The Great British Sewing Bee Series 10, which began airing on May 21st 2024, featured, as always, twelve talented home sewers competing in a series of creative challenges to impress judges Esme Young and Patrick Grant. This season was hosted by Kiell Smith-Bynoe, who added a fresh dynamic to the show.
In our traditional end of series round-up blog we have selected the most accessible makes from each episode and matched it with both a pattern (suggested by our friends at The Foldline) and one of our fabrics, in case the Sewing Bee has inspired you to give any of the challenges a go (without a stressful time limit to contend with, we hope).
Image Credit: Love Productions
GBSB Series 10 Contestants
- Neil: A woodwork instructor who began sewing for his 1940s swing dancing hobby (eliminated in week 1).
- Comfort: A designer and business manager showcasing East African heritage (eliminated in week 2).
- Janet: A retired market trader who has been sewing since the age of 12 (eliminated in week 3).
- Don: The oldest contestant at 84, a retired physicist taught to sew by his mother (eliminated in week 4).
- Lauren: A finance administrator inspired by 1980s fashion (eliminated in week 5).
- Georgie: A festival DJ passionate about sustainability, often using tablecloths in her designs (eliminated in week 6).
- Marcus: A teaching assistant inspired by the show to make 90s-style streetwear (eliminated in week 7).
- Alex: A copywriter and ultramarathon runner who enjoys making oversized garments. (eliminated Week 8)
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Suzy: A hospitality worker who loves incorporating ruffles and big sleeves into her designs. (eliminated in Week 9)
The 3 Finalists:
Image Credit: Love Productions
- Ailsa: An events planner known for upcycling second-hand clothes.
- Luke: A diversity director and classically trained musician breaking gender stereotypes through their designs.
- Pascha: The youngest contestant at 20, often using her great-grandma's seamstress patterns.
Sewing Bee Weekly Challenges and Highlights
Episode 1: Back to Basics Week
- Contestants made a denim A-line skirt, upcycled a T shirt, and created a casual made to measure day dress.
We can all agree that the contestants were just not given enough time for the skirt, all that top stitching…
The Day Dress Pattern
ZW Birgitta Helmersson – Gather Dress and Linen/Cotton Mix Gingham
Episode 2: Sports Week
- The challenges included making a half zip fleece, transforming cricket whites into a new outfit, and designing an Olympic sports kit to fit a model.
Team FG love using a mix of fabrics and the zip up fleece really reminded us how great colour blocking can look.
The Zip Up Fleece Pattern
Wardrobe by Me Men’s Zip-up sweater and Fabrics Galore fleece
Episode 3: Travel Week
- Tasks involved creating a summer blouse from old tablecloths, upcycling nautical items to make a bag, and creating outfits inspired by the French Riviera.
We know that the transformation challenge is slightly controversial but this week the creativity shown in the bag making was amazing! And the French Riviera challenge was so chic, it seems everyone fell in love with those wide legged trousers…
The French Riviera trouser pattern:
Episode 4: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Week
- Sewers made a quilted bag using scraps, transformed textile waste to create a garment, and repurposed a wedding dress into a new made-to-measure outfit.
Sad to see Don leave this week, but a great look at ways to get the most out of garments and fabric. And then a free bag pattern, what a week.
Love Productions Quilted Bag Pattern
Fabric: Check your stash and get rid of some of those scraps…
Episode 5: India Week
- Special judge Priya Khanchandani oversaw the making of a Prime Minister Nehru jacket, transforming calico and Madras cotton into a garment, and creating made-to-measure sari-inspired evening wear.
A special judge made this week even more interesting with a bit of a history thrown in for good measure.
A Nehru jacket pattern is hard to find but some vintage pattern sellers on Etsy have a lovely version:
1960s men's Nehru jacket and Cotton Gabardine in khaki
Episode 6: Children's Week
- The contestants made sequinned bomber jackets, upcycled beach towels into animal themed fancy dress costumes, and designed outfits for children inspired by their childhood photos.
Another great great week on the Sewing Bee with some of our favourite things - sequins, crocodiles and boiler suits. But the dungarees were spot on and we will be reaching for a bomber jacket when the weather gets a bit cooler…
The Bomber Jacket Pattern:
WISJ Designs - Child Cato Coat and Bomber Jacket and Jumbo Cord
Episode 7: Lingerie Week
- Challenges included creating pyjama blouses, transforming shapewear and lace, and a made-to-measure bustier dress. Marcus was eliminated this week.
Pyjamas are a great make for anyone - particularly as a beginner and it did remind us to sort out our sleepwear. Although eliminated, Marcus made one of the best transformations we have ever seen….
The pyjama pattern
Episode 8: Diva Week
- Sewers made a fringed dress inspired by Tina Turner’s iconic version, upcycled animal print materials, and designed a made-to-measure stage outfit for their favourite diva.
Finally Luke got their moment with their Lady Gaga inspired outfit. But the real question is, who would you want to design a stage outfit for?
The Cowboy Shirt Pattern:
Episode 9: Icons Week
- The semi-final really challenged the sewers with Balenciaga’s draped dress, upcycling old ties into a new garment and a Coco Channel inspired made-to-measure outfit.
The real moment for many from the semi-final was Luke’s tie dress, but the Chanel inspired outfits had us all reminiscing about the V&A Chanel exhibition.
Episode 10 – The Final!
Finalists Luke, Pascha and Ailsa were given their final challenges in Week 10: to make a pair of opera gloves (with tiny seams and curved gussets between each finger), to transform party paraphernalia into a completely new garment and in the final made to measure, create a complete outfit by simply draping material onto their models.
In the end, after much deliberation, Luke was crowned the winner as the judges were blown away by their made to measure masculine/feminine gown and jacket.
However, we picked Pascha's stunning ballgown for the pleated shoulders alone....
Our Thoughts on the Sewing Bee Series 10
This series continued to showcase the creativity and skill of its contestants, with each week bringing new and exciting challenges. We think there was something for everyone and hope you have enjoyed our review of the series with our favourite pattern picks. Only a year to wait until the next Sewing Bee.....
