Just one?

So it should look uniform.
Completely... h*m*, yeah.

Yes, exactly.
Tell us what you're making.

We are doing a wide-leg
culotte-style trouser,

then a little top to go with it.

Lauren's crop top will be paired
with box-pleated culottes

featuring an elasticated waistband
and chevron hemline.

I have practised sewing
and cutting the crochet

because that's the bit that
I think I'm worried about.

Unless they take care
when cutting into the crochet...

If I snip at the right place carefully...

...it could fray and fall apart.

The problem with crochet is
you can't just cut it.

It's all in vertical rows

so if I cut at an angle
it's going to fall apart.

I've just snipped along the chain.
We've got a nice neat edge.

Kind of using the edges
of the blanket to help me

not have to sew
as many difficult seams.

The masking tape should hold
all the raw edges

and then you're good to go
with the cutting.

That's what masking tape is for.

It's not for like to do clean edges
in painting,

it's for crocheting a dress!

Fauve's paying homage
to the swinging '60s

with a long-sleeved, collared dress

that will feature chevrons
along the hem,

and she's adding flower fastenings
for that vintage feel.

Remember the white dress
that Twiggy wore

with the collar
and the fitted sleeves?

I don't specifically, no. OK.

Well, that was the style.

I wasn't in the '60s so...
I'm hoping so. Nor was I.

Only one of us here was.

Tony's also been influenced
by this fashion era.

So, it's a stripy... Stripy dress
with chevron jacket. ..one way.

It's very 1960s,
early '70s inspired.

I mean, she looks a bit like me!
There you go.

I do have a face.
You do have a face. This is true.

Tony's striped shift dress

will be paired with
a coordinating chevron cardigan.

I've written three chevron rows

so that when this goes across
and I join it

we should get a lovely chevron
going all the way round.

I'm really excited
to be using a pattern

that's been handed down to me
from my nan.

I am making
a 1950s Dior-style dress.

I'm hoping I can do it justice.

Matthew's dress will be made
using three different blankets.

It will be constructed from
a separate bodice and skirt

and finished with a bow.

How are you going to get the crochet
to keep its shape?

I'm going to make
a lining of a skirt

but it's going to be
attached at the waist

just to give that extra stiffness. OK.

Finish is the crucial thing,
isn't it?

HIGH-PITCHED: Yeah.
I'm really good at finishing!

Like Matthew,
Mia is lining her outfit,

but she's also added interfacing -

an additional layer applied
to the inside of her blanket.

So you've fully stabilised
your crochet? Yeah.

Tell us what you're making.

So I'm using this pastel-y blanket
to make a little oversized jacket

and then a little mini skirt.

Mia's box jacket and mini skirt will
feature symmetrical granny squares

with contrasting sleeves,

and she's adding a collar
and toggles for the fastenings.

And how are you finishing
the neckline?

It's got a little collar
for the neck. Oh, right.

And I think I'm going to -
if I've got time -

crochet a line around the neck
just to finish it off. Ooh, wow.

Very elevated.

Phew. I think I'm going to have
a swig of tea

and I'm going to begin
some construction.

So this is the front panel
of the bodice.

Once these edges are bound,
it'll look something like a dress.

So that's one pleat done.

Hello, Asmaa. Hello. Hiya.

So what is it? A cloak, is it?
It's a coat.

Ooh. Well at least that's
a very sensible use of the fabric

because it's nice and warm, yeah.
It is, isn't it?

Asmaa's calf-length
Regency-style coat

will be gathered at the waist
to give it volume,

and she'll decorate the front
section with crocheted flowers.

I think it could be tricky to sew.
Yeah, it is tricky,

but I took this... It's quite chunky
and lumpy, isn't it? It is.

I might live to regret it yet again.

Oh, this is thick!

I am currently attaching
my bodice to the skirt,

but there's a lot of material.

The needle is just not enjoying it,
and neither am I.

Sewing machines aren't meant to have
thick crochet going through them.

My needle keeps coming out.

Ah, to the crochet gods,
please be in my favour. Thank you.

MECHANISM JUDDERS, BEEPS

You are halfway through.

Time flies when you're having fun!

What I've done here is gather the
corner into the top of my sleeve.

It gives it a nice 3D shape.

Ooh.

So it's going to be, this is
going to be a cropped b*mber

with a massive hood. Gorgeous.

And then I'm making a dress

and it's going to be
a bit fitted there

and a bit flarey at the bottom.

Lizzie's ankle-length dress

made from a multicoloured
diamond-striped blanket

will feature pleats on the front,
opening out into an A-line skirt.

She'll pair it with
a b*mber jacket-style hooded top.

