Fans of The Great British Sewing Bee are being treated to a festive special this Christmas, with two celebrity episodes airing over the holiday period. With sewing continuing to grow in popularity across the UK, the Sewing Bee remains one of the most inspiring and feel-good programmes on television.
Since the first series aired back in 2013, The Great British Sewing Bee has inspired thousands of people to start sewing at home. Much like The Great British Bake Off encouraged a new wave of home baking, the Sewing Bee has introduced a whole new audience to dressmaking, alterations and creative sewing projects. Six series later, the competition is still capturing the imagination of sewers across the country.
Image credit: BBC / Love Productions
The format of the show remains brilliantly simple and hugely entertaining. Each episode features three challenges designed to test both creativity and technical sewing skills:
- Pattern Challenge. Contestants follow the same sewing pattern and attempt to create the most accurate garment within the time limit.
- Transformation Challenge. This is often where the creativity really shines, as competitors reinvent an existing garment into something completely new.
- Made-to-Measure Challenge. The final challenge asks contestants to design and create a garment from scratch for a real model, combining fitting, sewing and design skills.
After all three challenges are complete, the judges decide which sewer will leave the competition, gradually narrowing the field until one contestant is crowned Britain’s Best Home Sewer.
The first celebrity special, airing on Boxing Day, is presented by long-time host Joe Lycett and judged by Patrick Grant and Esme Young. Competing for the festive title are Denise van Outen, Dr Raj Singh, Sara Pascoe and Shirley Ballas. Challenges include festive pyjama bottoms, a Christmas costume transformation for a dog and a made-to-measure Christmas party outfit.
The second celebrity special airs on New Year’s Eve and features another brilliant line-up including Lesley Joseph, Sabrina Grant, Sally Phillips and The Vivienne. With plenty of festive fabrics, creative transformations and last-minute sewing panics, both episodes promise exactly the sort of comforting Christmas television Sewing Bee fans love.
The Sewing Bee continues to encourage more people to try sewing for themselves, whether that means making clothes from scratch, altering existing garments or simply learning a new creative skill. We’ve certainly noticed growing interest in dressmaking fabrics, sewing patterns and haberdashery this year, with more customers than ever giving sewing a go at home.
If The Great British Sewing Bee inspires YOU to start sewing, you’re in exactly the right place here at Croft Mill. We stock hundreds of dressmaking fabrics, along with a fully stocked haberdashery department packed with sewing essentials. Whether you’re planning festive pyjamas, partywear or your very first handmade garment, there’s plenty to get you started.
