Pic: PA Media, BBC/Love Productions/Mark Bourdillon
Serena Baker, 21, was crowned the winner of popular TV sewing competition the Great British Sewing Bee last night.
Baker, a medical student from Glasgow, is the youngest ever winner of the competition, which has been airing on BBC Two for seven series.
Modelled on the Great British Bake Off, every week amateur competitors raced to hand-make elaborate and technically demanding clothing over a ten-week period.
All three of the finalists were under 35, with runner-up Rebecca just 23.
Baker said she hopes her win will inspire younger people to take up the craft: “I hope it proves that sewing can be a hobby for everyone, it used to be associated with older ladies, so I hope I have inspired younger people to start sewing.”
She added: “When they announced that I was the winner I could hardly believe it. I was totally overwhelmed and it was so much to take in.
“There were a few tears, but they were happy tears. I was high on happiness!”
Throughout the competition, Baker had impressed judges Esme Young and Patrick Grant with her takes on challenges including a buffet dress, paper bag shorts, a unisex children’s raincoat and a button-down sundress.
She had also quickly become a fan favourite for her technical abilities. Baker’s final look of the show was a ruffled yellow dress inspired by Villanelle from Killing Eve.
She told the BBC today: “With the slow fashion movement and being more sustainable, I like to combine that with my sewing too and that is something young people are getting more interested in, learning how to upcycle second-hand garments and learn how to mend them.” A queen!