Claudia Winkleman presents a series from the makers of The Great British Bake Off in which eight hopefuls are tested on their sewing and dressmaking skills as they compete to be crowned Britain's best amateur sewer. Over three challenges, they must follow a simple pattern for an A-line skirt, transform a high street top by altering the neckline and produce a made-to-measure dress for a model under intense time pressure. The judges, May Martin from the Women's Institute and Savile Row's Patrick Grant, scrutinise every stitch as they look out for puckering seam lines and perfect top stitching. One sewer is awarded garment of the week whilst two leave the Sewing Bee.
In this edition, the six remaining contestants face three more challenges, including following a pattern for a pair of men's trousers. Tackling a fly fastening leaves most of the sewers baffled, but the second challenge - to add patch pockets to a high street skirt - produces some imaginative results. Finally the sewers create a made-to-measure silk blouse for their model. The slippery fabric is too much for two competitors, and they are eliminated from the programme.
Claudia Winkleman presents the semi-final. The four amateur sewers return to compete in three more challenges. Savile Row's Patrick Grant and sewing teacher May Martin set them a pattern for a child's dress which tests their ability to follow couture techniques on a miniature scale. In the alteration challenge they are asked to tailor a dress with precision and they create a made-to-measure jacket which must fit their model perfectly, after which one of them is asked to leave the Sewing Bee.
The final of brand new series, The Great British Sewing Bee, presented by Claudia Winkleman, reaches its climax. The three finalists compete in three tough challenges set by Savile Row's Patrick Grant and sewing expert May Martin who must decide who will take the title of Britain's best amateur sewer. The first test is to follow a pattern for a man's shirt. The judges are looking for perfect top stitching with no pleats or puckers but the complicated challenge drives one sewer to tears. In the second challenge they have to show off their hand sewing skills, decorating an evening bag, and for the finale they are asked to create the most demanding garment so far - a stunning made-to-measure evening dress in a luxury fabric. The finalists are in for a surprise when they see who their models are.
The Great British Sewing Bee returns for an eight-part series presented by Claudia Winkleman. Ten of the country's best home sewers face three challenges to make or alter an item of clothing under intense time pressure. Each week, their creations are judged by Savile Row's Patrick Grant and sewing expert May Martin, until one of them is crowned Britain's best amateur sewer. The first episode tests the sewers on the three core fabrics in a dressmaker's cupboard: cotton, wool and silk. The surprise Pattern Challenge tasks the sewers with making a simple tunic top out of straightforward cotton. Some excel at producing the perfect top, some struggle to finish, and others cut corners - to their cost. In the Alteration Challenge the sewers demonstrate their ability to transform a plain high street woollen skirt in just 90 minutes, creating mini skirts with frills, pencil skirts with peplums, and dungarees. Finally, the sewers face the toughest of core fabrics when asked to fit a made-to-measure silk nightgown for a model.
Claudia Winkleman welcomes the nine home sewers back to the sewing room to face three more challenges. This episode tests their ability to match and combine patterned fabric. First the judges, Savile Row's Patrick Grant and sewing expert May Martin, surprise the sewers with a pattern for a pleated skirt. The catch is that they must match the pattern of the fabric across those pleats without changing the size of the skirt, which catches a few of the sewers out. They must show their ingenuity by combining two patterned men's shirts into one garment - the results range from a little sailor dress to a boob tube. Finally, they make made-to-measure men's patterned pyjamas which must both match across the seams and fit their male model perfectly.
The six remaining contestants face three challenges testing their ability to work with fabric that is difficult to sew, starting by following a pattern for a nylon anorak. Next, they must use leather to transform a high-street top, before they finish by making a pair of velvet trousers to fit themselves. Judges May Martin and Patrick Grant then decide who will leave the competition. Claudia Winkleman presents.
The first challenge for the five quarter-finalists is to make silky blouses from 1930s patterns using sewing machines from that period. Next, they have to transform men's suits into garments for women, before fashioning complex and hefty made-to-measure coats taken from a historic or vintage pattern. Judges May Martin and Patrick Grant then decide which four will go through to the semi-final. Claudia Winkleman presents.
The four semi-finalists face three challenges in which they are not allowed to use a pattern for guidance, having to fit a dress to a mannequin, add a pair of symmetrical sleeves to a garment and make a copy of a favourite item of clothing. Judges May Martin and Patrick Grant then decide which three will go through to next week's final. Claudia Winkleman presents.
