We caught up with the winner of the Great British Sewing Bee 2019, Juliet Uzor, to find out more about her time on the show and what she learnt on our Introduction to Digital Pattern Cutting for Production short course this summer...
Juliet Uzor on the Digital Pattern Cutting course at LCF
Congrats on winning this year’s The Great British Sewing Bee! How do you feel?
Thank you! I still have to pinch myself sometimes as it still feels surreal winning in a competition for something I really enjoy doing.
How long have you been sewing for and what made you start?
I've been sewing for 6 years and I started sewing after getting inspired by a lot of people who could sew. My crazy curiosity led me to my local haberdashery where I purchased a machine and threw my self right into the deep end to learn by using books, blogs, DVD manual and when all failed, YouTube!
Class work from Introduction to Digital Pattern Cutting for Production
What made you apply to take part in The Great British Sewing Bee?
I applied to take part in the Sewing Bee after my friend, Nicky Cook sent me the ad on Facebook. I wanted to challenge myself and experience all the different sewing techniques.
Where are you now on your sewing journey? Do you still feel there is more to learn?
At the moment, I've been exploring tailoring techniques which is an area that I've struggled with. I believe I still have a great deal to learn.
You are recently finished our London College of Fashion short course, Introduction to Digital Pattern Cutting. What are your impressions of LCF short courses and the teaching?
I found the short course at the London College of Fashion very detailed- a lot was covered considering the amount of time we had. It was very hands-on with so many opportunities to practise.
What kind of students did you meet on the course?
I met people from all walks of life and at different stages in their careers. There were a couple of people who were looking into making a transition to a new career and a few who wanted to advance their skills.
Did you learn any new tricks or methods on the course?
Before starting the course, I hadn’t a clue about using digital techniques to create patterns and I left with a bag full of new tricks and techniques to move my skill to the next level.
Who would you recommend Introduction to Digital Pattern Cutting to?
Anyone interested in working in the production of clothing would benefit from this introductory course as the tutor made the content very accessible and detailed.
However, some existing knowledge on how to draft sewing patterns on paper would be ideal.
What advice would you give to someone who is learning to sew?
My advice would be to practise- a lot! Use every mistake as a learning opportunity. If you get frustrated with a particular project, don't give up. Put it away and revisit it with ‘fresh eyes’. Also, the unpicker is your friend.
What’s next for you and your sewing?
The next thing for me is to merge the two things I love the most - sewing and teaching. I’ll be inspiring and teaching others to learn how to sew through my humble platforms:
Keep up to date with Juliet's sewing journey:
Juliet's blog: www.sewsonatural.com
Instagram: @julietuzor_
YouTube: Juliet Uzor - Sewsonatural
