The Great British Sewing Bee 2025: Episode 5

Episode 5 of was Reduce, Re-Use and Recycle Week

Pattern Challenge - Zero Waste Workwear Jacket

For the pattern challenge the contestants had to sew a zero waste workwear jacket. The workwear jacket had four pockets, a collar and buttons down the front. A zero waste pattern is designed in such a way that no fabric at all is wasted. They were given 4 hours to complete this challenge.

The pattern envelope contained very little, only one pattern piece! The sewers needed to carefully follow some detailed instructions, measurements and a diagram which gave them 13 pattern pieces. If they made any mistakes with the measurements every element of the jacket would be the wrong size. 

The judges were looking for an appropriate fabric for a workwear jacket, it needed to have enough bulk so that it looked like a workwear jacket. They were also looking for neat top stitching and for the buttons and button holes to be evenly spaced down the front. It's a zero waste pattern and if any of the pieces weren't measured correctly it could be a disaster. 

If you wanted to sew your own workwear jacket, The Zero Waste Workwear Jacket by Birgitta Helmersson would be perfect.

Transformation Challenge

For this challenge the dressmakers had to transform a tent into an outfit for a festival in 90 minutes. They were allowed to use one tent each and the judges were interested to see how different elements (straps, toggles, zips etc) from the tent could be used in imaginative ways to make something fun and wearable. The tents that they used had been rescued from festivals. 

Made to Measure Challenge - Inspired by the War Time Make Do and Mend Campaign

For this week's made to measure challenge the contestants were asked to be inspired by the war time make do and mend campaign. Make do and mend encouraged the repair, reuse and recycling of clothing during a period of rationing and its ethos is still relevant today. The dressmakers were asked to raid wardrobes and charity shops to create an outfit suitable for a family occasion like a christening, wedding or birthday party. The finished outfit needs to fit their model. They were given 4.5 hours for this challenge.

The Make Do and Mend Campaign started in 1942, one year after clothes rationing had been introduced. During this time people were asked to make do with the clothes they already owned, it was also about taking clothes and making them into something else.