So it's like Little Red Riding Hood
revamped...!

LIZZIE LAUGHS

Dance tent Glastonbury.
Yeah. Going out a bit saucy. Yeah.

Also embracing the festival feel
is Tony.

I'm making a crop top and some
trousers inspired by a festival.

So a festival vibe going on there -
puffed sleeved, big baggy trousers.

These will be one leg each
of the trousers. Oh, I say. OK.

So we're going to have one granny
square on one side... Yeah.

...another granny square
on the other side. Yeah.

Tony's festival-inspired outfit
will be made from three blankets.

His wide-leg trousers
with exposed elastic waistband

will be teamed with
an off-the-shoulder

elasticated crop top
featuring puff sleeves.

I actually learned to crochet
at a festival. Did you?

It was one of those rainy days
at the festival... Yeah.

...and there was the WI tent.

And you took yourself in and...
And that was it!

So I thought... You were hooked.
Boom-boom! Hooked! Ha-ha-ha!

How are we doing? Moment of truth.

With their garments taking shape...

One sleeve... phew!

...some of the sewers are deploying
their own crochet skills.

When this semicircle gathers in,
with the long crochet stitch,

what you get is
a lovely billowing hood.

It's very segregated at the moment.

The crochet club
is the two Tonys...

This is taking more time but it's
going to give me a better finish.

So monotonous!

...Asmaa, Lizzie, Vicki, Mia.

So that leaves me and Lauren
not part of the crochet club.

You don't crochet, do you, Laur?
I can knit.

Oh, Jesus, we've got
a further segregation.

Please let me be part of your g*ng.

MOUTHS WORDS

You have one hour left!

Look how gorgeous you look.
MODEL GIGGLES

I'm really happy with it overall.

It's a nice, boxy fit like I wanted.

I'm just conscious to get this done

because I've still got
a skirt to make.

Many of the sewers have created
a two-piece outfit.

I'm doing my top now.
I've done the back

and then I'm going to have a front

and then I'm going to
sew up the sides as well.

This is the dress.

I have created a box pleat

opening out into
a more A-line skirt.

There's so much skirt!

The most important thing is to
make sure that seam is lined up.

The blanket is
quite an open lattice.

It's just dropping with the weight.

I've come to realise that
perfection isn't always achievable.

SHE LAUGHS

The cardigan's stressing me out
a little bit.

I've just sewn the bodice bits
around the wrong way

and now I've got to unpick them.

But it's probably going to
have distorted the pieces.

Look - that's the front piece now.

How sorry does that look for itself?

I'm not quite sure
what I'm going to do.

Unless we do the cardigan
without the stripes -

that is the other option

because I've probably got
enough blue to do that.

As David Attenborough would say -
time is running out.

You have 30 minutes left.

Enough?

Oh, my goodness!

Rushing to get a skirt done.

Just neatening up the waistband.

You don't want things
to stretch out of place.

Matthew is quite a long way behind
his original plan.

It's quite lumpy and bumpy,
particularly at the waist seam.

I hate this machine.

Tony W is in a bit of a panic.

The cardigan hasn't gone well
at all.

Now has a section with no chevron.

I haven't got time to spare.
I barely ever bloody finish.

Fauve's making something
quite simple.

If I can tidy up that collar...

It's not sitting where
I want it to sit at all.

Well, it doesn't look great
at this point in time.

A few of them just have made
serious errors of judgment

in the overall design
of their pieces.

Now I'm on essentially what is the
final construction of the trousers

which is fitting
the exposed waistband.

I've got to stretch the elastic,
but not the crochet.

There's an element of risk
when I'm doing it.

I've done the scallops!

If they say, "Why did you do them?"

Because now my rebellious streak's
coming out.

It was too thick
to go through the machine

so I'm just giving it a quick
hand-sew so then there's no gaps.

It's not the neatest of finishes
but it will be finished.

This is the moment
you don't accidently want

to sew over the wrong bit.

That stays there.

That goes down there.
MACHINE BEEPS

Come on.
Are you DJing? Yeah.

Oh, yeah, because this is like...

♪ Do-do-do-dooo. ♪
...we're in a dance tent.

And then you hit the pedal
and the beat drops.

15 minutes!

Oh, is there a chance of
an extra ten minutes going spare?

Anyone? Anyone?
I'll buy you a drink.

I need to quickly do
some little toggle holders.

I am trying to attach my flowers
to the front.

It's going to be random,
to be honest.

My collar's got a raw edge, but
there we are. This is so scruffy.

I've still got a cardigan now.
It's got blue at the front.

Won't be what I wanted,
but it will be an outfit.

Five minutes left!

Argh!

