The Great British Sewing Bee 2025: Episode 4

Week 4 is Korea Week!

This week’s guest judge was Eudon Choi, an award-winning Korean designer known internationally for his architectural tailoring and modern womenswear. 

Pattern Challenge - Jeogori

For the pattern challenge the dressmakers were asked to make a women's jeogori. A jeogori is the top part of the hanbok which is the traditional Korean costume. It is a jacket like top with collar, it closes at the front with wrap and a pair of ties. 

Traditionally the main bodice, sleeves and front panel are made in one fabric, whilst the collar and tie are in a second fabric. The dressmakers needed to choose two fabrics that complemented each other, the fabrics needed to hold their shape and they needed to be able to press them well. 

The collar on the jeogori needs to lie very flat, the sewers then had to stitch in the ditch around the collar. The tie should be stitched precisely and have perfectly square corners. 

Images Copyright: BBC / Love Productions

Transformation Challenge

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and for the transformation challenge the contestants were asked to transform a taekwondo uniform into a completely different garment. They were allowed to take a taekwondo uniform made up of one pair of trousers, one tunic and a set of 5 belts (black, blue, yellow, red and white), they were not allowed to use any trims or extra fabrics.

The dressmakers came up with some eye catching outfits and found clever ways to weave the belts into their creations.

Made To Measure - An outfit inspired by the Cheollik

A cheollik was traditionally worn by men under an official military overcoat, but more recently it has been re-imagined as womenswear. For this challenge the dressmakers were asked to make an outfit inspired by a cheollik in 5 hours.

The contestants had practiced this at home but they had to make them perfectly fit their models.

The cheollik started being worn during the Goryeo Dynasty. It started as a military coat built for movement and authority with a flat collar, pleats and ties. Over the years it has been worn by royalty and evolved from rugged menswear into elegant womenswear.

The cheollik is very similar to the jeogori but the upper body is slightly longer and it has an attached skirt.  

Most sewers used commercial patterns as a basis for their designs but some of them did self draft their own patterns. 

I really enjoyed this episode! I hope you did too.