Don't tell Kirstie Allsopp that crafting isn't for everyone. The presenter of Channel 4's most Christmassy of shows is passionate about the benefits of crafting and wants to spread the word about the positivity of making. Although she's yet to get the hang of knitting and crochet...
There's plenty of amazing craft TV shows out there but Kirstie's Handmade Christmas has become a staple of British festive TV in December.
We meet up with her to find out what it's like flying the flag for crafting each year and filming one of the most festive TV shows on the planet.
Read on to find out when the show is on TV, where you can watch it this year, and Kirstie's revelations about what it's like to film it.
Where to watch Kirstie's Handmade Christmas 2023
Kirstie's Handmade Christmas 2023 is on Channel 4 and will start on Sunday 10th December at 8pm. There are likely to be 10 teatime episodes, each 45 minutes long.
It's available to watch online on Channel 4's website.
What time is Kirstie's Handmade Christmas 2023 on?
The show airs every day at 8pm but you will be able to watch it on catch up and online after.
Who presents the TV series Handmade Christmas 2023?
Kirstie Allsopp presents Kirstie's Handmade Christmas and has done since the show's conception in 2014. Kirstie is best known for co-presenting Location, Location, Location alongside Phil Spencer. Kirstie has been the number one supporter of the craft world and independent businesses, frequently expressing her love for the handmade on her social media.
Kirstie's been filming the show for 7 years since it first aired in 2014, and she's not run out of Christmas craft juice yet. You can catch up on Kirstie's Christmases past anytime, with episodes from 2021 and 2020 available to stream for free on All4.
Crafting is a solace, to just have a bit of clear brain time...
Kirstie Allsopp for The Yorkshire Post
The show wouldn't be the same without Kirstie and we love her passion for all things creative. She gives every craft a go (even the tricky ones) showing that craft is for everyone and can be as meditative as it is fun. We can't wait to see Kirstie back on our screens in 2023. She's officially the queen of Christmas for us!
Where is the house in Kirstie's Handmade Christmas?
The show is filmed on set in Kirstie's house, and in a special marquee set up nearby.
"We did it twice this year – it’s a real sacrifice because I’m quite tidy and with film crews everything gets shifted around. The set for the daytime show is a whole load of stuff moved out of the house into a Christmas marquee. Where does she fit in all the Christmas props needed? "They’re all upstairs in my attic – if I ever stop doing Christmas telly I will have to have a Christmas decorations sale. In fact, I could open a Christmas decorations shop."
What can we expect from Kirstie's Handmade Christmas 2023?
Kirstie's Handmade Christmas 2023 looks set to be the best season yet! It will feature four returning Handmade Christmas winners who will battle it out again to take the crown.
The four crafters will compete to create the best showstopper Christmas tree decoration!
The show will also feature crafts such as needle felting, stained glass and basket weaving.
What has she learned from making the crafts on screen?
"When we did the first handmade show they said 'well you can’t just stand there – you've got to do it,' and I said 'I can’t possibly' and then of course that became part of what we did. And it’s part of the show, so there’s no going back. And of course I’ve learned things – I’ve learned things massively. And I’ve learned that everyone has a craft – I cannot knit or crochet, I really can’t – it's the rhythmical nature of it. I just can’t keep it in my brain.
"But it’s really part of me – of what I do. Personally my crafting is mending. So I now know how things are made. If I buy something – a picture which is done with quilling and it’s got a patch which is missing, or if I buy something that’s papier maché which is broken... I know how to fix it. I’m not saying I’m going to do a superb job of it but I know what I’m doing. I very rarely started a new project – I don’t have something on the go which is s piece of crafting which I’m starting from scratch but I’m always fixing things.
“I think it’s incredibly important. I think the repair shop has shown us that and I think it’s incredibly important and I think once you understand how to patch and repair things and give things a new lease of life, you become, it’s very interesting."
Gini’s trophy for Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas 2020
Get crafting this Christmas with Kirstie!
We hope you're as excited as we are for Kirstie's Handmade Christmas 2023. It looks like it's going to be a brilliant series full of festive inspiration.
Settle down for some of the best craft TV and make sure you have some mince pies on hand!
Discover more festive crafts with Gathered
If you want to start your handmade Christmas journey now then check out our Christmas crafts section here on Gathered.
We have everything from crochet Christmas decorations to free Christmas knitting patterns and even a how to make a Christmas stocking tutorial.
