Great British Sewing Bee: Caz from the West Mids emerges triumphant
The 60-year-old from Staffordshire made it through ten weeks of challenges
The judges have made their final decision - and have crowned 60-year-old Caz from Staffordshire as the winner of this year's Great British Sewing Bee.
She - and the other two finalists, Orla and Yasmin - made it through ten weeks of tough challenges to become Britain's Best Amateur Sewer for 2025.
Throughout the series, a dozen talented home sewers created beautiful garments under the scrutiny of judges Esme Young and Patrick Grant, but it was Caz who won the coveted title, and also won Garment of the Week three times in Design Icons Week, Korea Week, and Kids Week.
For the gripping final, it was all about making a bias cut slip dress, transform sheer garments into a finale outfit, and produce a winning Trompe l’oeil outfit!
'I never win anything!'
Caz said: "Thank you so much. I have gone and won something, I never win anything!
"I didn’t think I would be able to do it. I remember after that very first catwalk I rang my husband saying I am literally in awe of these people.
"When I was a child I loved sewing and you have no fear as a child and you just sew anything.
"I think it’s really important to get that fun back. That’s why most of us sew, we sew for the sheer joy and the love of it.
"And I have got a lot of love for it. It’s truly truly brilliant."
'I'm really pleased for Caz'
Esme said: "I am really pleased for Caz, I loved her final garment."
Patrick added: "Caz pulled it out of the bag in spectacular fashion with so much courage, so much flair, so much beautiful technique, it was amazing!"
The final
The inspiration for her Made to Measure dress in the final challenge was her open heart surgery four years ago.
She said she wanted it to be a thank you to the NHS and Stoke University Hospital, but what made it so special was that my daughter Florence was her model.
The judges praised the story behind the garment, with its judicious use of red and 'smashing' sewing.
Caz reflected: "I am totally overwhelmed and I still feel quite emotional about it all, it hasn’t quite sunk in. Of course my husband and family knew, but I only confided in one friend and one only, so it will be a surprise to a lot of people that know me. Even my parents didn’t know!
"I was thrilled to get my daughter Florence on the show as my model, she had the best day ever she just absolutely loved it. So that was more important for me than anything else. As a family we don’t generally use the word proud, but I think on this occasion we will allow it.
"I came top in three challenges in the first three weeks. That was a weird one for me, you are just thinking about what you have to do next, so at the time I didn’t really appreciate how big a deal it was. But seeing it back on TV, I actually realised that I might have done quite well! The Trophy has lived in the bottom of my wardrobe until now, it will probably go on our side table so everyone can see it.
"Going into the final I was so excited that we had actually got there. I was quite relaxed because whatever the outcome I had got to the Final and I knew I was going to see my daughter. And of course it was lovely to see my son, Cyrus and my husband, Darius. Now funnily enough my husband will randomly shout out you have got 10 minutes left, and we could be anywhere!
"My fellow Bees at the Final, Orla and Yasmin – well I thought at the time that any one of us could have won it. It was a joy to be with them and we all supported each other, they were there for me and I was there for them. In my mind we were all winners.
"I would love to thank my close friends and family for all their support. My husband was brilliant at picking up the slack at home and putting up with my journey, and the lack of belief in myself. Before going into the show, I never thought in a million years that I would get on it, or have a chance of actually winning.
"I was amazed at how much hard work the production team put into behind the scenes, and I also found it a wonderfully caring environment and wonderful place to be. Of course I loved the haberdashery I just wished I had spent more time in there!
"Watching the series has been an absolute joy. I thought at first that I looked funny and sounded funny but then I parked that. And from week two I just decided to enjoy it and laugh along with it. My friends complained that they couldn’t hear the TV because of my laughing.
"I did find 1920’s Week hard, because it wasn’t about using the 20s as reference (or it wasn’t in my head), I wanted to make an authentic dress made using authentic techniques. I particularly loved designing the horror outfit in Movies Week. I loved doing the research and came up with so many designs it was hard in the end to choose my favourite!
"The best moments in the series for me were always watching the catwalks, not just my outfits but all of the outfits. The worst moment was in the pattern challenge for Movie Week. I’d chosen the most amazing wool fabric and then for some reason I moved two pattern pieces and cut them out of one of the previously cut pieces. Regardless of how this set me back in the challenge I was gutted at the waste of this beautiful fabric.
"I would encourage anyone to enter. We have preconceived notions of how good we are at sewing or how we would respond to stress, but the truth is you don’t know until you try. I had the most fun and felt so much younger than when I started. It is hard work but you will learn from it. And at the end of it you will have a brilliant new group of friends.
"At home I will definitely make the denim jumpsuit again, and the Cheollik and the wrap dress, maybe the hat too, I also rather liked the plus fours! Before the Sewing Bee, I limited my sewing to fabrics and patterns that I knew I could sew. Now I would attempt anything, alter patterns maybe even make my own pattern. I would probably prefer to sew a nice stable cotton, but I wouldn’t let it stop me.
"I don’t know exactly what is next for me in the sewing world, but I definitely want to be more creative in my sewing, make outfits that have more life in them, and that make me smile. Obviously I’ll still be making lots of shirts and pants!
"I will take away from my experience of being on The Great British Sewing Bee amazing new friends, an increased zest for life and a desire to push myself more often. The response from young to old on social media has been amazing, and they have all said how I have inspired them to either start to sew or be more creative in their sewing. That’s something that I never imagined happening to me, and I have really found it a lovely experience."