The twelfth series of The Great British Sewing Bee began on 14 July 2026. This series has a new presenter, Sophie Willan, replacing Sara Pascoe from the previous series. Both Esme Young and Patrick Grant return as judges. The series consists of 12 contestants competing to be named the best sewer. The show airs on BBC One. The series was again recorded at Sunny Bank Mills (the venue used since series 8), a former textile mill located in Farsley, Leeds. The mill, which was founded in 1829, was a working textile mill until 2008.
The Sewers +SewerAgeOccupationPlace of ResidencyPlacementAdele Burn36Primary school teacherWest Yorkshire 6thAngie63Retired lecturerWarwickshire 10thAnna27Barista & waitressNorth Yorkshire 1st Beth Eames24Engineering Ph.D. studentOxfordshireRunner-upDawn64Chief Financial OfficerLondon12thEmma Morwood45Classical sopranoMidlothianRunner-upHeather Storrod28Project managerWest Midlands4thLewis29Primary school teacherEast Sussex 9thMinnie30Full-time mumBedfordshire 7thRebecca Wearehttps://actuaries.org.uk/chartered-actuary-in-person-rebecca-weare/27Chartered actuaryLondon5thSam Stephenshttps://www.facebook.com/darkwoodscoffee/posts/join-us-this-evening-for-ground-and-woven-an-immersive-evening-showcasing-the-wo/1677816707099600/31Heating engineerWest Yorkshire11thTim Freathy60Care farm directorSuffolk 8th
Results and Eliminations Sewer12345678910 AnnaWIN WIN WINWINNER BethWINWINRUNNER-UP EmmaWIN RUNNER-UP HeatherWINELIM RebeccaWINELIM Adele WINELIM MinnieELIM TimELIM LewisELIM AngieELIM SamELIM DawnELIM
Sewer won Garment of the Week
One of the judges' favourite sewers
Sewer was safe and got through to next round
One of the judges' least favourite sewers
Sewer was eliminated
Episodes
Sewer eliminated Garment of the Week
Episode 1: British Summertime Week
In this episode, the pattern challenge was to make Summer shorts. The transformation challenge was to make a bag, which has a clear functional purpose, from two barbeque aprons. The made-to-measure challenge involved the sewers making an outfit for themselves, suitable for a perfect Summer day.
SewerPattern Challenge(Summer Shorts)Transformation Challenge(Functional Bag)Made-to-measure(Perfect Summer Day) Adele 11 Festival Bag 5 Strawberry Picking Dress Angie 8 Travel Sewing Bag 4 Day-trip Dress Anna 1 Hat Bag 1 Picnic Two-piece Beth 2 Water Bottle Bag 2 Festival Two-piece Dawn 9 Sewing Bag 10 Day-to-night Beach Dress Emma 4 Music Bag 7 Swimming Twin Set Heather 10 Gym Bag 3 Chelsea Day Dress Lewis 5 Bag for a Wet Summer Walk 11 Smock & Shorts Minnie 6 Knitting Bag 8 Heritage Dress Rebecca 3 Rucksack 6 Farmer's Market Wrap Dress Sam 12 Sports Bag 9 Holiday Two-piece Tim 7 Fruit Collecting Bag 12 Two-piece Suit
Episode 2: Prints and Colours Week
The pattern challenge was to make an adaptive shell top. For this, the judges were joined by fashion designer Victoria Jenkins, who also judged a similar challenge in series 11. The transformation challenge made use of purple and brown clothing. The made-to-measure challenge was to make an outfit using different fabrics and textures, but which had one dominent colour.
SewerPattern Challenge(Adaptive Shell Top)Transformation Challenge(Purple and Brown Clothing)Made-to-measure(One Colour Outfit) Adele 10 Top with Shoulder Straps 8 Cross-back Top & Culottes Angie 9 Skirt with a Purple Tie 10 Wrap Top & Skirt Anna 2 Asymmetric Top 4 Victorian-style Dress Beth 3 Matching Top and Skirt Set 7 Maxi Dress Emma 7 Asymmetric Top with Floral Print 1 Waistcoat & Skirt Heather 8 Sleeveless Dress With Cut-Outs 5 Peplum Top & Dress Lewis 6 Ruffled Bando Top 9 Cross-back Top & Skirt Minnie 4 Halter Top 6 Velvet Dress Rebecca 1 Full-length Evening Gown 3 Godet Dress Sam 11 Wrap Skirt 11 Kaftan Dress Tim 5 Halterneck Top With Drape 2 Batik Shirt & Shorts
Episode 3: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Week
The pattern challenge was to make three knickers out of second-hand T-shirts. This was the first time in the Sewing Bee that the pattern challenge required making multiple copies of the same item. The transformation challenge was to make a garment with "drama at the back" using cloth remnants and other materials destined to go to waste. The made-to-measure challenge was to make an outfit that has an environmental message.
