In case you've been sewing in a cave... (the Great British Sewing Bee)...

Surely you've heard of The Great British Sewing Bee by now, right?  Well, just in case you haven't, BBC has created the.  most.  delightful.  sewing program ever!  As someone who turned off my TV a year ago, and could easily live without it at all  (although I still watch some shows online and on Netflix), I can hardly believe how taken I am by EVERYthing about this program!

Numerous bloggers have already reviewed it to pieces, so all you need do is google it and you'll find a ton of reviews; all I really want to say is that if you haven't yet heard about it or seen it, and you care just a teeny smidgeon about sewing, find it somewhere online (I've provided some links below) and watch, because it's worth it!  I just finished watching episode #3 (sadly, there are only 4 total), and I realized at one point that I had an ear to ear grin and a smile in my heart as well, the entire way through!  Except for those moments when I paused to shout "Yes!" at someone's success, or "Awwwww" at some sweet comment that a contestant made about someone else, or widened my eyes in concern that someone was goofing up and wouldn't finish a challenge....how is it that you can actually CARE that much about people you don't even know???

But wait!  Some of us do "know" some of the contestants!  (although, if you do, you already know about the show)  There's Ann, who is a revered member of Stitcher's Guild (I admit that I've been on Team Ann since day one).  Here's the thread that's been going on over there since the show started.   And Tilly, of Tilly and the Buttons, a novice sewer but already well-known in the sewing/blogging world.   And Stuart, who makes everyone smile and root for him because he's just too, too adorable!   And Mark, the pierced and bearded truck mechanic who sews his own Victorian steampunk costumes.  And Lauren, the young perfectionist who keeps smiling through her tears of frustration, and, well, everyone on the show!

Why you should watch it, in case you haven't already:

• It's positive, uplifting, entertaining, and educational TV.
• The contestants are genuinely caring and authentic and lovable human beings, not back-stabbing drama queens, like those selected for [koffkoff] so many other reality contestant type programs.   In my experience, this is the reality of the home sewer (and the pros too!)  - the sewing community is loaded with helpful, personable, and delightful people.
• Everyone has a British accent.   (What?  That's not a good enough reason?  It's a jolly good reason, I daresay!)  
• Chances are, you might actually pick up a tidbit about sewing!  Yes, they do share actual tidbits!  There are easy to understand bits for the novice sewer, and even lots of goodies for the intermediate sewer - I've picked up some tips, for sure! 
• Patrick Grant  (yeah well, you've gotta have a little sex appeal, right?)  

Apparently sewing machine sales have increased noticeably in the UK since the program started - and they make no bones about hoping that the show will increase an interest in home sewing.

Here are some links on youtube for the first 3 episodes:

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

(Edited to add a link to the Finale, Episode 4)

One more link, from the woman who had a lot to do with the behind-the-scenes action in the show - here's her blog with insider tips on each episode:  the thrifty stitcher

In fond memory of Siskel & Ebert, I give this show two thumbs WAY up - just watch it already, OK?   Catch up on the first 3 episodes before the finale next Tuesday, and enjoy another boost in the resurgence of home sewing everywhere!