Happy Monday! Our 9th Annual Sewing Bee starts right now. We are so excited to finally share the first challenge with you and we really hope that all of you reading this will participate.
The Sewing Bee is unlike any other contest we host. It is actually more than just a contest. While we do ask you to push the envelope when it comes to sewing and creativity, it is more about connecting with each other and creating those garments while supporting each other. Many past participants have shared how much this contest means to them. The garments they have created in many rounds from the Bee, have been worn with pride and joy much after the contest is over. It is these stories and these connections which makes this contest such a rewarding experience for everyone involved.
So are you ready for the first challenge? But before you jump right in, please read this whole post very carefully. The Sewing Bee is not like our other contests. The rules are different and each round is judged and selected entries move to the subsequent rounds. The first round is the only round which is open to any member of PatternReview and I highly recommend you enter!
Our Contest Manager, Acmena (Sandra) will also be here to act as your mentor throughout the first and second rounds. By the deadline date, participants must have their submission posted. Taking clear photos and writing detailed reviews of your item will make it a stand-out in this contest. Please read this post to find out what the judges look for, in the reviews for Sewing Bee.
Eligibility
Any member of PatternReview - Free or Friends of PR is eligible to participate in the First Round of the Sewing Bee.
Rules
First, some Sewing Bee specific rules (which are very different than the typical Pattern Review contest). These rules apply to all rounds of the Sewing Bee:
1. One entry per person.
2. Entries will be judged by a panel. For round 1, the panel members are the Contest Committee and Deepika, the founder of Pattern Review.
3. Neither the Contest Manager nor the Contest Committee will interpret the rules for you. Participants are welcome to discuss the possibilities among themselves, but it is ultimately up to each person to decide for themselves what qualifies. Entries that do not qualify will not be considered for judging.
4. Only the selected participants will move on to the next round. The number is based on the quantity of entries received.
5. Feedback (public or private) explaining why specific decisions were made are not provided.
6. All rounds of the Sewing Bee will require photos on live models. If you are reluctant to post a photo of yourself or someone else, do not enter this contest. You MAY cover the face of the model, if you so choose.
7. If you're curious, here's how judging for the Sewing Bee works.
Round 1: Knit Dress with a TWIST
Dates: January 30th, 9:00 AM Eastern Time through February 6th Eastern Time midnight. All times are per the Pattern Review website.
A twist and the Pattern Review Sewing Bee go perfectly together. So round 1 of the Bee is to sew a knit dress with a twist. What twist? You get to decide what twist, and how literally you take that word.
1. Sew, review, and enter a dress between January 30 and February 6, 2023 (time as posted on the Pattern Review website, which uses Eastern Time).
2. The dress must use a knit fabric.
3. Include a 'twist' of some sort in the dress.
4. The entry must be for an adult. Note that it is required that the garment be worn by a person in at least two photos.
5. Write a complete review including photos. The review must be self-contained; no links to blogs or affiliates will be considered as part of the judging. The review should then be linked to the contest page. Note: If you use more than one pattern, your entry should still be one review that covers your entire entry.
6. Describe your twist in your review.
7. The photos included must be sufficient for judging.
Minimum photo requirements:
- A photo that shows a view of the front, worn by a person
- A photo that shows a view of the back, worn by a person
- A photo that shows the twist aspect of the entry
Composite photographs are allowed. More pictures are helpful.
8. You may NOT make any changes to your review or photos after the Round 1 deadline.
9. Failure to adhere to these rules will result in disqualification.
Judging
Judging will be done between Feb 7th-11th. The winner will be announced on Feb 12th. There will be one winner per round.
There will be approximately 50-60 people who advance to round 2, based on their entry into round 1. The judging will be based on adherence to the rules, sewing quality, fit, creativity, review write-up, and overall impression. Since the photographs attached to the review are the only representation of the entry, it is recommended that they be as clear and informative as possible.
Your Judges for this round include the Contest Committee and Deepika (founder of PatternReview) . Judging criteria includes:
1. Follows all contest rules. Failure will result in disqualification and entry will not be judged.
2. Sewing Quality.
3. Garment fit - how well the item fits body.
4. Comprehensive review with pertinent details and photographs that clearly show the garment. While excessive detail is not helpful, information on how the results were achieved is helpful.
5. Project incorporates one or more creative elements.
6. Overall Impression
How to enter your project in Round 1
Step 1: Read the Rules and Join the Contest (last day to join - Feb 6th midnight eastern).
Step 2: Sew your Project and Write a Review. Tell us about your dress and the twist you incorporated in it.
Step 3: Connect your Review to the Contest by either clicking on the button which says "Enter this review in the contest" After Step 2 or Manually connect it here.
Step 4: Optional - Post your final garment to instagram with the hashtag #prsewingbee2023 and tag us @patternreview
Visit the Contest Topic for more discussion.
Good Luck everyone! #prsewingbee2023
Here's a badge for your social media and blog #prsewingbee2023
PRIZES!
We are grateful to our sponsors for providing so many wonderful prizes for 2023 Sewing Bee. Please support them.
and of course PatternReview! support your favorite sewing community ;)
Related
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Sewing Bee 2023 - Round 1 Challenge