This is terrifying.

Just doing the bottom
of the button placket.

It's pulling a bit.

I am just sewing together
the body of the bow

and then hopefully if I've got time
I will be able to attach it.

That's the dress. Where's Jemma?
Jemma!

If you can come behind here a sec?

Let's not watch, guys... Boys!

One minute left!

Let's just get it on.

Please, God!
CHUCKLING

I'm quite concerned about this.
No, you don't need to be.

What's this? It's finished,
isn't it? No, this was the bow.

Matthew, it doesn't need a bow,
does it?

Yes. What...?
Put that down right now!

You are not helping me right now!

Excuse my hand. Wait, no, I've lost
the sleeve because you're too tall.

Oh. Where's your arm gone?

Super job.

Needles up, sewers.
That is your time.

Get your models all wrapped up
for the catwalk.

Yes!

I think I need to go to bed.

OK. Fab.

I think my bow is a big baggy.

I think it's stretched.

Bbrrr.

♪ I'll get the blanket
from the bedroom

♪ And we'll go walking
once again... ♪

Second-hand crocheted blankets

transformed into nine striking
outfits in just five hours.

♪ And lay the blanket
on the ground. ♪

Lizzie, the jacket is
absolutely terrific.

The quality of finish
throughout is impeccable.

The arm is tight, we've got a puff.

I like this shape at the back.

I also really like that we've got
this bonkers multicoloured dress

and just a simple, plain red jacket.

That juxtaposition of the two
works really nicely.

The position of those pleats
just feels a little off.

They're creating a slightly odd flow
to the shape of the dress.

You've really thought about this,

and a lot of it was hand-sewn.

I think it looks great.

WHISPERS: Well done, Lizzie.
Thank you.

♪ Everything is changing
And I've been here for too long

♪ Going through the same things
I've been hurt and done wrong. ♪

The shape of the top is terrific.

All of the edges
you've crocheted yourself.

It's attention to detail
that I think was really worthwhile.

Trousers too -
I love the big giant granny squares

and what is great is
you've got all of the lines

are all going perfectly horizontally
around the body.

Ah! So you've inserted
the elastic

between the crochet and the lining

so it's not scratchy at all. No.

ELASTIC PINGS

Ooh! Sorry!

It's definitely elastic!

I'm saying no more.

♪ Under dreaming spires
to Itchycoo Park... ♪

The choice of garment and fabric
don't work well together.

I don't quite understand
why we've got huge white flowers.

I feel it doesn't work.

From the back it's much better.

The skirt has got some shape to it

and I think it feels much more
of a whole piece.

Even if you'd had another two hours

I don't think this would have ever
looked like a really lovely garment.

Thank you.

♪ It's all too beautiful

♪ It's all too beautiful. ♪

I like your choice of fabric
for the main body.

It all really works
except the sleeves.

The scalloped edge, you could have
given it more prominence

by leaving the sleeves off altogether.

It's still pretty good.

I love all the colours in it.

Just doing something slightly
different with the sleeve,

you'd have really had
a knockout dress.

♪ Red rain is coming down

♪ Red rain... ♪

I very much like the pleats.

I think it makes the culottes
hang nicely.

As a coordinated outfit
I think it looks very chic.

I think you've done a very nice
finish to the top... Thank you.

...and at the bottom
you've very wisely

used the pointy bits
on the edge of the blanket.

The neatness of the top
with the flare of the culotte

works really, really nicely.

I think it's really stunning.
Thank you so much.

♪ She drives me crazy
Ooh-ooh

♪ Like no-one else
Ooh-ooh

♪ She drives me crazy... ♪

You've had to replace the chevron
front with a plain blue front

and because of that it sort of

interrupts the flow of
the whole ensemble.

I prefer the look of it
from the back

which suggests that if it had
had those chevrons on the front

it would have looked
more considered.

I like the fullness at the back
and how it hangs away from her body.

The fit of the dress is very good.

You've crocheted around
the arm holes and the neck hole.

I think that's a nice detail, actually.

♪ Girl, I want to be with you
all of the time

♪ All day and all of the night. ♪

Fauve, I really like these
dramatic blue and white chevrons

on the garment.

It is a little untidy
around the attachment of the collar

and the top of the neck opening.

Putting these covered poppers

must have been the last thing
you did,

and it's a shame
you've got a tuck here.

But overall I think
the fit looks really good.

I mean, the sleeves I would say
are maybe fractionally long,

but that's possibly just because

the whole thing
has been drooping a touch.

It is a shame we've got
this little tuck in the front.

♪ She was a long cool woman
in a black dress

♪ Just a 5'9 beautiful, tall. ♪

The join between the bodice
and the skirt... is bad.

