A bee-rilliant year for Brogan!

Congratulations on getting to the final! How does it feel to be a finalist of the Great British Sewing Bee?

It does feel amazing actually! Obviously, it’s been a tense couple of episodes. It’s been very close and there were a couple of times where I thought I was a goner! But it is surreal, and I think when you watch it on TV, you don’t really realise how emotionally invested the contestants get. By the end, we were so emotionally and physically exhausted because it is such an intense process, and we all just wanted everyone to get through and have a good week!

I read on your blog that the first garment you made was a tweed jacket; where did your love for sewing and crafts first come from and how has your passion grown since then?

Yes, it was, it was absolutely hideous! I think I’ve just always loved anything creative. I can remember when I was at school all my favourite subjects were art and textiles – so all the creative things. I started sewing because my mum and dad got me a sewing machine for Christmas when I was 15. I hadn’t really sewn before so I just went on to YouTube and would watch videos on how to do things and have a go. As soon as I started, I just absolutely loved it; I think because I’d always quite enjoyed fashion – so it was the perfect combination between fashion and crafts.

What inspired you to apply for the Great British Sewing Bee? And what’s the application process like?

I’ve always loved sewing, but over lockdown I had a lot more time to try new things that were a bit harder, so over time I got better and developed a lot of my skills. I can remember watching the show during lockdown and just absolutely loving it, but never thinking I could go on to do something like that. But it was my fiancé, Matt, who gave me a bit of a push and said I should apply – so I did. But because you do it online, I started the application and honestly forgot about it, so submitted it on closing day, so I almost didn’t apply! It’s quite a long process – I can’t give specifics – but there are quite a few different rounds, including a phone call and spanned over a good couple of months. We did all the filming and then there’s a huge gap in between of knowing that you’ve done this really cool thing, but no one knows about it and then you relive it all over again when it comes out on TV.

Did you do anything in particular to prepare?

No, obviously I love making my own clothes so I was just doing what I would normally do. Then you get given the briefs for the made to measure challenges so there’s an element of preparing them. But there’s so many different things that you could end up doing – I never thought we’d end up making shoes – so you can’t really prepare too much because they’re always going to shock you with something! The funniest thing was that we all turned up in the first week and everyone had brought full sewing boxes and gadgets; and I turned up with a loop turner which helps you turn out really thin straps. It was the only thing I had with me because I thought that they’d have everything else – maybe I should have taken more!

So out of all the challenges – which is your favourite and why?

That is so difficult to answer! I like them all for different reasons, but I would say that I did always really enjoy the pattern challenge because there was an element of surprise, and it did mean that I was sewing things that I wouldn’t have tried out if it hadn’t been for the show. I just find something really relaxing about being given instructions and having to follow them.

As an alumna of LHS, do you feel there are any skills that you learnt at school that you found useful on the show and prepared you for the spotlight?

School taught me a lot of skills that were transferable to the show. I think the school teaches you that you can do anything when you put your mind to it and that you can be successful, no matter what it is you are trying to achieve. School was where I learnt that you should strive for what you want to achieve, and it definitely instilled determination in me and a really good work ethic and that if you want to achieve results in anything, you’ve got to work for it and put the time in, but then you will reap the rewards.

What advice would you give to aspiring seamstresses and seamsters and do you have any top tips?

So, I would say that when you’re first getting started, do not be deterred by mistakes because, as I like to remind everyone, the first thing I made was not very nice; I liked it at the time, but I can’t say I would wear it now! I have learnt from my mistakes along the way, so I think it’s very important not to feel that setbacks mean that you’re not a good sewer and that you’re not making progress, because it’s actually the mistakes that make you grow. Then I’d also say to start off nice and simple and work up to the really complicated things because sometimes we get over enthusiastic and want to go in all guns blazing and make a puffy prom dress when that might not be the best thing to start with! So just looking at your sewing journey as a whole and take it nice and slow to begin with and just enjoy the process is one of my top tips.

Do you have a moment at school that you’re most proud of or a memory that you look back at with fondness?

I have so many memories of being in school to be honest, but I think one that probably sticks with me is going to the Leaver’s Ball and all getting together to celebrate what a fab time we’d had throughout school before we left to go on to do other things. I think it was just really special to celebrate being part of the school and having a great time together.

What made you want to become a teacher, particularly of languages, and do you enjoy it?

I’ve always loved learning – I really am just one of those geeks who loves it! And I’ve always loved languages, so to put the two together made sense and I think it’s nice to share languages with young people and inspire them to learn new languages and to experience new cultures. I do enjoy teaching, it is a challenging job especially in the area that I work in, but it is rewarding when you see the progress that the kids are making.

Do you see your career staying in teaching languages or after your experiences on the show do you feel there might be a change in career?

Honestly it’s so hard to know! I think because we’re starting a family I’m going to have a bit of time off work on maternity leave, and really think about what’s going to make me happy. I think this show has definitely made me realise how much I would love to spend all day, every day, being creative and just how much joy that brings me. So I guess in my future – regardless of what my daytime profession is – I would love to be able to spend more time being creative and sewing and hopefully sharing that with other people. It could end up being a mix of both teaching and sewing or just carrying on with my blog. It’s hard to say!

Is there anything you wish you’d known during your time at LHS that you know now?

Carry on doing the things that you enjoy! Because when I was in school, I didn’t necessarily know what I wanted to do. I enjoyed languages so studied French and Spanish at the University of Birmingham and I obviously enjoyed my sewing and crafts and carried on doing them in my own time. So, I would say not to stress too much about the future and exactly what you’re going to do – everything ends up falling into place.

Do you have any words of wisdom that you would give to students at LHS or the Foundation?

I would say – make the most of your time there, do the things that you enjoy, make the most of the extra curriculars and take in all the different experiences that are on offer because there are so many. So just really make the most of every moment and carry on doing what you enjoy!

Final Question: In three words, how would you describe your experience on the Great British Sewing Bee and would you do it again?

Challenging, inspiring and memorable! The experience was absolutely incredible, from week one to the final, and I learnt so much on how to improve my skills. I would 100% do it all again!

Since Brogan sat down with us the final aired on TV and, although Brogan didn’t win, we are immensely proud that she made it to the finals. We are also delighted to say that she married Matt over the summer surrounded by family and friends and they became a family of 3, welcoming a beautiful little boy in October – what a year for Brogan!

This article comes from the Winter 2022 edition of Beyond the Barrier. You can read all stories in your alumni magazine online here.