The Great British Sewing Bee - Season 8

Sara Pascoe welcomes 12 of Britain's most talented home sewers into the sewing room, which is in an historic woollen mill on the outskirts of Leeds. Week One sees judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young ask them to create a capsule wardrobe consisting of three items.

First, for the Pattern Challenge, they must produce a wool mini skirt with piped patch pockets. For the Transformation Challenge, the task is to turn lockdown loungewear into a going-out top for an adult, and in the Made to Measure, the sewers must perfectly fit a wrap dress to their model.

One sewer gets off to a flying start, being awarded Garment of the Week, while another's hopes are dashed as they become the first to be sent home.

The sewers take to their marks for Sports Week as host Sara Pascoe sets three new challenges.

Patrick and Esme's Pattern Challenge is a Sewing Bee first: a pair of high-top trainers. Sewing bespoke footwear means tackling a range of unfamiliar techniques, including punching eyelets and stitching soles - all of which must be done twice to create a perfect pair.

The sewers need to be on the ball in the Transformation Challenge, converting old netball kits into a garment to wear off the court in just 90 minutes. For the Made to Measure Challenge, they each fit a jacket inspired by their sporting hero. As well as fit and finish, the judges will be looking to see if their hero's personality or style is evident.

Who will win garment of the week, and who will be last over the finish line?

The ten remaining home sewers create light and airy outfits for summer week. Patrick and Esme kick off with a pattern for a high fashion shirred midi dress with puff sleeves. The sewers are put to the test sewing with elastic to create a romantic and dreamy day dress.

In the Transformation Challenge, there's no hanging about as they're given just 90 minutes to turn garden hammocks into summer garments. Finally, the sewers must make a two-piece co-ordinated trousered outfit for having fun in the sun. Who will impress and win Garment of the Week, and who will become the third sewer to leave the competition?

The Great British Sewing Bee does its bit for the planet with Reduce, Reuse and Recycle week. Host Sara Pascoe invites the nine remaining home sewers to create a quilted patchwork jacket from a load of old scraps from past Sewing Bees.

Next, in the Transformation Challenge, the sewers breathe new life into boring old coats by completely deconstructing them and refashioning them into brand new stylish outerwear.

For the Made to Measure, the sewers fit a maxi dress to a model using only an unwanted duvet cover. Who will ace this creative brief and win Garment of the Week, and who will have to leave the sewing room?

It's Children's Week in the sewing room, and Sara Pascoe invites the sewers to make a cute sailor suit for a toddler. The task requires them to make elasticated shorts and a top with a square collar and ties.

For the Transformation Challenge, the sewers turn old school clothes into a cool outfit to be seen in outside school. Then things get scary when mini-models enter the sewing room for a Halloween-themed Made to Measure. Whose costume will go down a treat and win Garment of the Week, and who will leave with a whimper?

Music Week brings three different musical and sartorial genres to the Sewing Bee. Sara Pascoe kicks off the week with a pattern for the parka coat that was adopted by Mod culture in the 1960s. With its classic fishtail vent and complex zip opening and hood, this is a feat of engineering.

Country music is the inspiration for the Transformation Challenge, as the sewers take old denim and turn it into stage gear worthy of Dolly Parton. Finally, the Made to Measure is an homage to David Bowie and his many incarnations. The sewers pay tribute with Bowie-inspired outfits fitted to a model.

A place in the quarter-final is at stake this week, and the challenges are all about lingerie. Host Sara Pascoe starts the sewers off with a fiddly pattern for a lace underwired bra and matching knicker set. With such small pattern pieces, there is no margin for error, and Patrick and Esme's eagle eyes will spot every mistake.

The Transformation Challenge requires the sewers to take thermal underwear and turn it into daywear. Then male models fill the sewing room to be fitted for a pair of luxury pyjamas. One sewer wins Garment of the Week and another is asked to leave the Sewing Room.

The quarter-final takes the sewers back to the golden era of the 1930s. Esme and Patrick set them a Pattern Challenge for a pair of women's sailor-inspired trousers with a complex bib-front button opening and equally tricky pockets.

Then the sewers show off their ability to think on their feet when they are given men's shirts to turn into 1930s women's blouses. Finally, it's time for a touch of Hollywood glamour when they are asked to perfectly fit a bias-cut evening gown reminiscent of outfits worn by Katharine Hepburn and Bette Davis.

Sara Pascoe welcomes the four semi-finalists into the Sewing Room to celebrate the influences of Japanese design and sewing. For the Pattern Challenge, Esme has collaborated with a Japanese designer to come up with a kimono-inspired dress that proves to be a brain-teaser. This is for a place in the final, after all.

The Transformation Challenge is on a smaller scale than usual, as the sewers take worn-out denim and apply the Japanese techniques of sashiko and boro to mend areas of wear and tear, enhancing it with appliqué and embroidery.

Finally, their Made to Measure challenge is to fit an outfit to their model which has elements of origami folds and pleats.

It's the grande finale, and it's Party Week as the finalists compete for the title of Britain's best amateur sewer. They take on a trio of party-themed challenges, starting with the pattern for one of Esme's iconic Swanky Modes designs - the Amorphous dress. Made from one piece of Lycra and manipulated into shape with a connection of D-rings, this garment is all about precision and fabric handling.

Then it's their final chance to show off their ability to think on their feet as they take on the Transformation Challenge. They are brought face-to-face with all their scraps from the past nine weeks and must fashion them into an outfit that they would wear to a party.

Finally, they fit a red-carpet jumpsuit using sparkles and luxury fabrics to a model who is a friend or a family member. The previously eliminated sewers return for a reunion, and the judges have the difficult task of deciding who will be crowned Britain's best amateur sewer.