That panel there and that panel
there are so different in size.

Also you've got bumps in the seams.

The bottom hem is quite uneven.

What happened to the bow?
Time. Time. Time.

There's lots that I like about it.

The charcoal, the grey and the red
is a really nice combination.

With the bow here,

the whole thing would have then
tied together better.

I had a real fight.

I went through three needles
and it kept beeping.

I felt like I was working with
R2-D2.

♪ Got what it takes to satisfy

♪ You got what it takes
to set my soul on fire

♪ Whoa-oh, oh, yeah
You got what it takes for me. ♪

I very much like
the way you've left

the original edges on the blanket.

You've really thought about how
all of these pieces go together.

I love this.

I really like the colours

and though you've just got
cream sleeves,

the type of crochet goes
very well with the body.

It has impact.

You've ex*cuted it
really to perfection.

It's incredibly elegant,
incredibly elevated.

The finish is amazing. Well done.
Thank you.

Well done. Thanks.

I'm really happy with
how I've ranked this week.

I feel like this week
I've been the least confident

so it's quite nice to do well in a
week where you don't feel as good.

I'm having to fight again.
I don't want to fight.

I want to try another week to
try and get up there early on.

If I got to stay,
yeah, it would mean a lot.

I don't feel safe... again.
Every week!

I'm just hoping that
I can get through.

Just a good job
I've got a sense of humour!

Well, what an educational week
it's been.

We've learned that tote bags
have a big carbon footprint

and you can't recycle
live plutonium.

But what about the sewers -
how are they getting on?

We've got two people in contention
for Garment Of The Week.

Mia - absolutely exceptional.

Beautiful.
Goes together, both parts.

I love it.
It looks a bit Chanel-like.

Lizzie is absolutely
in that mix as well.

The jacket is a work of art.

It's so beautifully constructed.

It's such a great
and interesting shape.

It's certainly between the two.

Well, let's talk about
the other end of things.

At the start of today we were
concerned about Lauren and Fauve.

Lauren delivered
a fantastic made-to-measure.

I loved it.
It was super chic.

We both like Fauve's
made-to-measure.

Not sure it was stellar enough

to take her completely
out of contention

so I think she still
stays in the mix.

Matthew's dress
was all over the place.

The back didn't line up.

There should have been a bow that
tied the whole thing together. Yes.

Without it, it doesn't feel like
a cohesive garment. One garment.

Both Matthew's and Fauve's pattern
challenges were full of errors.

So I think it's a choice
between Fauve and Matthew.

Well done on surviving
reduce, re-use, recycle week.

We may not have saved the planet yet

but your clothes,
they're all going to be reutilised

by Patrick and his dance troupe!

GIGGLING

LAUGHTER

Patrick, which was your favourite?

Our garment of the week
this week is...

...Mia.

Mia, it was such
a wonderful combination.

There were so many
beautiful elements.

The whole thing was
so perfectly thought through

and beautifully ex*cuted.

Thank you. Well done.

As the weeks go on,
it gets harder and harder

to see any of you go home.

This week the person going home is...

...Matthew.

Aww...

I'm disappointed to be going,
but actually surprised as well.

I thought I'd be out in week two!

It's disappointing to see Matthew go
because, of all of them,

he's possibly one of
the most creative.

He certainly is the boldest.

This week,
his execution has let him down.

I know that I'm not
technically brilliant and...

but I can get by,

but I just loved the fact
I was able to just... be free.

You are incredible.

You are incredible, mate.
So brilliant.

I think the thing that's made me
feel proud the most is

staying true to how I am.

And I think it's really important to
just have representation of people,

especially for kids these days,
they need to see otherness,

and there's nothing more other
than this little weirdo.

Ooh!

Well done, Matthew.
Well done, Matthew.

And well done, Mia.

Oh, two garments of the week.

Week four, that's quite good.
I'm quite proud of that.

I can't believe that's actually
happened. It's so strange.

Mia's won garment of the week
because it was beautiful.

It felt to me like a Chanel suit.

You haven't given me a hug.

CONTESTANTS: Aww!

Next time...

La-la-la-la-la!

...it's art week.

Just an artiste, you know?

The sewers make
modernist art skirts...

It's all just crazy.
CHUCKLES

...change canvases into clothing...

Are you making a godet
out of a painting?!

...and create garments inspired
by the Surrealist movement.

It's from my dreams.

Who will have a nightmare?

Massacring feathers at the moment.

And whose will be a dream come true?

If I even come top three
I'm running through a canvas.

Yeah. Oh, great,
OK, that one's still up.

I'll go straight through the hole.