The competition reaches its climax as the three finalists enter the sewing room for the very last time, with May Martin and Patrick Grant setting them three tough couture-themed challenges. The first tests their hand-stitching skills as they are asked to make a man's tie, and then have to produce a child's bridesmaid outfit from a wedding dress in the alteration task. Finally they are asked to fit a made-to-measure gown for a model, before the judges decide which of them deserves the title of Britain's best amateur sewer. Last in the series.
We catch up with the class of 2014's amateur sewers, who have come a long way. The programme looks back at their best moments - and some they would rather forget - as they revisit their time in the sewing room and share their memories.
The contest to find Britain's best amateur sewer returns with 10 competitors trying to impress judges May Martin from the Women's Institute and Savile Row designer Patrick Grant. In the first episode, they are asked to work with cotton - a core fabric in every dressmaker's cupboard. First up they have to make a pair of women's trousers with a complicated invisible zip, then transform a denim shirt in just 90 minutes before producing a stunning summer dress for their real-life models. Claudia Winkleman presents.
The nine remaining contestants take part in three more challenges, this time testing their ability to scale down items and make children's clothes. They first have to fashion a waistcoat, then show their ingenuity by breathing new life into a plain T-shirt and a hand-me-down dress, and finish by creating a fancy-dress costume. Judges May Martin from the Women's Institute and Savile Row designer Patrick Grant then decide who will leave the competition. Claudia Winkleman presents.
Claudia Winkleman takes the eight remaining contestants back to the 1950s, when home sewing was at its height, with the first challenge involving following one of the biggest-selling dress patterns of that era. Next they are given a vintage item to transform into a wearable garment, before making a 1950s blouse out of an unforgiving sheer fabric. Judges May Martin from the Women's Institute and Savile Row designer Patrick Grant then decide who will leave the competition.
The seven remaining contestants are tested on their ability to add shape and structure to clothing, with their first task involving sewing together 12 pieces of fabric to make a boned corset. They then have to make a garment out of a 1980s `power' suit and finish by creating a traditional kilt from scratch, before judges May Martin and Patrick Grant decide who will leave the competition. Claudia Winkleman presents.
In this semi-final, the five remaining amateur sewers take on a set of tasks working with tricky and technical fabrics.
The competition reaches its conclusion as the three finalists enter the sewing room for the very last time.
Claudia Winkleman hosts a new eight-part series of The Great British Sewing Bee. Under the scrutiny of Savile Row's Patrick Grant and Central St Martin's Esme Young, ten fresh-faced home sewers face three challenges designed to test their skill and understanding of basic garment construction. First, the sewers follow a pattern for a woman's top made up of four pieces. However, it is deceptively difficult, demanding accurate pattern matching skills, a steady hand for cutting and precision sewing. Next, the judges want their personal style and imagination to come to the fore by transforming a maternity dress in just 90 minutes. Finally, they take on the Made to Measure challenge, fitting a skirt to a real model. Who can keep their cool to produce a flattering waistline and perfectly level hem, and who will falter and be the first to leave the sewing room?
The Great British Sewing Bee returns for an eight-part series presented by Claudia Winkleman. Nine amateur sewers return hoping to show judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young that they can make beautiful clothes on a miniature scale. First, the sewers must carefully follow a pattern to make a babygrow from stretch cotton jersey - but who will get the gusset and poppers in the right place and who will end up going off-piste? Next, the sewers must show they can handle slippery satin and chiffon by totally transforming an adult bridesmaid dress into a wearable garment for a boy or a girl. For the final challenge, real children replace the mannequins as the sewers strive to create perfectly fitted woollen capes, knowing the judges will scrutinise every cut and stitch before deciding who deserves to stay and who must bid farewell to the Sewing Bee.
The sewers work with the fiddliest of pattern pieces and the most delicate fabric.
It is 'international week' as Patrick and Esme set the seven remaining sewers the challenge of tackling techniques and garment styles from other cultures and continents.
This week, the sewing room is transported back to the 1960s as the six remaining sewers revive vintage garments, take on time-honoured techniques and wrestle with antique equipment in an attempt to show Patrick and Esme they deserve a place in the quarter-finals.
