By Deepika on Feb 13th 2023

Hello Sewing Bees. It is time for Round #2 and things are heating up a little bit!

Congratulations to all those advancing to this round and thanks to all those who are cheering them on and motivating them! A big thank you to Acmena for managing the first two rounds of the 2023 Sewing Bee.

One of the things we encourage in this contest, is to think outside the box and to overcome some fears and challenges, while still trying to remain true to your own asthetic. On PatternReview we believe that any article of clothing, whether it is a skirt or a jacket is gender neutral. Anything can be worn joyfully by anyone. Can you stretch your imagination to make something even if you don't normally like to wear it? Can you find a friend or family member who could be the lucky recipient of that garment? Think like a designer!

So far you all have done a fantastic job in the first round. And now things are going to get even more interesting. Here are the rules...

Eligibility

Only the 36 members who have advanced from the First Round of the Sewing Bee are eligible to participate in this round.

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 2: Collars

Dates: Monday, February 13th 9:00 AM Eastern Time through Monday February 20th EDT at midnight. All times are per the Pattern Review website.

1. Sew an article of clothing with a collar that is the primary focus.
2. The entry must be intended for any adult human (yes, we had to clarify!)
3. One entry per person.
4. 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. No specific contest template is required. Simply write your review as usual and then link to the contest and you're done. In your review make sure that you tell why you selected this particular collar.
5. The photos included must be sufficient for judging. Modeled photos must be on a person, not on a dress form.
Minimum photo requirements:
Photo 1 - Front View of the garment (worn on a person)
Photo 2 - Back View of the garment (worn on a person)
Photo 3 - A picture where we can see construction details of the collar
6. Self-drafted or commercial patterns are allowed. Combinations of multiple patterns or self-drafted and commercial patterns are allowed.
7. You may NOT make any changes to your review after the Round 2 deadline.
8. Failure to adhere to these rules will result in disqualification.
9. You have, from February 13th-20th (8 days) to design, sew, photograph, and write a review for this entry.
10. Complete review and photos must be submitted by 11.59 p.m. Eastern Time, February 20th.

Judging

The winner will be announced on February 26th. There will be one winner per round.

There will be approximately 20 people who advance to round 3, based on their entry into round 2. 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:

- Following all contest rules. Failure will result in disqualification and entry will not be judged.
- Sewing quality.
- Comprehensive review with pertinent details; outlines steps taken; explains how modifications helped achieve result.
- Good quality photos; can envision the project as if viewing in person
- Project incorporating one or more creative elements.
- Fit - how well the item fits body.
- Overall Impression

How to enter your project in Round 2

Step 1: You have already been entered into the Contest.

Step 2: Sew your Project and Write a Review. Tell us about your garment and the collar. Tell us how it functions in your project and how it enhances it. Any construction details would be helpful as well.

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

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