Ann Rowley of The Great British Sewing Bee

[Lynn Mally]

On sewing blogs, the BBC series "The Great British Sewing Bee" has caused a sensation. Those of us who are part of The Stitcher's Guild on Artisans' Square (http://artisanssquare.com/sg/index.php) are particularly thrilled by the win of the expert seamstress, Ann Rowley, who shares her skills on that site and via Flickr tutorials. She recently offered a step-by-step guide to making Claire Shaeffer's beautiful Chanel-style jacket, Vogue 8804. And if I can toot my own horn a little, I already wrote about her sensational skills on my blog months ago. Read about her here: http://americanagefashion.com/?p=2621

 

[claireshaeffer]

Ann studied with a dressmaker who had worked at Molyneux. C

 

[sewingmachinegirl]

Claire- I want to see that BBC series- I am sure I would love it! I wonder if I can find it online?
The Stitcher's Guild on Artisans' Square sounds fascinating too- is it an international group?
And I must read more on Ann Rowley

G x

 

[retro ruth]

I've been enjoying the Great British Sewing Bee enormously! I knew Ann would win from the first episode. She's a marvel.

 

[sewingmachinegirl]

I found the BBC site so I must watch it, maybe this afternoon even -after a nap ;)

 

[retro ruth]

Sorry but you probably won't be able to watch on the BBC site from outside the UK!

but hopefully the BBC will sell it to some other countries soon.

 

[sewingmachinegirl]

Oh NO, really!! and BBC is only available on a cable channel here, poop!!
Do you think they might release it to buy?

 

[retro ruth]

Quite possibly.

 

[retro ruth]

And here's some stills for your viewing pleasure.

For the final they had to make a luxury evening dress, made to measure, in 8 hours. Here's Ann's final dress, modelled by and made for her daughter:


V8766 by annrowley, on Flickr


4c by annrowley, on Flickr

You can see more of her work on her Flickr Stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7370831@N07/

And here's the lovely Ann herself, moments after winning. She's 81 and has been sewing since she was a child.

 

[joules]

Gayle, I've been watching the episodes on You Tube.

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

What a fantastic show this must be. I hope we can see it here in the USA soon.

Thank you for sharing.

 

[joules]

You can already. Just watch the episodes on You Tube.

 

[sewingmachinegirl]

Gayle, I've been watching the episodes on You Tube.

Oh really I didnt think of You Tube- awesome Joules, I will seek it out there then- I truly have to watch this, I have been thinking about this all day- which is a bit tragic maybe

 

[sarah-jane]

I see a second series has been commissioned. I'm hoping for less machine-based sewing and a more competent field of participants - so that you don't know who's going to win after the first 15 minutes of episode one! Ann was so much better than the rest of them...and had a steely competitive side to her too.

 

[retro ruth]

Totally agree Sarah. With some of them you wondered if they really couldn't find anyone better? I imagine now it's been such as a success, the level of applicants will rise.

 

[Lynn Mally]

Here are some Youtube links-- Many people have posted, so there are others as well
Episode One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8te1WAO20I&playnext=1&list=PLdPQHWnWlCxe_FqZpczwhZFUkNgLocq8q
Episode Two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5trYhyBMuI
Episode Three: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPaCDvog83g
Episode Four: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70k-G0sLoFw

I agree that Ann's skills outshone the others, but I think the show was trying to appeal to a broad audience. Sadly, some bloggers have complained about dowdy old ladies on the show...

 

[sewingmachinegirl]

Thanks for the links Lynn :sunshine:
Heavens still sewing at 81- that's something to aspire to !

 

[retro ruth]

I agree that Ann's skills outshone the others, but I think the show was trying to appeal to a broad audience. Sadly, some bloggers have complained about dowdy old ladies on the show...

Really? How annoying. I particularly loved the fact that it celebrated older people, and was all about skill, not glamour.

 

[sarah-jane]

I found the too-clever-by-half young people quite irritating!

 

[sewingmachinegirl]

me too Sarah, and from watching episode one, I think they need to remove all the floral fabrics from the shelves. I really enjoyed it though, the time frames are really quite tight, especially on a domestic sewing machine.