Spotted on the Sewing Bee


Series 5 - Episode 3 - 1970's week

Last nights episode of the sewing bee saw the contestants tackle challenges on the theme of 1970's fashion. I like these more loose themes as it open up for more possibility.

The pattern challenge focused on making a pair of flares with classic features like a back yoke and fly front. I love how some of them used nice patterned fabric for the pocket linings - I do that all the time with any off cuts that I have, or sometimes I'll even get just a little bit of liberty tana lawn and use that.

Wide legged trousers

You might be feeling like the traditional flare or bell bottom is a but much for you but wide leg trousers are really popular right now and there are some lovely pattern out there that fit that trend.

I spotted lots of cord being used last night for that challenge too and the non-stretch Robert Kaufmann cord we stock would be perfect. It comes in lots of lovely colours with new shades arriving this week so keep an eye on the just arrived section to see them!

Get the notions

We stock a lovely range of metal teethed zips that are perfect for jeans or corduroy trousers. Need some jeans buttons and rivets? We've got them too! And make sure your button doesn't pop off by securely attaching it with the vario pliers. Check out my youtube video of when I was finished off my jeans and showing how to use this amazing tool!

Max it out

The showstopper challenge this week was all about the maxi dress. These styles looked amazing and I love the floaty and breezy fabrics that the contestants were using. Viscose and rayon are perfect for achieving this look. You can also use certain types of polyester, which is probably what was used in the actual 70's, but it can be a bit sweaty and static so faced with the choice I'd go for the viscose/rayon ones.

Here are my pattern picks for creating a floor length maxi dream!


Find your files

Your digital files and video links can be accessed through your order history in your G&G account. Simply check your Order History to find your Order Assets, which include links to all files and videos.


Tips on how to store and save your files and videos

There are a number of ways that you can access your files and videos for easy reference in the future. 

In your email inbox
We recommend creating a folder in your inbox to file the order confirmation email so that you can easily locate it in your inbox in the future. This is one way to be able to easily find your videos in your own inbox.

If you have accidentally deleted an order confirmation email and would like it to be resent to your inbox, please email us info@guthrie-ghani.co.uk and we can manually resend it to you. 

A saved playlist on Youtube

When you view a Hints and Tips video on Youtube, and are logged into the Youtube platform, you can save this video to your own playlist.

This playlist can be set to be a private playlist that you can view and all of the videos you have access to as part of a Sewing Society Kit or you have purchased as a stand alone video can be saved together here. 

Create a playlist

To create a playlist when you are logged into Youtube, click the three dots icon that is under the video next to the share button. A menu will appear, click on save.

Add to Playlist

A window will pop up with a list of all of your play lists (if you have any) as well as an option to + New playlist. Click on this button.

Private Playlist

Type in the name of your play list, here I’ve called mine Sewing Society Top Tips videos and I’ve set it to private, so only I will be able to view it. Then click on the ‘create’ button.

You can view your playlists and the videos saved within them by clicking on the playlist tab of your youtube profile.


Storing on your device or laptop

You can download the pdf files and save them to your computer or device. You may want to create an electronic filing system for all of your sewing pattern pdf folders. Then within that folder, have different folders for the sewing patterns you own. If you own a lot of PDF files you may want to organise them by sewing pattern company. 

Saving files to a device or computer relies on that computer or device always being accessible and in working order.

Saving to a google drive or cloud storage

You may have access to a google drive or another form of cloud storage such as dropbox that sits on the internet where you can save and store files. This works in the same way as sorting them on a device or computer but when they sit ‘in the cloud’ on the internet it means you can access them from any device as long as you have the login to that ‘cloud’ or drive. 

Within the account area on the g&g website

Your files and videos will be stored under your g&g account, within the order that you originally placed for the files and videos. These can be accessed at any time and the links do not expire. You can navigate to the files and videos by using the steps outlined above. 

We can also recommend that you may wish to make a note in a sewing note book or other other note book that you have of the order numbers that contain your digital files or links.


We hope these tips will help you to easily access the resources you have more easily and as always the g&g team are more than happy to help if you need any assistance at all in locating a specific order or files. Please do reach out to us by email info@guthrie-ghani.co.uk 

Happy Sewing!
The g&g team