The Great Vintage Sindy Sewing Bee Special supplement in partnership with Vintage Sindy Collectors
as shared with
Mam'selle
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The Great Vintage Sindy Sewing Bee
Welcome to The Great Vintage Sindy Sewing Bee where over six weeks, 30+ contestants will craft six outfits. There will be prizes for participation and one grand prize for the winner.
Hosted by Dianne
The Mark Ryden X Barbie Bee (Mattel Creations, 2022): 'Bee' by Mark Ryden (2020)
A dog chew toy becomes 'Sindy Bee'
A word from The Great Vintage Sindy Sewing Bee host Dianne: "I'm a big fan of TV shows like Making the Cut, Project Runway, and of course, The Great British Sewing Bee. I also love fashion shows, art and crafting, so when I saw the Mark Ryden (an American painter dubbed the 'godfather of pop surrealism') X Barbie Bee doll, I knew I had to make one for our Sindy, so I did! Step forward my Sindy Bee... That’s when it hit me - a Sindy Sewing Bee! I then started to think about how it could work. I asked Kellie (the founder of the Vintage Sindy Collectors group on Facebook) what she thought and she loved the idea. I really wanted it to be accessible and inclusive for all: that meant opening it up to all sewing abilities, and being something that could include our international members too. I worked on a plan, as it needed to be affordable for all contestants, and because I like recycling I planned to incorporate old clothes, plush animals and vintage materials. We have 33 contestants signed up. Not everyone will make every element and that’s ok, it’s more important to learn new skills, support each other - and, have FUN." Dianne is an admin in the Vintage Sindy Collectors Facebook Group. She lives in Derbyshire and is a retired community matron.
meet the judges
How the judging will work
Kellie
Judges will score one picture of outfit on the doll each week and assign points for:
Kellie is the founder of the Vintage Sindy Collectors Facebook group.She lives in Portugal and is a professional photographer and Celebrant.
Technicality (max. 3 points ) Design (max. 3 points) Photography (max. 3 points)
Joanne
Each judge will score the design using this format, there are 5 judges so the total will be divided by 5 to give the end score.
Jo, a national award winning bridal gown designer & Couturier loves nothing better than designing for Sindy. Shes lives in Lincolnshire.
If there is a tie then the judges can ask to see more pictures and a secret Sindy fashion template - to help them decide.
Alexandra Alexander is a housewife from Kent. She homeschools 2 out of 5 children under her care.
Anita Anita lives in New Zealand on a sheep, beef and duck farm.
Tanya Tanya is a mum and a Conference & Exhibitions Manger. She live in Peterborough.
*The Mam'selle team have also judged on two separate occasions to cover a judges absence.
6 weeks of projects
1 I’m no plain petal 2 Plush on 3 From me to you Sindy 4 Unique: cut 'n' restyle 5 Camo Girl 6 Fashion Forward: Fashionista
6 weeks, 6 designs Week 1: Freestyle Element with two pieces of fabric (1 plain & 1 floral print). Week 2: Winter outfit or costume made from a stuffed animal, dog toy, or fur cushion. Week 3: Using an item of own clothing create a mini-me, mini-me you'd want to be, or day outfit. Week 4: Make a unique outfit out of dolls clothes (2 different items) & one piece of fabric. Week 5: Make an evening outfit with fabric sent (1 x camouflage & 1 x plain piece). Only extra can be lining and net materials. Week 6: Freestyle Element to crate a fashion forward design using fabrics of own choosing
the great vintage sindy sewing bee prizes include: A custom trophy made by Kellie Two collectors calendars Customised mannequins from @6410catherine with lettering £50 gift card from My Little Customs and so much more
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week one: I'm no plain petal
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week one: leaderboard 1st outfit 10 2nd outfit 7 3rd outfit 28 & outfit 2 4th outfit 3
SCOREBOARD: 1) 4pts 2) 8pts 3) 7.5pts 4) n/a 5) n/a
week one
6) 5.4pts 11) 8pts 16) 3.8pts 21) n/a 26) 5.4pts 31) n/a 7) 8.1pts 12) 6.4pts 17) 4.8pts 22) n/a 27) 5.8pts 32) 5.3pts 8) 4.3pts 13) 5.7pts 18) 6.2pts 23) 7.3pts 28) 8pts 33) 6.8pts 9) 4.1pts 14) 6.5pts 19) 6.8pts 24) 4.8pts 29) 6.7pts 10) 8.5pts 15) 6.2pts 20) 4.1pts 25) 5.8pts 30) n/a
behind the scenes: week one
sketch by Mikala (outfit 19 )
custom design by Sara (outfit 2)
Fifi (outfit 8) moodboard & design by
sketch by Lynn (outit 7)
sketch by Kayleigh (o utfit
27)
custom design by Jane (outfit 17)
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week two: Plush on
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26.
