Meet the WINNER of Sewing Bee 2021!
Wow, after 10 entertaining weeks, Great British Sewing Bee Finals Week is here! Judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young have been putting the 12 talented home sewists through their paces, with a series of tricky challenges designed to test their skills and put their creativity to the test.
For the finale of Sewing Bee 2021, host Joe Lycett welcomed the three remaining sewists into the sewing room for the last time, as we saw Raph, Serena and Rebecca show off their sewing abilities and create one-of-a-kind garments.
To start things off, the trio were challenged to sew a little girl's bridesmaid dress, complete with complex elements such as puff sleeves, big bows and a lined bodice. For more inspiration, try these FREE girl's bridesmaid dress patterns!
Next it was time to transform homeware textiles like curtains and tablecloths into fun outfits you would want to wear at a summer festival.
Finally, the Made to Measure challenge had the three remaining contestants construct and fit glamorous off-the-shoulder evening gowns for their models. The red carpet-worthy gowns each thrilled judges Patrick and Esme, but it was Serena's attention to detail which really stole the show and she was crowned this year's winner! Try these dramatic dress patterns tonight to create your very own show-stopper.
After the winner was revealed, Serena said: "When they announced that I was the winner I could hardly believe it. I was totally overwhelmed and it was so much to take in. It had been an intense 10 weeks, but mostly I felt just really happy and proud of myself. There were a few tears, but they were happy tears. I was high on happiness!’
"I am so proud of everything that I have done. I made things that I never thought I would ever be able to make and learn things about myself. It’s been life changing basically, it’s just been amazing."
Congratulations to all of the Sewing Bee contestants this year and to the fantastic final three, we've loved watching your sewing journey this year! And of course, well done to Serena!
We caught up with Serena to find out more about her amazing win and what it feels like to be the youngest ever winner of the Sewing Bee and the first Scottish winner too!
How does it feel to be the winner?
I thought it had sunk in, but then when it started transmitting on TV and to be reliving it with so many people, family and friends, I realised it hadn’t sunk in. You are all watching it and experiencing it at the same time, because I hadn’t seen any of the episodes. So the emotions felt all new again.
What about being the youngest Bee ever to win, and the first Scottish winner?
I have had a lot of support from Scotland, and I feel so excited to bring the trophy home to Scotland, I hope I have made the country proud.
I feel so excited to bring the trophy home to Scotland, I hope I have made the country proud.
Also, I hope it proves that sewing can be a hobby for everyone, it used to be associated with older ladies, so I hope I have inspired younger people to start sewing. Rebecca is young too so that’s another inspiration - and Raph will definitely inspire men to sew!
We were all very supportive of each other, even up to the Final
Where do you keep the trophy?
It has been hidden in a box on top of the wardrobe but now it will be in pride of place. I am moving flats soon, so location to be confirmed!
What about your fellow Finalists – Raphael and Rebecca?
I think all of the Bees were amazing sewers and all of the garments in the Final were fabulous that Raph and Rebecca made. We were all very supportive of each other, even up to the Final. We genuinely wanted each other to do well, and there was no harsh competitiveness all the way through, there really wasn’t!
Did you ever imagine you could get to this stage?
I was amazed to get to the Semi-Final and then it was just incredible to know I would be in the Final. You have no idea how you are going to do as a sewer within the time constraints. You face difficult moments and sometimes it gets quite hard, so at those times you don’t expect to get to the Final. It was a completely surreal point for me to know I had made it to the end.
Check out these FREE cocktail dress patterns for more party sewing inspiration!
https://craftworld.com/cms/5-free-cocktail-dress-patterns/
What went wrong in the Final for you and what were your best bits?
I struggled to get the dress on my model at the end, as I am quite small, and my model Sarah was 6ft 2" with 3" heels on. To be honest I was quite lucky as not much else went wrong. The best bit ever was hearing my name announced as the winner, and also feeling that I had achieved what I had hoped for with my final dress. I wanted my model to feel confident in the dress and be happy with it. I was able to reclaim my pattern challenge ‘crown’ , especially after Raph winning it in the Semi-Final.