This episode's winning garment, the Balsam Flower Dress made by Anna using Indian calico stamped with balsam flowers, was described by Patrick as "extraordinarily beautiful and incredibly well thought-through" and that "it was one of the best things we've ever seen in Sewing Bee".
SewerPattern Challenge(Knickers)Transformation Challenge(Garment with "Drama at the Back")Made-to-measure(Garment with an Environmental Message) Adele 8 Gathered and Tied Top 8 'Save Our Seas' Dress Angie 7 Coffee Bean Skirt 10 Patchwork Dress Anna 6 Long Green Dress 1 Balsam Flower Dress Beth 4 Striped Dress with Back Drape 6 Outfit for Life Emma 1 Romeo & Juliet 4 Sewers vs Sewers Jumpsuit Heather 5 Top with a Bow at the Back 3 Overfishing Two-piece Lewis 9 Tabard with Hood 9 Organic Jumpsuit Minnie 2 Ocean Netting Garment 5 Hand-stitched Outfit Rebecca 3 Pink & Black Skirt 2 Tent Jumpsuit Tim 10 Dress with Waterfall Drape 7 Grow Your Power Two-piece
Episode 4: Mexico Week For this episode, the judges were joined by Mexican fashion entrepeneur Erika Alvarez. The pattern challenge was to make a blouse using Oaxacan fabric and various ribbons and trims. The transformation challenge was to make a sculptural garment using two 'manteles de hule' (oilskin tablecloths). The made-to-measure challenge was to make an outfit for a Mexican festival.
SewerPattern Challenge(Mexican Folkoric Top)Transformation Challenge(Sculptural Garment)Made-to-measure(Mexican Festival Outfit) Adele 6 Top with Puffy Sleeves 8 Fiesta Grande de Enero Dress Anna 2 Dress with Detachable Segments 4 Mexican Independence Day Dress Beth 1 Orange Flying Saucer Sweet Dress and Hat 3 Día del Charro Dress Emma 3 Dress with Fan 6 Fiesta de Santa Cecilia Outfit Heather 7 Rain Coat style Dress with Hood 5Fiesta Grande de Enero Outfit Lewis 5 Rain Jacket with Hood 9 Carnaval de Veracruz Outfit Minnie 8 One Shoulder Dress with Ruffles 2 Mexican Independence Day Outfit Rebecca 4 Gingham Dress with Sunray-pleated Bodice 1 Guelaguetza Outfit Tim 9 Dress with Fans 7 Carnaval de Tlaxcala Outfit
Episode 5: Sports Week In this episode the pattern challenge saw sewers making swimming shorts. For the transformation challenge, the sewers - working in pairs - created a two-piece outfit using a windsurfing sail. For the made-to-measure challenge, the sewers made embroidered bowling shirts, incorporating both appliqué and embroidery.
SewerPattern Challenge(Swimming Shorts)Transformation Challenge(Two-piece Outfit)Made-to-measure(Bowling Shirt) Adele8 Triangle Top & Skirt 3 Blackburn Bowling Shirt Anna5 Criss-cross Trouser Suit 1 Cookery Bowling Shirt Beth 2Turquoise Stripe Dress 2 Barbell Club Bowling Shirt Emma3 Bustier Two-piece 4 Diving Bowling Shirt Heather1 Bustier Two-piece 4 Paragliding Bowling Shirt Minnie7 Turquoise Stripe Dress 2 Ice Hockey Bowling Shirt Rebecca4 Criss-cross Trouser Suit 1 Badgers Bowling Shirt Tim6 Triangle Top & Skirt 3 Early Morning Work Out Bowling Shirt
Episode 6: Kids Week The pattern challenge required the sewers to make a girl's tutu. For the transformation challenge, the sewers had to make a stuffed toy animal, using a child's fleece top. The made-to-measure challenge required sewers to make an original superhero costume for nine-year-olds to wear.
