GBSB Bomber Jacket
GBSB stands for Great British Sewing Bee. GBSB is a BBC reality show which features sewists competing in three different categories. Each episode features three challenges within an overall theme. The series starts with 10 or more amateur sewers, with the weakest eliminated each episode. In the Pattern Challenge, the judges give them the same pattern, which they must follow as accurately as possible. In the Alteration Challenge, each sewer is given an identical existing garment to reinvent. In the third Made-to-measure Challenge, the sewers design and create their own garments, and must adjust their patterns to fit human models.
The Bomber Jacket was one of the pattern challenges featured on GBSB in 2020. I made this jacket for the Fall 2020 Collection for my son. I knew right away that I would use the wool fabric from Minerva for this project. I wanted a different look for the ever so popular bomber jacket.
Pattern Review
Pattern Description: Great British Sewing Bee Sustainable Style Book - Bomber Jacket
Pattern Sizing: 34-44. I cut a size 38 and I cut the sleeves on a size 44 for my son’s long arms.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes.
Were the instructions easy to follow? Fairly easy. I wish there were more pictures. I would probably rate this pattern for an advanced sewer because there seemed to be a few steps left out that an advanced sewer would know to do such as trim down excess fabric within the facing. I used bias binding on the inside seams because wool tends to fray (see the last 2 pictures).
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I loved this pattern. My son wanted to take it home before I got pictures of him in it. But I wasn’t having that.
Fabric Used: I used a Tweed Wool Coating fabric in black & grey from Minerva. I also used ribbed knit cuffs for the arm and bottom. This ribbed knit comes on a roll from Hobby Lobby.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: The only change I made was on the bottom ribbed knit. The pattern calls for a ribbed knit that is cut and folded, then sewn to in case the hem. I used ribbed knit on a roll so I had to improvise when sewing the bottom since this type of ribbed knit doesn’t need folding.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, I plan to make a denim one. I would definitely recommend to others.
