GREAT BRITISH SEWING BEE: CELEBRITY CHRISTMAS SPECIALS 2022

Great British Sewing Bee: Celebrity Christmas Special 2022

The Great British Sewing Bee is on BBC One for the second time this year with a Christmas celebrity special episode!

The Great British Sewing Bee is back with a celebrity Christmas special episode and we are thrilled to have another chance to enjoy our favourite TV show! Returning to BBC One again in 2022, it’s our chance to get a sewing fix over the festive season. We will be updating you with everything you need to know about the challenges and celebrities taking part here on the blog.

When will the Sewing Bee Christmas Special be on TV?

The special sewing bee series will air on BBC One in the UK on Thursday 22nd December 2021 at 8 pm. The episode will be an hour-long and include many of the challenges we have seen in previous sewing bee series. Earlier this year series 8 aired on BBC One and included ten episodes along with twelve contestants, all trying to be crowned Britain’s best home sewer.

Who are the celebrity contestants for the Sewing Bee Christmas Special?

Judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young return along with presenter Sara Pascoe and a group of celebrities who take on special sewing challenges. Celebrities include Strictly Come Dancing Johannes Radebe, Eastenders’ star Natalie Cassidy, model and TV presenter Penny Lancaster and podcaster Rosie Ramsey. How will these celebrities fair with a sewing machine? Will they need help from the judges to complete their challenges?

Find out more about judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young in our ultimate guide to The Great British Sewing Bee.

Rosie Ramsey – presenter, actor, author and podcaster, Rosie is well known for co-hosting the hit podcast Sh**ged Married Annoyed with her Comedian partner.

Johannes Radebe – dancer and choreographer, Johannes is a and star of Strictly Come Dancing.

Penny Lancaster – model and TV presenter, Penny is also a Special Constable and menopause campaigner.

Natalie Cassidy – actress, Natalie has played Eastenders character Sonia Fowler since 1993.

How many episodes are there for the celebrity Sewing Bee special?

There will be one special sewing bee episodes this Christmas and as usual, three challenges for the celebrity contestants to take part in. In the episode, celebrities will sew a Christmas apron, followed by sewing a novelty outfit for a baby from children’s hand-me-downs in the transformation challenge. The final challenge will be to create pop star-inspired fancy dress for bringing in the New Year.

Christmas Sewing Bee celebrity Episode guide 2022

We’ll be bringing you all the pattern picks from the special sewing be episodes after the programme has aired so you can recreate these looks for your handmade wardrobe. We will be sharing the details here including projects sewn by the celebrities and the sewing patterns featured, from independent and commercial pattern companies. In the previous series, contestants have faced three tasks per episode including a pattern challenge, upcycling challenge and creating their own garment for a theme. In the pattern challenge, they all make the same garment, using the same paper pattern. For the upcycling challenge, they must turn an existing item of clothing into something completely new in only 90 minutes. In the final most challenging task, they must create a perfect garment, sewn to fit a model.

Pattern picks: Episode 1

Pattern challenge 1: Apron

The first challenge of the celebrity series was to sew a Christmas themed apron. The pattern includes a pocket at the front, tie at the waist and loop for around the neck. We have lots of apron sewing pattern options you can make here. Below we have shared an apron sewing pattern that is almost an exact match to the pattern used in the TV show.

The Unisex Workaday Apron – Merchant and Mills

This is a traditional apron for industrious demands. Choose oilskin or denim for a classic workwear feel, or a soft tumbled linen for wearing everyday around the house. The Workaday has 3 pockets. The waist ties and neck strap can be lengthened or shortened as needed. Increase fabric quantity if intending to lengthen the self ties more than 10 cm. Optional: The pattern has self fabric neck strap and waist ties which can be replaced with 3 m of 25 mm webbing (more if you intend to lengthen). Suggested fabrics include cotton canvas and twill, denim, dry oilskin, oilskin, medium to heavy weight linen. For heavy cloth, you may choose to use webbing or cotton tape for the neck and waist ties.

Sizing: Finished length (not including neck strap): 97 cm // Finished width (at widest point): 85 cm. Available in the shop: Yes, paper, PDF or PDF + printed copy shop.

Pattern challenge 2: New Year’s Eve fancy dress inspired by your favourite pop star

The third challenge of the celebrity series was to sew a New Year’s Eve fancy dress inspired by your favourite pop star in just five hours. For each celebrity we have found the pattern they used in the BBC1 TV show so you can make your own version.

Penny Lancaster’s Madonna New Year’s Eve fancy dress outfit

Features: Faux Fur trim Lurex jacket and two-tiered gathered tulle skirt (worn over a ready to wear black cami top and black leggings).

Pattern: Sew Over It – Sylvia Robe. The Sylvia Robe is the perfect piece for layering in style! With its 1920s elegance, the long version exudes Gatsby glamour, while the shorter version makes a perfect pairing with skinny jeans and a simple t-shirt, taking an everyday look from blah to bewitching. Ideal for summer holidays, Sylvia makes a beautiful beach cover-up or fabulous festival attire (go wild with the pompom trim!). And it’s very pregnancy-friendly. This pattern is ideal for having fun with fabrics – think big modern florals in bright colours, bold monochrome geometrics or dainty subtle prints. Whatever you choose, you can really make a statement with Sylvia!

Sizing: UK 6 – 20 and UK 18 – 30 (approx. UK 6 – 20 and UK 20 – 32, based on our standardised size chart). Please also check the designer’s size charts and finished garment measurements. Available in the shop: Yes, PDF or PDF + printed copy shop.

Rosie Ramsey’s Dolly Parton New Year’s Eve fancy dress outfit

Features: V-neck dress with fringing with zipper.

Pattern: McCalls M8166. This pattern has different fitted dress options with sleeve variations and a back zip closure.

Sizing: A5 (6-8-10-12-14), E5 (14-16-18-20-22), approx. UK sizes A5 (4/6 – 10), E5 (10– 18/20). Please check the size chart and finished garment measurements. Available in the shop: Yes, paper pattern.

Johannes Radebe’s Harry Styles New Year’s Eve fancy dress jumpsuit outfit

Features: Jumpsuit with low neckline and wide legs in a sparkly stretch fabric.

Pattern: McCalls M7910. These close-fitting pull-on knit jumpsuits have a lined bodice with bodice and leg variations. The pattern includes options for a pleated surplice, halter or one-shoulder bodice and tapered or straight leg trousers with or without side slits. Create your own design with mix-and-match pattern pieces.

Sizing: A5 (6-8-10-12-14), E5 (14-16-18-20-22), approx. UK sizes A5 (4/6 – 10), E5 (10 – 18/20). Please check the size chart and finished garment measurements. Available in the shop: Yes, paper pattern.

Natalie Cassidy’s Liam Gallagher New Year’s Eve fancy dress Parka outfit

Features: Parka with Appliquéd quotes and lined hood using union jacket fabric.

Pattern: Simplicity S9052. Unlined parka jacket with front separating zipper and button placket, elasticated waist and four front pockets. Two length and hem-style options with a detachable hood.

Sizing: A (XS-XL) approx. UK sizes A (4/6 – 20). Please check the size chart and finished garment measurements. Available in the shop: Yes, paper pattern.

Disclaimer: Please note that this page about The Great British Sewing Bee is not linked to or endorsed by the BBC programme/Love Productions. Where images are not our own they remain the copyright of the author.