Sewing Bee's brand new challenge revealed

Contains spoilers for the latest episode of The Great British Sewing Bee.

Our favourite sewing show The Great British Sewing Bee has returned to our screens – and episode two saw a first in the competition's history.

For the first time ever, the eleven remaining amateur sewists were challenged by Esme Young and Patrick Grant to make not clothes but a rucksack in the Pattern Challenge.

Making a rucksack – or any sort of bag or accessory – is a first for the Sewing Bee, after eight series of the show.

On last night's episode, which aired on BBC One at 9pm, Esme said: "This is a first for the Sewing Bee: a rucksack. It's got a roll top with a metal clasp, it's got two adjustable straps and a front pocket with a zip."

She told the show's presenter Sara Pascoe: "We have never done this challenge before. And there are a lot of elements in it."

In series 8 of the competition, the sewists were challenged to make a pair of trainers during Sports Week, but this is the first bag that the competition has seen.

Esme had previously told Prima how excited she was for the new sewing pattern challenges that would come in series 9. She told us: "I loved the new challenges of this series.

"The challenges get more and more difficult, I reckon. There's so many different things you can ask them to do – no one will have made all the things before, will they?"

Check out our full interview with Esme Young here.

Fans of the show took to social media to declare how impressed they were with this year's competitors and their efforts in such a difficult challenge.

Anna Grey said on Twitter: "They are making a rucksack bag as the pattern challenge on week 2 of the #SewingBee These pattern challenges are tough!"

Elizabeth W echoed similar thoughts, tweeting: "Week 2 is a really really difficult week! First a rucksack, then transform a windbreak and finally a made-to-measure swimsuit! #SewingBee #GreatBritishSewingBee".

As well as the rucksack, the sewists were asked to turn windbreaks into rainwear for the Transformation Challenge, and create bespoke swimming costumes in the Made to Measure Challenge.

Sadly, Gillie's efforts weren't quite enough and she was the second home sewist to be eliminated from the competition.

Sewing Bee returns next Wednesday, 7 June at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

You Might Also Like

• 13 of the best figure-flattering jumpsuits

• THE BEST SUNGLASSES FOR EVERY FACE SHAPE

• 15 of the best summer dresses for girls