29.
SCOREBOARD: 1) 6.6pts 2) 6.5pts 3) 7.9pts 4) n/a 5) n/a
week two
6) 7pts 21) n/a 26) 5pts 31) n/a 11) 8.2pts 16) n/a 7) 8.1pts 12) 6.6pts 17) 6pts 22) n/a 27) 5.6pts 32) 7pts 8) 4.5pts 13) 6.9pts 18) 7pts 23) 7.4pts 28) 7.7pts 33) 6.8pts 9) 4.2pts 14) 6.4pts 19) 5.4pts 24) n/a 29) 7.6pts 10) 6.9pts 15) 5.4pts 20) 4.7pts 25) 5.9pts 30) n/a
behind the scenes: week two
sketch by Kayleigh (outfit 27)
pattern by Dawn (outit 3)
sketch and design by Liz (outfit 28)
week two: leaderboard 1st outfit 11 2nd outfit 7 3rd outfit 3 4th outfit 18
custom design & sketch by Fifi (outfit 11)
sketch & design by Lynn (outfit 7)
design by Jane (outfit 17)
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7.
week three: from me to you Sindy 8.
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13.
23.
16.
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SCOREBOARD: 1) n/a 2) 7.5pts 3) 8.1pts 4) n/a 5) n/a
6) 6.5pts 7) 8.2pts 8) 5.3pts 9) n/a 10) 7.1pts
week three
11) 5.4pts 16) 5.4pts 21) n/a 26) 6.2pts 31) n/a 12) 7.3pts 17) 8.5pts 22) n/a 27) 5.6pts 32) 5.5pts 13) 6.6pts 18) 5.1pts 23) 7.8pts 28) 8.7pts 33) 7.9pts 14) n/a 19) 6.6pts 24) n/a 29) 7.6pts 15) 7.2pts 20) n/a 25) 6.5pts 30) n/a
behind the scenes: week three week three: leaderboard 1st outfit 28 2nd outfit 17 3rd outfit 7 4th outfit 3 moodboard & design by Alicia (outfit 23)
fit 6) sketch by Diane (out
Sketch by Charlotte B (outfit 15)
sketch & design by Sara F (outfit 2)
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sketch by Fifi (outfit 11)
7.
week four: unique - cut 'n' restyle
11.
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23.
33.
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behind the scenes: week four
sketch & design by Dawn (outfit 3)
Design by Sara (outfit 2)
SCOREBOARD: 1) n/a 2) 7.4pts 3) 6.1pts 4) n/a 5) n/a
6) 5.9pts 7) 8.2pts 8) 5.1pts 9) n/a 10) 7.2pts
week four
11) 6.3pts 16) n/a 21) n/a 26) n/a 31) n/a 12) 7.6pts 17) 7.1pts 22) n/a 27) 5.6pts 32) 5.4pts 13) 4.9pts 18) n/a 23) 8.1pts 28) 8pts 33) 7.1pts 14) n/a 19) n/a 24) n/a 29) n/a 15) 6.1pts 20) 4.9pts 25) n/a 30) n/a
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moodboard & outfits by Fifi (outfit 11)
sketch & outfit by Jane (outfit 17)
week four: leaderboard 1st outfit 7 2nd outfit 23 3rd outfit 28 4th outfit 12
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week five: camo girl
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SCOREBOARD: 1) n/a 2) 8.1pts 3) 7.7pts 4) n/a 5) n/a
week five
6) 6.9pts 11) 7.8pts 16) n/a 21) n/a 26) n/a 31) n/a 7) 8.3pts 12) 8pts 17) 6.7pts 22) n/a 27) 6.6pts 32) n/a 8) 5.3pts 13) 6.7pts 18) n/a 23) 8.5pts 28) n/a 33) 7pts 9) n/a 14) n/a 19) n/a 24) n/a 29) n/a 10) 6.5pts 15) 6.5pts 20) 5.7pts 25) n/a 30) n/a
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behind the scenes: week five
moodboard, BTS & design by Fifi (outfit 7)
sketch by Diane (outfit 6)
design & sketch by Lynn (outfit 7)
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week five: leaderboard 1st outfit 23 2nd outfit 7 3rd outfit 2 4th outfit 12
sketch & design by Helga (outfit 12) sketch, design & BTS by Sara (outfit 2)
sketch & design by Dawn (outfit 3)
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week six: fashionista
15
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behind the scenes: week six
sketch & design by Lynn (outfit 7)
design, BTS & sketch by Fifi (outfit 11)
SCOREBOARD: 1) n/a 2) 8pts 3) 7.9pts 4) n/a 5) n/a
6) 7.2pts 7) 7.5pts 8) n/a 9) n/a 10) n/a
week six
11) 8pts 16) n/a 21) n/a 26) n/a 31) n/a 12) 7.7pts 17) 6.4pts 22) n/a 27) 5.7pts 32) n/a 13) n/a 18) n/a 23) 7.9pts 28) n/a 33) 7pts 14) n/a 19) n/a 24) n/a 29) n/a 15) 6.5pts 20) n/a 25) n/a 30) n/a
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sketch, BTS, Inso & design by Helga (outfit 12)
week three: leaderboard 1st outfit 2 & outfit 11 2nd outfit 23 & outfit 3 3rd outfit 12
outfit & BTS by Sara (outfit 2)
sketch & inspo by Diane (outfit 6)
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One stitch at a time.
