BBC/Love Productions/Neil Sherwood
Spoiler warning: This story contains details of episode three of the current series of The Great British Sewing Bee
The Covid-19 lockdowns saw many people develop new interests and hobbies – and for Anna, an amateur sewer from York, it was the chance to research fashion history and recreate historical garments.
Anna’s fascination has now taken her onto our TV screens, with the 27-year-old currently taking part in hit BBC One show The Great British Sewing Bee.
The TV competition, now in its 12th series, sees 12 amateur sewers competing to create three outfits per episode, with themes such as sport, summertime and “kids week”.
Anna says she signed up to the contest after spending years stitching as a hobby, originally repairing clothes in a bid to be more environmentally-friendly.
“For a long time I’ve had this dream – I really want to work in costume,” she explains.
“I just wanted to do something which would push me out of my comfort zone, something that would really challenge me and I could learn new skills.
“I thought, ‘What’s the scariest thing I could do? Sew on TV’.”
Anna’s project has seen her stitching her way to success in episode three of the current series, with one of her creations deemed “garment of the week”.
Judge Patrick Grant was even moved to tears, saying it was “one of the best things we’ve ever seen”.
While hailing her experience filming the programme as “absolutely amazing”, Anna says time pressures made it “incredibly stressful”.
“Half of that five-hour timeslot we get, you have to be chatting to the camera, and that takes a lot of time as well,” she says.
But for Anna, deadlines are not a bad thing.
“I really like a bit of pressure behind me. I think I do my best work.”
Away from the bright lights of the Sewing Bee set at a former mill complex in Leeds, Anna lives on a narrowboat in York with her boyfriend Sebastian.
They met at a gig while studying Sociology at university in Manchester, and they renovated their floating home together.
Anna works part-time as a member of the retail team at the St Leonard’s Hospice charity.
Since being announced as part of the cast for the current series of Sewing Bee, Anna says she has been stopped by fans on a few occasions, which “definitely takes a bit of getting used to”.
“It’s quite a strange sensation, but everyone’s been so so lovely.”
Before appearing on our TV screens, Anna says she had to keep her participation in the show very much a secret.
However, she could “let out all my excitement” to a small group of “supportive” family and close friends.
“If not, I think I would have exploded,” she smiles.
“My mum is potentially more excited than I am.”
Understandably, Anna remains tight-lipped about the final result of the competition.
“Every single person, even to get in that room, they’re all so, so talented,” she says.
“Anyone is more than capable of winning in that group.”
But Anna says that whatever the outcome, “genuine friendships” have been forged.
“The atmosphere in there is lovely”, Anna says.
“They’re such a lovely bunch. We all hang out regularly.”
Listen to highlights fromNorth Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latestepisode of Look North.