SewerPattern Challenge(Tutu)Transformation Challenge(Stuffed Toy Animal)Made-to-measure(Superhero Costume) Adele7Pig4Super Bee Anna2Octopus1Rocket Boy Beth1Monkey3Electra Emma6Stegosaurus2Zip Kid Heather4Elephant6Shapeshifter Minnie5Teddy Bear5Cat Girl Rebecca3Turtle7Treblemaker
Episode 7: Music Week The pattern challenge required the sewers to make a conical bra with a mesh bodice, such as that worn by Madonna. For the transformation challenge, the sewers had to create individual outfits for two different girl bands using bedroom furnishings (eg duvets, blankets, curtains, etc). The made-to-measure challenge required sewers to make a disco outfit.
SewerPattern Challenge(Madonna Inspired Cone Bra)Transformation Challenge(Girl Band Outfits)Made-to-measure(Disco-inspired Outfit) Adele 6 Halter Top with Skirt and Hat 6 Abba Inspired Two-piece Anna 5 Two-piece with Cowl Neck and Suspended Skirt 1 All Silver Dance Outfit Beth 3 Shorts with Studs 2 Pan's People-esque Two-piece Emma 4 Crop-top and Skirt 3 Sparkly Mini Kaftan Heather 1 Dress with Gingham Top 5 Disco Diva Stage Outfit Rebecca 2 Costume using Gathered Curtains 4 Halston Inspired Two-piece
Episode 8: Literary Icons Week The pattern challenge required the sewers to make a deerstalker hat, made famous by Sherlock Holmes. For the transformation challenge, sewers had to create an outfit, from school uniforms, that a grown-up Matilda would wear. The made-to-measure challenge had sewers make an outfit inspired by Jane Austen.
SewerPattern Challenge(Deerstalker)Transformation Challenge(Matilda-inspired Outfits)Made-to-measure(Jane Austen-inspired Outfit) Anna 5 Tartan Tearaway 1 Goth-sten Outfit for Catherine Morland Beth 1 Pleated Top with Shorts 2 Portrait Dress for Elizabeth Darcy Emma 2 Lattice Top with Culottes 4 Austen-tatious Ball Gown Heather 4 Pleated Skirt with Gingham Top 3 "If I was an Austen Heroine" Dress Rebecca 3 Summer Gingham Dress 5 Promenade Outfit for Emma Woodhouse
Episode 9: Wardrobe Heroes This episode focused on the staples of people's wardrobes. The pattern challenge had the sewers make a leather jacket, using pre-cut kits made from plant-based leather. For the transformation challenge, sewers created an outfit, suitable for a woman to wear to a wedding, using discarded mens' shirts. The made-to-measure challenge had sewers making an outfit inspired by the little black dress.
SewerPattern Challenge(Plant-based Leather Jacket)Transformation Challenge(Wedding Guest Outfit)Made-to-measure(Little Black Dress-inspired Outfit) Anna 4 Muted Collared Two-piece 1 LBD Inspired Dress Beth 1 Green Corduroy Dress 4 LBD Inspired Outfit Emma 2 Floral Two-piece 2 LBD Inspired Dress Heather 3 Gathered Pink and Pale Blue Dress 3 LBD Inspired Dress
Episode 10: Final The pattern challenge had the sewers making a cummerbund and a bow tie, such as a man would wear to a gala. For the transformation challenge, sewers were given gala tableware and were asked to create a chic outfit, suitable for a beach club. For the final made-to-measure challenge, the sewers had to make a metamorphosis-themed gala outfit. For this challenge, the sewers selected close friends to use as their live models.
SewerPattern Challenge(Cummerbund & Bow Tie)Transformation Challenge(Beach Club Outfit)Made-to-measure(Metamorphosis-themed Gala Outfit) Anna 1 Dress with Orange Pom-poms 1 Damselfly Dress Beth 3 Peach and Floral Asymmetric Dress 2 Straw to Gold Dress Emma 2 Silver and Lilac Jumpsuit 3 Mum On The School Run to Woman On A Night Out Oufit
Ratings Episodeno. Airdate Total viewers(millions) Weekly rankingall channels 1 14 July 2026 3.6398 2 21 July 2026 4.118 2 3 28 July 2026 4.249 2 4 4 August 2026 4.356 2 5 11 August 2026 3.517 6 6 18 August 2026 4.120 2 7 25 August 2026 4.381 4 8 1 September 2026 9 8 September 2026 10 15 September 2026
References