You'll get there...
Hints, tips & advice from the Vintage Sindy Sewing Bee entrants. 'Use freezer paper. Place your pattern piece on the non-shiny side to trace around and cut-out. Then shiny side down on your chosen fabric and ironon. It will temporarily stick to the fabric and pulls of with no sticky residue. It can be used about 5 times." SUZANNE
"Use thin (about 0.5cm wide) double-sided tape on the back of your pattern when cutting out small pieces, no pins and the fabric stays smooth and flat." Kristina
Hemline Fast & Tacky Glue Pen, £1.93, www.littlecraftybugs.co.uk
Reynolds Freezer paper, £10, www.hobbycraft.co.uk
'Use two lines of stitching to make a gather as it stays in place better when you attach it.'
FIFI
"Fabric glue. When using a high tack fabric glue use a small artists brush to apply, or try this double-ended glue pen." MIKALA
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> Do a dummy version first and plan it out - the second version often turns out better! > Keep checking the fit as you go. > Do use pre-designed doll patterns but do try adapting them to make something more unique. > Use tailors tacks and baste (tack) everything before sewing, laborious but, helps things not move around. Clip and trim seams as close as possible > Give yourself more seam allowance and proper hems to work with. > Many doll patterns do not use lining, which I prefer, its gives a more polished finish. > IRON - make sure you iron the seams, trim and turn, and a top stitch also helps. > I prefer not use the back/forth stitch to start/end a seam, but hand sew that bit on, as it shows up better.
"I use cling film followed by masking tape to wrap around Sindy to make patterns with. Particularly useful for tighter fitting stuff. You snip it off and then have your basic shape which you can snip into a flat shape to add darts and then add a seam allowance."
LYNN
The Great
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MY SEWING TIPS
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FROM SARA
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"USE BIAS BINDING TO LINE NECKLINES AND ARMHOLES WHEN USING LIGHTWEIGHT MATERIALS."
Jane
Find mini snap fasteners (3-5mm size) on eBay.
"Use tailors chalk. It's easier to draw around the pattern, or mark where armholes/darts etc. need to be on the material. It rubs off easily too." DIANA
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Using organza and fraying fabrics? by FIFI If you want drape use natural fabrics but if you want structure, use nylon based. Use ‘hot fusion’ method to cut out pattern pieces. This involves ‘cutting’ the pieces with a narrow tipped soldering iron rather than scissors. This melts the edges and stops them fraying, but fabric should be laid on glass (I used a piece of wood and that worked fine). You don’t want to fuse it to your cutting mat!
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USE CLEAR THREAD. SMALL HEMS CAN BE TRICKY BUT THIS HOLDS THEM WELL AND MATCHES EVERY COLOUR. THE TRICK IS NOT TO USE LONG PIECES AT A TIME. Briony
Sewing Essentials... for beginners Dressmaking pins & sewing clips from a selection at eBay
A good pair of scissors Pinking shears Stich unpicker / ripper A tape measure on a lanyard Tailors chalk Headed Pins or sewing clips Quality needles & thread Parchment/baking paper for patterns
and, a sewing machine!
Fiskars Professional Scissors, from £19, www.amazon.co.uk Hemline Tape Measure: Retractable with Lanyard, £4.56, https://hollieshaberdashery.co.uk
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The Great Vintage Sindy Sewing Bee... AND THE WINNER IS!
ENTRANT 7: LYNN (48.4pts)
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ENTRANT 23: ALICIA (47pts)
ENTRANT 2: SARA (45.5pts)
JOIN THE GANG! only on facebook The private 'Vintage Sindy Collectors' Group - request to join today!