Competition Recap: The Great British Sewing Bee Season 10 in 2024
Unleashing the Sewing Bee Series 10:
The blimmin' Great British Sewing Bee Series 10, airing from May 21st 2024, showcased a fresh dynamic with host Kiell Smith-Bynoe and a handful of resourceful home sewers battling it out in a series of captivating challenges. These hopefuls were under the watchful eye of judges Esme Young and Patrick Grant, striving to impress week by week.
In our traditional take on end-of-season summaries, we've handpicked the most accessible projects from each episode, pairing them with befitting patterns from The Foldline and fabric suggestions that'll help you recreate the magic at home – minus those time-pressured jitters.
The contestants pitting their stitching skills:
- Neil: Woodwork instructor with 1940s swing dancing hobby (left in week 1).
- Comfort: Designer and business manager showcasing East African heritage (left in week 2).
- Janet: Retired market trader (left in week 3).
- Don: 84-year-old retired physicist (left in week 4).
- Lauren: Inspired by 1980s fashion (left in week 5).
- Georgie: Festival DJ enthusiastic about sustainability (left in week 6).
- Marcus: Teaching assistant creating 90s-style streetwear (left in week 7).
- Alex: Copywriter and ultramarathon runner adoring oversized garments (left Week 8).
- Suzy: Hospitality worker loving ruffles and big sleeves (left in Week 9).
The Top Three:
- Ailsa: Master of upcycling second-hand clothes.
- Luke: Diversity director pushing boundaries with their designs.
- Pascha: Youngest contestant utilizing her great-grandma's patterns.
The Weekly Sewing Bee Challenges:
Episode 1: Basics Week- Denim A-line skirt- Upcycled T-shirt- Casual made-to-measure day dress
Episode 2: Sports Week- Half zip fleece- Cricket whites reworked- Olympic sports kit for a model
Episode 3: Travel Week- Summer blouse from old tablecloths- Nautical items upcycled into a bag- Inspired by French Riviera
Episode 4: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Week- Scrap-made quilted bag- Textile waste transformation- Upcycled wedding dress
Episode 5: India Week- Nehru jacket- Calico and Madras fabrics used to create a garment- Sari-inspired evening wear
Episode 6: Children's Week- Sequinned bomber jackets- Beach towels transformed into animal-themed fancy dress- Inspired by childhood photos
Episode 7: Lingerie Week- Pyjama blouses- Shapewear and lace transformed- Made-to-measure bustier dress
Episode 8: Diva Week- Fringed dress like Tina Turner's iconic version- Upcycled animal print materials- Coco Chanel-inspired made-to-measure outfit
Episode 9: Icons Week- Balenciaga's draped dress- Old ties transformed for a new garment- Made-to-measure Coco Chanel-inspired outfit
Episode 10 - The Final!- Opera gloves with intricate seams and curved gussets- Party paraphernalia upcycled into a garment- Final made-to-measure by draping material onto models
In the thrilling finale, the three remaining contestants, Luke, Pascha, and Ailsa, faced cutthroat challenges in creating opera gloves, transforming party paraphernalia into garments, and draping materials for their final made-to-measure outfits. After much deliberation, Luke snatched the ultimate victory with a stunning masculine/feminine gown and jacket, leaving us all hankering for more of The Great British Sewing Bee magic.
- Despite the intense challenges, Pascha continued to impress the judges by incorporating elements of her great-grandmother's patterns into her lifestyle, demonstrating a unique fusion of fashion-and-beauty and home-and-garden, as she turned old tablecloths into a nautical-themed summer blouse.
- As the Sewing Bee contestants delved into the world of entertainment for 'Diva Week', they showcased captivating recreations of iconic outfits, with Ailsa paying tribute to Coco Chanel by creating a seamless and elegant made-to-measure outfit, merging fashion-and-beauty with the allure of entertainment.