Claudia Winkleman hosts the quarter-final of the Great British Sewing Bee, where the five remaining sewers sweat it out over activewear, creating complex, hard-wearing garments from the most technical of fabrics. For the pattern challenge, judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young ask the sewers to make a man's lycra cycling top, which requires expert handling of a fabric that stretches in all directions and a complex zip insertion that tests their patience. Next, for the alteration challenge, the sewers use all their ingenuity to transform garish 1980s ski suits into children's jackets. Finally, the made-to-measure challenge sees the sewers create the most fitted garments ever attempted on the Sewing Bee - yoga outfits - to secure one of four places in the semi-final.
Claudia Winkleman hosts the semi-final of the Great British Sewing Bee, where just four sewers are left to battle it out to for a place in the final. All that stands in the way are three challenges designed by judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young. This week, they want to test the sewers' knowledge of complex patterns and pattern cutting. For the pattern challenge, the sewers are tasked with making an asymmetric yoked skirt inspired by modern Japanese pattern cutting. This brain-teasing pattern requires the sewers to stitch one of the most technically difficult and curved seams ever seen in the sewing room. Next, it is the alteration challenge and the sewers are asked to transform a duvet cover into a female garment. To add to the difficulty level, the judges declare it is a no-waste challenge so every scrap of fabric needs to be used by draping and sculpting it around the mannequin. How will the sewers cope with this radical approach to creating clothes? For their made-to-measure challenge, their ability to draft and create patterns is put to the test as the judges seek to draw out the sewers' inner designer. Creating their own patterns in the sewing room, as well as constructing and fitting their dresses is the sternest test yet of their all-round sewing skill and their ability to imagine clothes, but who will flourish and who will fail to make the grade so tantalisingly close to that place in the grand final?
The three finalists create three pieces of evening wear to impress the judges.
The contest returns with new host Joe Lycett, and Patrick Grant and Esme Young passing judgement once more. The first pattern challenge is a Dior-inspired `wiggle dress' designed to hug the female form. Contestants also have to transform three second-hand items of denim clothing into a single, stylish new garment, and the final task involves a made-to-measure jumpsuit.
The nine remaining home-sewers are tasked with making children's clothes. Challenges include creating hoodies and turning fake fur coats into fancy dress beasts. The final task sees contestants up against the clock as they make made-to-measure dance costumes so the dancing kids can perform The Hornpipe, the Tarantella and Highland dancing down the catwalk.
The eight remaining home sewers attempt to revive the glamorous, rebellious and sometimes ridiculous, style of the 1970s. Judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young challenge the sewers to create flared jeans, punk-inspired outfits, and Maxi dresses.
The seven home sewers take on man-made fabrics designed for sport and the great outdoors, while the transformation challenge involves discarded festival tents. For the final assignment, male models arrive in the Sewing Room to be fitted with made-to-measure luxury tracksuits.
Joe Lycett challenges the contestants to make garments from recycled materials, from curtains and soft furnishings to the offcuts left from previous episodes.
The quarter-finalists face British and Irish fabrics week. First up is the pattern challenge, which is a stern test of their soft tailoring skills, as judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young ask the sewers to create a `Workers Jacket' from linen. Next, it's the transformation challenge, and the sewers are asked to take inspiration from the British seaside by turning stripy deckchairs and parasols into stylish garments in just 90 minutes.
Joe Lycett hosts the semi-final, as the four remaining sewers take on garments and techniques from around the world. Firstly, they must follow a pattern like none they've encountered before, as judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young ask them to make a pair of Indian Dhoti Pants. Next is the Transformation Challenge, as the sewers take on a garment from West Africa, the Dashiki. For their final challenge, the Made to Measure, the semi-finalists take on the fiendishly tricky high-end Japanese couture technique of origami.
The contest, hosted by Joe Lycett, reaches its final as the last three contestants take on a trio of evening wear challenges before the winner is announced. Judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young begin by asking the sewers to create a double-breasted waistcoat. Next is the Transformation challenge, as the trio repurpose net curtains into exquisite, red carpet-ready, pieces of evening wear. Lastly, for the Made to Measure challenge, the sewers attempt to construct and fit glamorous strapless evening gowns for their models, this time hand-picked for friends and family. Last in the series.
In their first week, the sewers are eased in gently with wardrobe staples that might look familiar but aren’t necessarily straightforward to make. For their pattern challenge, the judges ask for a wrap skirt, a garment whose clean crisp lines can only be achieved through precise cutting, accurate stitching and a judicious choice of fabric.
