Caz, a 60-year-old competitor from Staffordshire, was crowned the winner of the 11th series of The Great British Sewing Bee on BBC One on Tuesday.
The judges, Esme Young and Patrick Grant, announced Caz's victory at the end of the final, in which the remaining contestants — Caz, Orla and Yasmin — were tasked with producing a bias-cut slip dress, transforming sheer garments into a finale outfit and delivering a Trompe l'oeil look. Caz had previously won "garment of the week" three times during the series, for design icons week, Korea week and kids week.
"I am totally overwhelmed and I still feel quite emotional about it all, it hasn't quite sunk in," Caz said after her win. She said she had only confided in one friend before the final and that the victory would come as a surprise to many who know her, including her parents. "Of course my husband and family knew, but I only confided in one friend and one only, so it will be a surprise to a lot of people that know me. Even my parents didn't know."
Caz said getting her daughter, Florence, to model for her on the final day was the highlight. "That was more important for me than anything else," she said. "As a family, we don't generally use the word proud but I think on this occasion we will allow it." She added: "I have gone and won something, I never win anything. I didn't think I would be able to do it."
Young described herself as "really pleased" for Caz and said she loved the final garment. Grant praised Caz's performance, saying: "Caz pulled it out of the bag in spectacular fashion with so much courage, so much flair, so much beautiful technique. It was amazing."
Caz began sewing at age 11 and made her own wedding dress 28 years ago. She stepped away from the craft for a period but said her passion was reignited during the COVID-19 lockdown, a turning point that led her back to sewing for pleasure and creativity.
The Great British Sewing Bee, which airs on BBC One, challenges amateur sewers with weekly briefs that test construction, fit and creativity. Series 11 featured themed weeks and technical tests culminating in the final three-way contest that produced Caz as the series champion.
Caz said the show reminded her of the joy of sewing and the fearless experimentation of childhood. "When I was a child, I loved sewing and you have no fear as a child and you just sew anything. I think it's really important to get that fun back, that's why most of us sew, we sew for the sheer joy and the love of it, and I have got a lot of love for it," she said.