Week 10: The Grand Final!
After weeks of fabric, flair, and fierce competition, it all comes down to this: the grand final of The Great British Sewing Bee! Just three talented sewists remain, each hoping to stitch their way to the title of Britain’s best amateur sewer.
Patrick and Esme didn't hold back with a trio of challenges designed to push every ounce of skill, creativity, and stamina.
The finale began with a true test of precision, the bias-cut slip dress. Elegant and deceptively simple, this garment leaves no room for error. One miscut, one wobbly seam, and the dream could unravel.
Then came the Transformation Challenge, where sheer fabrics took centre stage. Floaty, delicate, and notoriously tricky to tame, they demanded imagination and absolute control at the machine.
Finally, for the Made to Measure, the Bees tackled the dazzling art of trompe l’oeil. Sewing for a friend or family member, they were tasked with using fabric to create clever illusions, a challenge worthy of the runway, designed to astonish as much as it impressed.
Three Bees, three challenges, and just one trophy. Who will capture the crown in this landmark tenth series of the Sewing Bee?
The Community of Sewing
We absolutely love the community spirit that shines through on The Great British Sewing Bee, and the final always captures it so beautifully. We get a glimpse into the Bees’ own sewing circles and the friendships built in the sewing room: celebrating each other’s wins, offering advice in tricky moments, and sharing cups of tea and biscuits at the end of a challenge.
That’s what makes Sewing Bee so special. It’s not just about the clothes and the showcase of skill; it’s about people, and it reflects the wider community of sewists everywhere, including the one we’re proud to be part of here at Fabworks.
DID YOU KNOW?
The word “sewing bee” has centuries-old roots in community spirit. The bee (from the Old English “ben” or “bene”) meant to offer extra help to neighbours. A sewing bee was never just about making clothes; it was about sharing skills, passing knowledge between generations, and coming together through craft.
One of the most famous examples took place during the Second World War, when the Queen Mother opened the doors of Buckingham Palace for sewing bees, where women gathered to stitch clothing for the troops. It was less about perfection and more about purpose, uniting people through fabric, thread, and goodwill.
This season highlighted the same historical foundation. Yasmin, taught by her family, carries on that legacy. Caz stitches love into her garments for those closest to her. Orla’s earliest makes were costumes for friends and family, helping them express themselves uniquely. Sewing is a gift, often passed down, and almost always given back in the form of handmade pieces.
This same sense of connection inspires us every day. Through our fabrics, blogs (take note to read our Textiles is in the Blood blog next), and projects like our Fabworks Inspire, we celebrate the way sewing brings people together.
So, we’d love to hear about you and your community: Who taught you to sew, and which projects are you most proud of?
The Finale
This week’s Made to Measure was designed to push the Bees right to their limits, the ultimate showcase of skill, creativity, and composure under pressure. With the first two challenges bringing highs and lows for all three finalists, they entered the final stage on even footing. At that point, it truly felt impossible to call which way the competition may go.
The close competition just goes to show how skilled each sewist was, with every single one of them within reach of the trophy. It all came down to whose skills aligned best with the challenge, and perhaps a touch of luck on the day.
Yasmin
Yasmin set herself the challenge of creating something truly personal and meaningful for her final made-to-measure. What made Yasmin’s creation so special was the story behind it. She used tulle to create an illusion effect inspired by anatomy, a nod to her partner being a medical doctor and her own background as a biologist. It was her way of portraying the human body through fabric.
Another standout detail in her design was the illusion tie-inspired feature, a tribute to her late dad, who taught her to sew and had a love of tailored clothes. It was a touching nod to his influence and a beautiful way to carry his memory into the Sewing Bee final.
Of course, the final wouldn’t be complete without a few nerve-wracking moments. Under pressure, Yasmin doubted herself when it came to the collar. She unpicked and redid it not only once, but twice, only to realise it wasn’t wrong in the first place! That moment of panic has hit us all in times of pressure and showed how much she wanted to produce a perfect showstopper.
In the end, Yasmin’s garment turned out fabulous. As Patrick said, “It’s so eye-catching!” The contrast between the orange dress and the black tulle illusion really gave it impact.
Orla
Orla’s final garment was created for her non-binary sibling, a thoughtful piece that explored identity and contrast. From the front, it appeared as a sleek, all-black dropped-waist dress with a pleated skirt which hung beautifully, but as the model turned, a burst of colourful tubes appeared from the side, a joyful reveal that captured Orla’s love of hidden detail.
While she faced the challenge of angling and positioning the pool noodles (used to create the tubes) perfectly so the burst of colour couldn't be seen from the front. Her fabric choice was a shock, as surely for something so structured, you would want a sturdier base than a stretch. However, the stretch allowed her to create a tight, figure-hugging top half with no fit issues (a struggle she may have faced with a structured woven fabric) and gave a beautiful drape to the pleats in the skirt.
The overall effect was both playful and deeply personal, a perfect reflection of her ability to marry concept with craftsmanship, and in the end, came together, earning a lot of praise from Patrick and Esme.
Caz
Caz’s final garment was deeply personal, a moving tribute to her open-heart surgery four years ago and the medical team who cared for her. She channelled her story into fabric with power and vulnerability, creating a piece that balanced emotion and artistry.
Her design mixed denim and faux leather for a bold, modern edge, with clever use of boning to sculpt a three-dimensional ribcage across the bodice. Down the centre front, she inserted a fully open zip, revealing flashes of red fabric beneath, a striking detail that mirrored her own experience.
This was an ambitious make, demanding precision in both construction and finish and compared to the other two contestants, her make was pretty smooth sailing; her garment stood out as a fearless piece of wearable storytelling. It was unforgettable, a reminder of how Caz always injects her personality into her work and makes every Made to Measure her own.
What made this final so special was how clearly each Bee poured themselves into their garment. Yasmin told her story through science, anatomy, and family, weaving her past and present into fabric with elegance and thought. Orla celebrated identity and joy, combining clean tailoring with a hidden burst of colour that reflected her love of playful, meaningful details. Caz turned her own lived experience into art, creating a garment that was as emotional as it was ambitious.
Each piece was utterly different, in style, in technique, and in storytelling, yet all three were powerful showcases of the sewists we’ve come to know and love. It was an incredibly close competition, and in the end, any one of them could have been crowned champion.
What a Final!
We were unanimous that Caz was the right person to take home this year’s Great British Sewing Bee trophy. While the competition was incredibly close, with Yasmin and Orla both giving their all, Caz consistently stood out for her creativity, individuality, and design flair.
Throughout the season, she impressed us not only with her skills and imaginative ideas but also with her steadiness under pressure, a calm, thoughtful presence that translated into garments full of personality and polish. From playful storytelling to deeply personal makes, her journey has been a true inspiration.
We couldn’t be more thrilled to see her crowned the winner. Huge congratulations, Caz, so very well deserved!
Until the next series… keep buzzing, keep stitching, and keep celebrating the magic of sewing
If you have enjoyed our hints and tips throughout this blog and want to join the community, make sure to follow our socials, keep and eye out on our Fabworks Inspire page.
Images courtesy of BBC1 The Great British Sewing Bee