The contestants are asked to insert an invisible zip and pockets on a pair of palazzo pants, while the judges keep a keen eye on how well they pattern-match the bold prints. For the transformation challenge, the sewers must turn towels into stylish beach cover-ups in just 90 minutes. Male models arrive in the Sewing Room for the final challenge, ready to be fitted with a made-to-measure holiday shirt using bright and colourful fabrics. Whose shirt will bring on the sunshine, and who will be sent packing?
Joe Lycett welcomes the ten remaining home sewers back to the nation’s most famous sewing room for children’s week. The garments might be mini, but they are a mammoth challenge because they are fiddly to sew.
It's sportswear week, and the sewers must create rugby shirts, waterproof onesies for toddlers and tennis outfits.
The eight remaining contestants take part in a series of challenges as they return to the sewing room for lingerie and sleepwear week. To test the sewers' handling skills, judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young kick off the pattern challenge with a boned basque. The task requires sewing together small pattern pieces for a precise fit and creating a tricky hook and eye fastening. Next, in the transformation challenge, the sewers transform pyjamas and nightwear into a summer dress, before finally being tasked to create a two-piece female sleep set which has to incorporates lace somewhere in their design.
For reduce, reuse and recycle week, all the fabric in the haberdashery is replaced with charity shop clothes and soft furnishings.
The six remaining home sewers head back in time to the 1980s, attempting to revive the glamorous - and sometimes ridiculous - style of that decade.
For the quarter final, the five remaining sewers go global, taking on garments and techniques from around the world. Firstly, the sewers must follow a pattern like they have never encountered before, as judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young ask them to make a Filipino Terno Blouse. In the Transformation Challenge, the competitors are asked to turn Provencal tablecloths from France into a brand new outfit in just 90 minutes, before creating a dramatic Flamenco skirt from Southern Spain in the final challenge.
For their semi-final challenge, the four remaining sewers go to the movies, taking on garments and techniques from the silver screen.
The competition reaches its dramatic denouement as the final three sewers tackle celebration wear challenges and the series winner is crowned.
Joe is joined by Dancing on Ice‘s Denise Van Outen, Strictly Come Dancing‘s Shirley Ballas, Dr Ranj Singh and comedian Sara Pascoe, who are showcasing their skills and competing in three challenges set by judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young.
The second episode welcomes RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star The Vivienne, actress Lesley Joseph, TV presenter Sabrina Grant and Sally Philips.
Week One sees judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young settling the contestants in with a trio of challenges based on everyday wardrobe staples.
Summer Week sees Esme and Patrick challenging the sewers to create paperbag shorts, cocktail outfits and button-down sun dresses.
For gent’s classics week, the sewers make baker boy caps, transform old jackets into outfits for a woman, and create a casual utility jacket.
It's international week, and the sewers make Breton tops, transform sarongs into a new garment and take inspiration from Frida Kahlo.
For children's week, the sewers' skills are tested by romper suits, Under the Sea-themed fancy dress and raincoats for mini models.
It’s Reduce Reuse Recycle Week. The sewers make waistcoats out of old clothes, turn army surplus into a women’s outfit and make a dress out of jeans.
It’s Winter Week. The sewers' skills are put to the test making a flannel shirt, turning old scarves into a garment and creating a glamorous winter party dress.
It’s Music and the Movies Week. The sewers create a dress inspired by Dirty Dancing, a Sound of Music transformation and a disco era-inspired outfit from Dreamgirls.
It’s the semi-final, and the sewers go back to the 1940s. They create a pair of Oxford bags, dresses from parachutes and a Dior New Look outfit.
It’s the final, and the theme is celebration. The three remaining sewers work on a bridesmaid’s dress, a festival-themed transformation and a glamorous off-the-shoulder gown.
Sewing Bee kicks off with 12 sewers creating a capsule wardrobe. They begin with a mini skirt, then make a going-out top from lockdown loungewear and finish with a fitted wrap dress.
Sara Pascoe presents a trio of sports-themed sewing challenges, including a Sewing Bee first - a pair of trainers, which includes unfamiliar techniques such as punching eyelets and stitching soles. That's followed by transforming an old netball kit into a garment to be worn off the court and a made-to-measure jacket inspired by their sporting hero
It’s summer week, and the sewers make light and airy outfits, including a summer dress, a creation from old hammocks and a two-piece trouser co-ord for a man or a woman.
