The Great British Sewing Bee

The Great British Sewing Bee returns for an eight-part series presented by Claudia Winkleman. Ten of the country's best home sewers face three challenges to make or alter an item of clothing under intense time pressure. Each week, their creations are judged by Savile Row's Patrick Grant and sewing expert May Martin, until one of them is crowned Britain's best amateur sewer.

The first episode tests the sewers on the three core fabrics in a dressmaker's cupboard: cotton, wool and silk. The surprise Pattern Challenge tasks the sewers with making a simple tunic top out of straightforward cotton. Some excel at producing the perfect top, some struggle to finish, and others cut corners - to their cost.

In the Alteration Challenge the sewers demonstrate their ability to transform a plain high street woollen skirt in just 90 minutes, creating mini skirts with frills, pencil skirts with peplums, and dungarees.

Finally, the sewers face the toughest of core fabrics when asked to fit a made-to-measure silk nightgown for a model.

Claudia Winkleman welcomes the nine home sewers back to the sewing room to face three more challenges. This episode tests their ability to match and combine patterned fabric. First the judges, Savile Row's Patrick Grant and sewing expert May Martin, surprise the sewers with a pattern for a pleated skirt. The catch is that they must match the pattern of the fabric across those pleats without changing the size of the skirt, which catches a few of the sewers out.

They must show their ingenuity by combining two patterned men's shirts into one garment - the results range from a little sailor dress to a boob tube.

Finally, they make made-to-measure men's patterned pyjamas which must both match across the seams and fit their male model perfectly.

Claudia Winkleman hosts The Great British Sewing Bee as the eight amateur sewers prepare to do battle again in three challenges designed to test their ability to handle stretchy fabric.

The judges - Savile Row's Patrick Grant and sewing expert May Martin - first give them a surprise pattern for a simple pair of leggings with resulting snug and saggy bottoms.

Next, the sewers are free to do whatever they like to turn an oversized T-shirt into a completely different garment - and they come up with some ingenious alterations, from a toddler's leotard to an asymmetric minidress.

Finally, they face the most fitted made-to-measure challenge yet.

Claudia Winkleman welcomes the seven home sewers as they return to the sewing room to make clothes on a miniature scale.

They face three challenges to test their ability to make children's clothes, starting with toddler dungarees. For the alteration challenge they are given a sweatshirt, track suit bottoms and, of all things, a pillowcase. From these items they have to rustle up a fancy dress outfit and the sewers produce everything from mini Johnny Depp pirate outfits to dinosaur costumes complete with tail.

Finally, they must create a spectacular made-to-measure prom dress for a teenager. To their complete surprise, the models are people they know from home.

The six home sewers are taken out of their comfort zone by Claudia Winkleman when the judges set them three challenges which require them to handle some of the most difficult fabrics to sew with.

The surprise pattern is for a nylon anorak, which means ironing the garment could prove disastrous.

For the first time, the sewers handle something which isn't a textile, as a high street top is transformed with leather. And, in a new twist to the series, they pair up to be each other's 'fit buddies' as they are asked to make a pair of trousers for themselves - in delicate velvet.

Claudia Winkleman takes the five home sewers back in time for the quarter-final.

Patrick Grant of Savile Row and sewing teacher May Martin have tracked down an original pattern from the 1930s to surprise the sewers with. Without the markings and guidance of a modern-day pattern, they must figure out the codes to make a complex silky blouse. To make the challenge a true sewing re-enactment, they are each given an antique 1930s sewing machine to work on. Some of the sewers actually learn to sew on these machines, while others are horrified at a machine that is so basic in comparison to the modern ones they are used to.

Next, the sewers relive the days of 'make do and mend', when they are given a man's suit to transform into a wearable garment for a woman. Finally, they take on the most ambitious made-to-measure challenge yet - a complex and hefty coat taken from a historic or vintage

Claudia Winkleman welcomes the four remaining sewers back to the sewing room. They face three challenges - none of which permit a pattern for guidance. First, they must demonstrate their ability to drape on the stand by making a dress out of a piece of fabric straight onto the mannequin - a practice made popular in the 1930s. Next, they alter a dress by adding a pair of perfectly symmetrical sleeves. Finally, they bring in their favourite garment from home, make a new copy and fit it to themselves. Some play it safe to reproduce simple dresses while others take ambitious risks. Who will be rewarded with a place in the final?

The Great British Sewing Bee reaches its climax as the three finalists enter the sewing room for the very last time.

Sewing expert May Martin and Savile Row's Patrick Grant must decide who will take the title of Britain's best amateur sewer. They set the contestants three tough couture-themed challenges.

The first surprise pattern tests their hand-sewing skills, when they are asked to make a man's tie. It sounds straightforward but, as it is couture week, the judges expect nothing less than perfection. For the alteration challenge they give the finalists a choice of wedding dresses from which they must produce a child's bridesmaid dress. Finally they are asked to fit a stunning made-to-measure couture gown for a model they were not expecting.

Family, friends and the other contestants are reunited in the sewing room to see one person crowned the winner of The Great British Sewing Bee 2014.