Anna, who is part of St Leonard’s Hospice’s retail team, is one of 12 contestants in the brand new season of the Great British Sewing Bee which airs on BBC One at 8 pm on Tuesdays.
The 12th series returned to our screens on Tuesday, July 14 and spans 10 episodes.
Great British Sewing Bee’s Anna from York wins early praise. (Image: Photo: BBC Love Productions Neil Sherwood)
Anna, the 27-year-old who also works as a barista and waitress, lives on a narrowboat in North Yorkshire that she and her boyfriend built from a shell.
Her passion for sewing started when she began to repair and alter second-hand clothes, and began to recreate historical garments during the Covid pandemic lockdown.
Her unique style is influenced by gothic and grunge with a flamboyant flair, and she loves corsetry.
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Anna is also ethically and environmentally conscious, and likes to combine creativity with wearability.
She and her fellow contestants have been filming at the repurposed textile mill, Sunny Bank Mills in Leeds, battling it out across the pattern challenge, transformation and made-to-measure rounds, in a bid to win over judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young and be named best home sewer.
In keeping with the usual format, one contestant is likely to be eliminated most weeks and one garment named Garment of the Week.
Anna, far right, on The Great British Sewing Bee, BBC. (Image: BBC/Love Productions/Neil Sherwood))
The latest series will feature reduce, reuse, recycle week, sports week, music week and kids week, while there will also be new themes such as Mexico week, literary icons and wardrobe heroes.
Contestants are also being pushed to be sustainable and creative, with the show leaning into upcycling.
For the first time, sewers have to model their own made-to-measure garments, presenting their outfits on themselves rather than stand-in models.
Ahead of Anna’s first appearance, the St Leonard’s Hospice team took to social media to share their support: “We’re excited to share that our very own Anna from the St Leonard’s Hospice Retail team is one of 12 contestants taking part in the new series of The Great British Sewing Bee!
“Good luck, Anna! We’re all rooting for you.”
Without giving away too much from the first episode for anyone still catching up, the opener focused on British summertime clothing and accessories to test basic technique and creativity under time pressure.
In the pattern challenge, contestants made women’s summer shorts, judged on accuracy and finish.
In the transformation challenge, each sewer turned barbecue aprons into a functional bag, judged on practicality and flair.
For the made-to-measure section, they created a self-fit outfit for their own “perfect summer’s day” – from picnic two-pieces and beach dresses to a two-piece suit and heritage-inspired dresses.
St Leonard’s Hospice Facebook followers paid tribute to Anna’s talent, unique style, and generous spirit.
One follower wrote: “When I saw her own amazing creations I truly believed that we are looking at the winner.
“Her quirky, imaginative style really stands out. What an inventive and talented young lady.
“So looking forward to watching her progress in the competition and the incredible and unusual garments she is sure to create.
“Her vision, creativity and top notch ability at the sewing machine will bring her success well beyond this programme…A clothes designer in the making.”
Another Sewing Bee fan, who is involved in the hospice movement in Ireland, wrote: “One way or another she is a winner in life as her generous spirit shines through in her lovely smile.”
Another added: “Looking at her outfits it’s obvious that she is insanely talented. She’s already my favourite.”