The Great British Sewing Bee does its bit for the planet with Reduce, Reuse and Recycle week. Host Sara Pascoe invites the nine remaining home sewers to create a quilted patchwork jacket from a load of old scraps from past Sewing Bees. Next, in the Transformation Challenge, the sewers breathe new life into boring old coats by completely deconstructing them and refashioning them into brand new stylish outerwear. For the Made to Measure, the sewers fit a maxi dress to a model using only an unwanted duvet cover. Who will ace this creative brief and win Garment of the Week, and who will have to leave the sewing room?
The sewers follow the pattern for a toddler's sailor suit, make fancy dress Halloween outfits and create out-of-school garments from old school uniforms.
Music Week brings a pattern for a parka once loved by the Mods, old denim gets the country music treatment, and David Bowie inspires the sewers for their Made to Measure outfits.
A place in the quarter-final is at stake this week, and the challenges are all about lingerie. Host Sara Pascoe starts the sewers off with a fiddly pattern for a lace underwired bra and matching knicker set. With such small pattern pieces, there is no margin for error, and Patrick and Esme’s eagle eyes will spot every mistake. The Transformation Challenge requires the sewers to take thermal underwear and turn it into daywear. Then male models fill the sewing room to be fitted for a pair of luxury pyjamas. One sewer wins Garment of the Week and another is asked to leave the Sewing Room.
The quarter-final takes the sewers back to the golden era of the 1930s. Esme and Patrick set them a Pattern Challenge for a pair of women’s sailor-inspired trousers with a complex bib-front button opening and equally tricky pockets. Then the sewers show off their ability to think on their feet when they are given men’s shirts to turn into 1930s women’s blouses. Finally, it's time for a touch of Hollywood glamour when they are asked to perfectly fit a bias-cut evening gown reminiscent of outfits worn by Katharine Hepburn and Bette Davis.
For a place in the final, the sewers follow the pattern for a kimono-inspired dress, mend old denim using Japanese techniques and create an outfit using folding and pleating.
It's Party Week, and the finalists must make an iconic stretchy dress, use their old scraps to make an outfit and fit red-carpet-worthy jumpsuits before one is crowned the series winner.
Esme Young and Patrick Grant put four celebrities’ sewing skills to the test. Host Sara Pascoe is joined by Strictly Come Dancing's Johannes Radebe, EastEnders actor Natalie Cassidy, podcaster Rosie Ramsey and TV personality Penny Lancaster as they put their twist on a pattern for a Christmas apron. They then turn a sack full of children's hand-me-downs into a novelty outfit for a baby. Finally, they create pop star-inspired fancy dress perfect for bringing in the New Year.
Twelve brand new sewers follow the pattern for a twist top, transform office wear and create cut-out, made-to-measure dresses.
The sewers face three challenges inspired by travel. They are asked to create a rucksack and a swimsuit, and to transform windbreakers.
The sewers celebrate west Africa over three challenges with batakari, adire fabric and boubous.
It’s Week 4, and the remaining sewers create zero-waste trousers, upcycle tote bags and repurpose crochet blankets in Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. week.
It’s Week 5 and Art Week as the sewers take on modernist skirts, transform canvasses and make surrealist, made-to-measure dresses.
The sewers put their twist on dinosaur dressing gowns, zhuzh up denim jackets and create pint-sized party outfits for Kids' Week.
It's Week 7, and we’re going back to the 90s with cargo pants, 90s icon fancy dress and body-skimming supermodel dresses.
It’s Week 8, and the remaining sewers celebrate fashion icons with little black dresses, a shower curtain transformation and smoking jackets.
It’s the semi-final, and three utilitarian challenges stand in the way of a place in the final: the trench coat, cleaning products and boiler suits.
It’s the final of The Great British Sewing Bee, and after challenges including a Victoriana dress, fabulous men’s outfits and a two-in-one dress, only one sewer will be crowned winner.
