Top Christmas Picks: Sewing Shows on TV, Movies, Podcasts, and Exhibitions

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Get ready to sew, stitch, and create this holiday season with our guide to the best TV shows, films, podcasts, exhibitions, and more for dressmakers and crafters! From the highly anticipated return of The Great British Sewing Bee Celebrity Christmas Special to engrossing documentaries, films, and series, there's something for everyone. If you're busier than a bee during the festivities, we've got you covered with some fantastic podcasts to keep you entertained while cooking and wrapping. And, if you can manage to tear yourself away from the holiday chaos, there are some remarkable exhibitions waiting for you across the country.

The Great Sewing Bee Celebrity Christmas Special

We can hardly contain our excitement for the highly anticipated Christmas special of The Great British Sewing Bee, premiering on BBC One on December 19th at 9pm. Join your favorite sewing experts, Patrick Grant and Esme Young, as they guide four celebrities—Ian "H" Watkins, Kellie Bright, Fatiha El-Ghorri, and Charlotte Crosby—through a series of challenging yet entertaining festive tasks. From stitching their own advent calendars to transforming onesies into charming children's Christmas costumes, this special will surely ignite the Christmas spirit. Don't miss out on the grand finale, where each celebrity will create a made-to-measure outfit inspired by their favorite Christmas number one.

Diane Von Fustenberg: Woman in Charge (2024) – Available Online
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 (Apple TV)
McQueen (2018) – Documentary available on Amazon Prime, Apple TV
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel (2017) – Amazon
Next in Fashion with Tan France and Alexa Chung (2020 - 2023) – Netflix

The Best Films

The Dressmaker (2015) – Starring Kate Winslet
Coco Before Chanel (2009) – with Audrey Tautou
The Devil Wears Prada (2006) – Available on Amazon
Yves St Laurent (2014)
Phantom Thread (2017) – Featuring Daniel Day Lewis

Theatre

The Devil Wears Prada – Dominion Theatre, West End

Mel Giedroyc is Quilting
The Rest is History - The Suit, Savile Row and Smartly Dressed Men
Love to Sew
Seams Funny

Exhibitions

V&A – NAOMI in fashion – at V&A South Kensington until Sunday 6 April 2025
Social Fabric, Newlyn Art Gallery – at The Newlyn Art Gallery, Cornwall until April 26 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 16 March 2025
Socks: The Art of Care and Repair with Celia Pym – Now Gallery Greenwich until 9 March 2025

Need More Sewing Motivation?

Check out our winter sale, starting on December 20th, and treat yourself to some fabulous new fabrics for the new year! Have a wonderful holiday season, and we hope one of our recommendations brings you joy and inspiration!

Immerse yourself in the world of fashion and sewing with captivating films like "The Dressmaker" starring Kate Winslet, or delve into the journey of Coco Chanel with "Coco Before Chanel." For a more immersive experience, visit the "V&A – NAOMI in Fashion" exhibition, running until April 2025, or catch the "The Devil Wears Prada" musical on the West End. To keep up-to-date with the latest trends, tune into popular podcasts such as "Mel Giedroyc is Quilting" or "The Rest is History - The Suit, Savile Row and Smartly Dressed Men." And don't forget to explore exhibitions like "Social Fabric" at The Newlyn Art Gallery in Cornwall, or "Picture Perfect: A Century of Fashion Photography" at Gainsborough's House in Sudbury, Suffolk. If you're seeking inspiration for your home and lifestyle, consider visiting the exhibitions on the works of Shirley Craven at The Whitworth Manchester, or the "Socks: The Art of Care and Repair" with Celia Pym at Now Gallery Greenwich.