'Multi-talented' Midlothian opera singer in the running for Great British Sewing Bee crown
Singer and mum-of-two Emma Morwood will compete for the coveted title of Britain’s best amateur sewer in Tuesday night’s final
An opera singer from Midlothian is in the running to be crowned champion of the Great British Sewing Bee, battling it out in the final of the BBC show which airs on Tuesday.
Emma Morwood, a soprano originally from Northern Ireland, is among the final three contestants of season 12 of the hit show, which sees talented amateur sewers from across the UK go head-to-head in weekly design challenges.
The 45-year-old has brought her bold and characterful personal style to the sewing room, winning garment of the week in episode one for her multi-coloured swimsuit and trouser set, which was described as “bold and brilliant” by the judges.
The remaining contestants will face three tasks to test their skills for the final time, including a cummerbund and bow tie, a beach club outfit made out of gala tableware, and a final showstopper on the theme of metamorphosis fit for the Sewing Bee Met Gala.
The mum-of-two was taught to sew by her mum as a teenager, but didn’t take it back up until the Covid lockdown when she started making face coverings to order using donated fabrics.
She began sewing clothes “properly” in 2023 after being encouraged by a friend and since then has made all her own clothes, only buying from shops when she needs new exercise gear.
She’s become an expert at making herself tailored dresses and jumpsuits to fit her individual measurements.
Describing her taste in clothes, she said: “My style is definitely dopamine dressing - I love bright colours and patterns. My brother once told me that I looked like I’d been in an explosion in a paint factory.
“I’ve just passed on a big pile of clothes in my wardrobe that I don’t wear any more because I didn’t make them. So I’d say I wear ‘me-made’ clothes 80 per cent of the time.
She continued: “I get loads of compliments from friends and strangers for some of my more colourful outfits. I’m a bit naughty because I love to admit to having made it.
“I don’t think we should play down our creativity. I’m always one to dish out a compliment if I think someone looks good - even just walking down the street. It’s lovely to give and receive compliments.”
As a critically acclaimed opera singer, Emma has performed with leading orchestras and conductors across Europe, and has starred in various operas including productions of Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, Strauss' Capriccio and Mozart's Cosí fan tutte.
She recently performed in Strauss’s Elektra alongside the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at the Edinburgh International Festival, which was described by The Times as “one of the most visceral experiences opera has to offer”.
Speaking of her motivation to put her sewing skills to the test, she said: “I love a challenge. Like really love a challenge. As soon as it was a seed in my head that I might apply, I had to go for it.
“I love the show and since starting sewing again, I always thought it would be such a dream to be on the show.”
The Great British Sewing Bee: The Final airs on BBC One at 8pm on Tuesday.