The Great British Sewing Bee returns for a Christmas reunion with the judges, Savile Row's Patrick Grant and sewing teacher, May Martin and 2013's semi-finalists - Stuart, Sandra, Lauren and 82-year-old winner Ann. Like traditional sewing bees of the past, they pool their experience and talents to make everything from Christmas table linen, to unique gifts to exquisite tree decorations. Ann demonstrates how to make a beautiful teddy bear, Stuart produces a tweed satchel, Sandra puts together a gardening belt and Lauren constructs a fabric doll's house. As they sew, they and the judges share stories of their own family Christmas traditions.
The Sewing Bee returns for three special Children in Need episodes, as 12 celebrity sewers battle it out over three challenges set by Savile Row's Patrick Grant and sewing expert May Martin. Each programme charts the highs and lows of two intense days in the sewing room as hemlines are hacked into, waistbands fall apart and sewing machines and sewers alike become completely entangled. All four celebrities are sewing for BBC Children in Need to inspire viewers to get creative at home and raise money for the charity. Each of the three celebrity hosts will also visit an individual project supported by Children in Need within the shows, to get a first-hand view of how donations really can help to improve children's lives. Jenny Eclair hosts the first episode of this very special celebrity edition of The Sewing Bee, as she welcomes and cajoles stars of screen, stage and surgery into the sewing room. The A-line skirt pattern challenge proves to almost be the undoing of chef and Hairy Biker Dave Myers as he creates more of a hip than a waistband, DJ and radio presenter Edith Bowman transforms a gaudy Hawaiian shirt into a child's garment even Patrick Grant would wear, Embarrassing Bodies' Dr Dawn Harper proves she can sew with surgical precision across the challenges, despite her shaking hands and Wendi Peters puts her upholstery sewing skills to the test on a 1950s recreation dress made against the clock.
The Sewing Bee returns for three special Children in Need episodes, as 12 celebrity sewers battle it out over three challenges set by Savile Row's Patrick Grant and sewing expert May Martin. Each programme charts the highs and lows of two intense days in the sewing room as hemlines are hacked into, waistbands fall apart and sewing machines and sewers alike become completely entangled. All four celebrities are sewing for BBC Children in Need to inspire viewers to get creative at home and raise money for the charity. Each of the three celebrity hosts will also visit an individual project supported by Children in Need within the shows, to get a first-hand view of how donations really can help to improve children's lives. Sara Cox takes the helm of the second episode. Actress Pam Ferris dusts off her 40-year-old sewing box and skills to see if she can still cut it behind the machine - producing a Peter Pan-inspired skirt fit for a fashionista. TV presenter Gaby Roslin immerses herself fully into the world of fabric, creating some very sparkly results in the pyjama pattern challenge, while Louie Spence goes back to his roots in a flurry of tiered lycra. Sewing novice and comedian Mark Watson gets totally out of his comfort zone as he pins, cuts and sews his way from disaster to disaster. But who will be crowned the Children in Need Sewing Bee winner?
The Sewing Bee returns for three special Children in Need episodes, as 12 celebrity sewers battle it out over three challenges set by Savile Row's Patrick Grant and sewing expert May Martin. Each programme charts the highs and lows of two intense days in the sewing room as hemlines are hacked into, waistbands fall apart and sewing machines and sewers alike become completely entangled. All four celebrities are sewing for BBC Children in Need to inspire viewers to get creative at home and raise money for the charity. Each of the three celebrity hosts will also visit an individual project supported by Children in Need within the shows, to get a first-hand view of how donations really can help to improve children's lives. In the final episode, host Anita Rani aids and encourages four more celebrity sewers as they take on the sewing room. Radio DJ Gemma Cairney has a run-in with the overlocker while trying to perfect a T-shirt in the pattern challenge. Journalist and author Kathryn Flett reconnects with her 80s fashion editor self to create an alteration that Kate Moss would be proud of. Knitting fan and Overtones lead singer Timmy Matley borrows tips from his aunties in Cork to help him perfect a Michael Jackson-inspired jacket and comedian Helen Lederer brings her own style to the competition with everything from sequins to netting and even a coffee stain. Only one can be crowned the champion after two more gruelling days sewing guerilla-style.
New host Sara Pascoe welcomes celebrity sewers the Rev Kate Bottley, Antony Cotton, Kiell Smith-Bynoe and Anneka Rice to a Christmas Sewing Bee extravaganza.
Sara Pascoe celebrates the new year by inviting Lawrence Chaney, Rose Matafeo, Claire Richards and Kirsty Wark into the Sewing Room to try their hand at creating party clothes.
