The BEST episodes of The Great British Sewing Bee season 2

#1 - Episode 6

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/25/2014

The first challenge for the five quarter-finalists is to make silky blouses from 1930s patterns using sewing machines from that period. Next, they have to transform men's suits into garments for women, before fashioning complex and hefty made-to-measure coats taken from a historic or vintage pattern. Judges May Martin and Patrick Grant then decide which four will go through to the semi-final. Claudia Winkleman presents.

#2 - Episode 8

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 4/8/2014

The competition reaches its climax as the three finalists enter the sewing room for the very last time, with May Martin and Patrick Grant setting them three tough couture-themed challenges. The first tests their hand-stitching skills as they are asked to make a man's tie, and then have to produce a child's bridesmaid outfit from a wedding dress in the alteration task. Finally they are asked to fit a made-to-measure gown for a model, before the judges decide which of them deserves the title of Britain's best amateur sewer. Last in the series.

#3 - Episode 7

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 4/1/2014

The four semi-finalists face three challenges in which they are not allowed to use a pattern for guidance, having to fit a dress to a mannequin, add a pair of symmetrical sleeves to a garment and make a copy of a favourite item of clothing. Judges May Martin and Patrick Grant then decide which three will go through to next week's final. Claudia Winkleman presents.

#4 - Episode 5

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/18/2014

The six remaining contestants face three challenges testing their ability to work with fabric that is difficult to sew, starting by following a pattern for a nylon anorak. Next, they must use leather to transform a high-street top, before they finish by making a pair of velvet trousers to fit themselves. Judges May Martin and Patrick Grant then decide who will leave the competition. Claudia Winkleman presents.

#5 - Episode 1

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/18/2014

The Great British Sewing Bee returns for an eight-part series presented by Claudia Winkleman. Ten of the country's best home sewers face three challenges to make or alter an item of clothing under intense time pressure. Each week, their creations are judged by Savile Row's Patrick Grant and sewing expert May Martin, until one of them is crowned Britain's best amateur sewer. The first episode tests the sewers on the three core fabrics in a dressmaker's cupboard: cotton, wool and silk. The surprise Pattern Challenge tasks the sewers with making a simple tunic top out of straightforward cotton. Some excel at producing the perfect top, some struggle to finish, and others cut corners - to their cost. In the Alteration Challenge the sewers demonstrate their ability to transform a plain high street woollen skirt in just 90 minutes, creating mini skirts with frills, pencil skirts with peplums, and dungarees. Finally, the sewers face the toughest of core fabrics when asked to fit a made-to-measure silk nightgown for a model.

#6 - Episode 4

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/11/2014

#7 - Episode 2

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/25/2014

Claudia Winkleman welcomes the nine home sewers back to the sewing room to face three more challenges. This episode tests their ability to match and combine patterned fabric. First the judges, Savile Row's Patrick Grant and sewing expert May Martin, surprise the sewers with a pattern for a pleated skirt. The catch is that they must match the pattern of the fabric across those pleats without changing the size of the skirt, which catches a few of the sewers out. They must show their ingenuity by combining two patterned men's shirts into one garment - the results range from a little sailor dress to a boob tube. Finally, they make made-to-measure men's patterned pyjamas which must both match across the seams and fit their male model perfectly.

#8 - Episode 3

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/4/2014