Fabrics Galore rounds up the best TV and films for dressmakers and crafters to watch at Christmas including the much-anticipated Great British Sewing Bee Celebrity Christmas Special, several great documentaries, films and TV series you may have missed in the past. However, if you’re unlikely to have time to sit down, we have some great podcasts to listen to while you’re busy cooking and wrapping. Finally, if you can drag yourself off the sofa and outside, we have some excellent exhibitions around the country you can visit.
The Best Sewing Related TV
The Great British Sewing Bee Celebrity Christmas Special
Our beloved TV show, The Great British Sewing Bee, is returning with a Christmas special for 2024, and we couldn't be more excited. The show will once again be graced by the expert judgement of Patrick Grant and Esme Young, with Sara Pascoe resuming her role as the presenter, succeeding Kiell Smith Bynoe who did a fantastic job in series 10.
Mark your calendars for Thursday, 19 December at 9pm, as that's when the special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The sewing room will be buzzing with the energy of four celebrities - Ian "H" Watkins, Kellie Bright, Fatiha El-Ghorri, and Charlotte Crosby - who will be putting their sewing skills to the test through a series of festive challenges.
From stitching their own advent calendar to transforming onesies into charming Christmas costumes for children, the tasks are set to be as entertaining as they are challenging. The finale will see them creating a made-to-measure outfit for their models, inspired by their favourite Christmas number one. It's going to be a fun-filled, festive showdown that is sure to ignite the Christmas spirit!
The Great British Sewing Bee Celebrity Christmas Special BBC1 Thursday 19th December 9pm
Other Great Sewing and Fashion Related TV
Diane Von Fustenberg: Woman in Charge (2024)
Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist (2018) - Available Online Disney + Amazon
Coco Chanel: Unbuttoned (2023) - Available on BBC iPlayer
House of Gucci (2021) - Available on various streamers
The New Look (2024) - Available Online on Apple TV
McQueen (2018) documentary Amazon Prime, Apple TV
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel (2017) , Amazon
Next in Fashion with Tan France and Alexa Chung, (2020 – 2023) Netflix
Atelier , (2015) Japanese drama
The September Issue (2009) (Amazon)
The Best Films
The Dressmaker (2015) Kate Winslet
Coco Before Chanel (2009) with Audrey Tautou
The Devil Wears Prada (2006) Amazon
Yves St Laurent (2014)
Phantom Thread (2017) D Day Lewis
Theatre
The Devil Wears Prada Dominion Theatre, West End
Great Sewing Related Podcasts
Mel Giedroyc is Quilting (not one for the quilting purists but very entertaining!)
The Rest is History - The Suit, Savile Row and Smartly Dressed Men with Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook
Love to Sew (Weekly chat about Sewing Topics with Helen and Caroline)
Seams Funny (weekly chat on modern sewing, quilting and crafting with Amie and Natalie)
Exhibitions
V&A - NAOMI in fashion at the V&A South Kensington until Sunday 6th April 2025
Social Fabric, Newlyn Art Gallery at The Newlyn Art Gallery, Cornwall until April 26th 2025
Picture Perfect: A Century of Fashion Photography from the National Portrait Gallery until 20th April 2025 at Gainsborough’s House, Sudbury Suffolk
Shirley Craven The Whitworth Manchester until 16th March 2025
Socks: The Art of Care and Repair with Celia Pym Now Gallery Greenwich until 9th March 2025
Our Online Fabric Shop is Always Open
We hope you all have a break over the holidays and can find something from our list to enjoy. Alternatively, if you find it impossible to stay away from your sewing machine, remember you can shop our winter sale from Friday 20th December and receive some great fabrics to sew in the new year.
