Getting ready for the Sewing Bee? With the return of The Great British Sewing Bee just around the corner, it's the perfect time to dust off your machine, look through your stash and plan your next project. Whether you're a seasoned sewer or a total beginner who's just caught the sewing bug, there's something brilliant about watching creative minds make garments under pressure. Even better? Joining in from home with your own Sewing Bee-inspired makes.
At Croft Mill, we know just how exciting this time of year is for the sewing community. As soon as the Sewing Bee returns to our screens, the search for fabrics, patterns and sewing ideas takes off. That's why we’ve put together this guide to help you find the right materials, get inspired and feel part of the buzz.
What to Expect from the Sewing Bee
If previous years are anything to go by, we’re in for a brilliant mix of challenges, fabrics and wow-worthy transformations. From technical tailoring to wild transformations and delicate details, the Sewing Bee is packed with inspiration.
As always, we’ll be keeping a close eye on each episode and sharing our fabric suggestions, tips and pattern inspiration each week. Keep an eye on our Sewing Bee blogs for regular updates.
Common Sewing Bee Challenges and What to Sew Along at Home
The Pattern Challenge
Often the first challenge of the show, this one sees contestants following a set pattern. If you’d like to sew along, try simple blouse patterns, shirt patterns, classic skirts, shift dresses, or patterns that introduce a new skill like pleats or darts.
The Transformation Challenge
This one's all about creativity: taking something old and giving it new life. Why not try upcycling an old pair of jeans into a bag or apron, transforming a men’s shirt into a summer top, or creating patchwork from scraps and turning it into a cushion or tote?
The Made-to-Measure Challenge
Here contestants sew a garment to fit a real model. At home, you could sew something that fits you perfectly, try a new dress or jumpsuit pattern with a twist, or focus on fitting techniques like darts, gathers or panels.
Fabrics You Might See and Where to Find Them
Every series brings a wide variety of fabric types, from structured wools to floaty silks and everything in between. We keep a close eye on the trends so you can sew along at home with confidence. Here are some fabrics we expect to see, and that you’ll find at Croft Mill:
Cotton lawn and poplin
Perfect for shirts, blouses and summer dresses. Lightweight, breathable and easy to sew, making them a good choice for beginners too.
Denim and chambray
Often featured in transformation or made-to-measure challenges, denim is a wardrobe staple. Choose lightweight denim for shirts or dresses, or heavier weights for jeans and jackets.
Viscose and rayon
Drapey, soft and great for flowing garments like maxi dresses or tops with movement. Our viscose prints are ideal for pattern mixing, with plenty of colours, designs, textures and patterns to choose from.
Stretch fabrics
From ponte roma to jerseys, these fabrics are often used in activewear or modern basics. Choose stretch fabrics for comfy garments with plenty of movement.
Suiting and tailoring fabrics
Think wool blends, crepe or tweeds - perfect for jackets, trousers or structured dresses. We stock high-quality ex-designer suitings, including cloth made in the UK and Italy.
Deadstock fabrics
Eco-friendly, limited edition and full of character. Deadstock fabric is a brilliant choice if you want something a bit different to sew along with.
Not Sure Where to Start? Check Out Our Past Sewing Bee Blogs
Each year, we follow along with the show and recommend fabrics, patterns and sewing tips inspired by each episode. You can browse our Sewing Bee episode round-ups here.
Final Tips for Your Own Sewing Bee Experience
- Plan ahead: pick a pattern and gather your fabric before the show airs so you can sew along in real time. We’ve also gathered our top 10 dress patterns and top 10 shirts and tops.
- Try something new: use the show as a reason to try a technique or fabric you’ve never used before.
- Sew with friends: host a mini sewing bee, in person or virtually, and share your makes with the Croft Mill community.
- Tag us: we’d love to see your Sewing Bee-inspired creations. Use #CroftMillfabric so we can share your makes.
Ready to Get Started?
We’ve got the fabrics, patterns and inspiration you need to make the most of Sewing Bee season. Whether you're recreating a look from the show or putting your own spin on it, we’re here to help every stitch of the way.
Happy sewing!
The Croft Mill team
Inspired by The Great British Sewing Bee?
Browse fabrics, sewing patterns and haberdashery inspired by the show, or catch up on more Sewing Bee recaps and inspiration.