How tense was the atmosphere at the Final and what about the Challenges?
It was similar to the semi final, the same nerves and excitement. My favourite challenge in the Final was weirdly the Pattern Challenge as I like being exact and precise. At the start of the series I found the Transformation Challenge really difficult, but by the Final I really enjoyed it. Maybe because I knew it would be the last time I would ever have to do one!
What is your favourite outfit overall?
One of my favourites was the Dior inspired outfit in the Semi Final, when I won Garment of the Week, and I might add for the very first time. Raph and Farie had won Garment of the Week each on 3 different episodes. I felt it was the one where my design, sewing and fit finally came together for me and I was so unbelievably proud of seeing this outfit finished on my model. I worked really hard on it before and during the challenge and it more than paid off, and my model loved it.
My next favourite garment would be on Week 7, a green satin tuxedo dress, I was proud of the design, although the fabric didn’t go my way. It felt a bit more out there than my usual style.
Looking to master slippery fabric? Check out our expert guide here!
https://craftworld.com/cms/guide-to-sewing-slippery-fabrics/
What did you learn from this series of Sewing Bee?
I liked being able to experiment more on Sewing Bee, and make different outfits than I would normally make. Being a student I have to keep to a budget, but I now like to make more unique and wearable items since being on the show. I feel like the experience has given me much more sewing confidence. I did find a new style that I liked. At the start of the competition I made more floral and patterned garments perhaps on a safer level, but towards the end I would go for more bolder colours, shape and volume which were a bit more of a dramatic look than I would normally go for.
What will you take away from your experience of being on The Great British Sewing Bee?
A new sense of confidence and empowerment in myself and my sewing. Plus, lots of new sewing tips!
Best and worst moment for you during the whole series?
My best moment had to be hearing my name called as the winner, of course! And then Esme told me my garments looked like they had fairy dust sprinkled on them, so that wasn’t bad either!
My worst moment of the series had to be coming last in the transformation challenge in International Week [Episode 4]. I was just so unhappy and disappointed with my transformation – but it acted as a motivation to push myself in future ones!
Favourite challenge overall and why?
My favourite challenge had to be the parachute transformation on 40’s week, in Episode 9. Not during the challenge (that was awful), but afterwards, seeing what we all created was amazing! . Plus it was the closest I ever came to not finishing, and I was convinced my finished garment was really not great, so to see my dress on the mannequin, stepping back and discovering it looked good was quite funny!
What has it been like on the University campus?
To be honest I have had exams so not been out much, a couple of times I have been recognised but mainly I have been keeping my head down and studying. Everyone on my course at University has been so supportive.
Anyone you want to thank?
My parents and my whole family who have put up with my sewing machine for so long. I have sewn in shared spaces and it can be noisy. And my current flat mate for putting up with that too!
Sharing the experience of winning with the other Bees?
All the Sewing Bees were on Zoom for the Final and heard me being announced. We have Zoomed every month since, so although they weren’t there in person they were all excited and supportive of my win.
I want to keep learning new things both as a student and a sewer.
How did you watch the series and the Final?
Throughout the series I have watched mainly at University, but when I was at home for a couple of weeks I did manage to watch with some of the family. For the Final it was the family and also Sarah my model [as she is my brother George’s girlfriend]. We had some bubbles as I had kept a bottle of champagne that my dad bought me for my 21st . Because of Covid I hadn’t been able to use it, so we had that and it was a sweet little party.
Finally, what's next for you?
I have two more years at University, then I have two foundation years training as a junior doctor, and after that I am not sure. I will still be sewing the whole time whenever I can. I am not sure where anything will take me, but I want to keep learning new things both as a student and a sewer.
Congratulations again Serena! To keep up to date with Serena's latest sewing, follow her on Instagram serenasews_