Handicrafts in movies and TV shows—do you ever notice things like that?

I recently noticed that when watching movies and TV shows, I sometimes automatically find myself looking for knitted items, fabrics, or handmade clothing 😄

Especially if you do crafts yourself, you probably notice these kinds of details in a whole new light.

Is there a movie or TV show where something sewn, knitted, or crocheted has really stuck in your memory?

I always notice when there are great patchwork quilts in movies—there are often some real beauties among them

Best regards, Inge

I think it was in the TV series “Ein anderes Selbst,” where one of the women had a beautiful crocheted bag.
You actually see crocheted bags in movies quite often.
And crocheted blankets, too—especially in American movies, where it feels like they’re draped over every sofa. But I don’t think all of them look pretty.

The British children’s series “The Famous Five.” The kids wore cardigans and slipovers with Fair Isle patterns. And in general, I often notice great knitted items in British TV series.

Woolly regards

Irene

I also notice knitted or handcrafted items in movies. 

Sometimes there are truly beautiful pieces to be seen.

In the movie “Jane Eyre,” Jane wears a gorgeous shawl at one point, which inspired me to design my “Dear Charlotte” pattern.

In old movies, you often see embroidery—usually done by the more refined ladies.

Didn’t Miss Marple once have some knitting with her?

🤭 I have to admit, I’ve never really paid attention to that before. Usually, when I’m watching TV or streaming shows on my computer, I’m working on my own needlework at the same time—and when I’m following counted patterns or specific rows where I have to pay close attention, it ends up being more like a radio play than a movie 🤣.<\/p>

Best, Regina<\/p>

That’s true—when you do crafts yourself, you strangely find yourself noticing them while watching TV. They often have those granny blankets draped over armchairs or triangular shawls draped over their shoulders. Well, I definitely notice things like that.

And since I also do beadwork, I’m always checking out what kind of earrings or necklaces the actors are wearing. It’s pretty crazy.

I was watching “The Handmaid’s Tale,” and one of the actresses was supposed to do a lot of knitting. But she couldn’t actually knit. I couldn’t bear to watch—it was so slow and clumsy... 🤭

And there was a crocheted bedspread—I wanted to take a closer look at the pattern, and that’s when I realized that fans had already created a pattern for it. 

I thought that was great—so I didn’t have to figure it out myself anymore—but I was really amazed by it… how similarly craft lovers think! ☺️

Best regards, Karoline 🌸 

Good morning,

I’ve actually noticed beautiful knitted sweaters in a completely different context—namely, with the K-pop group BTS. Whether on stage at concerts or in livestreams, these young men often wear exclusive designer knitted sweaters.

Best regards, Sabine

Yeah, there’s a movie series where Miss Marple is always pulling out her knitting, but I haven’t noticed yet what she’s knitting or if she ever actually finishes anything....

Quite a lot of examples have come together by now 😄 While searching on SucheFilme, I also found a collection on the topic of sewing in movies.

It’s interesting how often these details appear, even though it’s easy to overlook them when watching casually.

Yeah, me too. I think she only ever finished a sweater vest for her nephew 😜 

Other than that, I can only remember individual pieces worn by all three actresses. 🥰

Do you remember Molly Weasley in Harry Potter with her hand-crocheted jackets and knitted Christmas gifts?

Of course, the knitting needles moved on their own—though using the cumbersome English knitting technique—despite the Weasleys’ connections to Romania, where our more efficient knitting technique is used.

Unfortunately, I don’t know the right magic spell... 😁

Movies don't just feature knitting and crochet. There is also sewing.

By chance, I was channel-hopping through the TV programs and landed on ARD One, where a Spanish film series (soap) called "Velvet", set in the 1950s, was on. It's about a luxurious fashion house in Madrid and lots of fashion, love, and intrigue.

What especially interested me, though, was that the high-quality fashion of that time was made piece by piece by hand in the department store's in-house tailor shop. Every customer who wanted to buy a dress was measured by the seamstresses, and the dress was sewn, fitted, and altered on site. All by hand.

The employees of the in-house tailor shop—as well as the sales staff—lived in the employee wing of the department store.

If you're in the mood for elegant fashion from the 1950s, sewing, and a romantic series, feel free to look for "Velvet" in the media library. I liked it so much that by now I've watched all the seasons. By the end, we had arrived in the 1960s.

Best wishes, Ina

Thanks for the tip—I’ll definitely check it out. ’50s fashion was very feminine, which I sometimes miss today, especially if you have a slightly curvier figure...

I haven’t seen Harry Potter, but I could use a magic spell like that sometimes too ... *grin* ...

Embroidered pictures are naturally interesting to me 😃. I’ve noticed embroidered pictures used as wall decor in some American and British movies. Unfortunately, they’re only on screen for a short time—they’re just part of the set. And in historical films, high-born ladies love to embroider. 

In the movie “Exodus: Gods and Kings,” weaving is shown. The same goes for a Robin Hood adaptation. 

So I’ve noticed that, too. Great topic 👍🏻

Best regards, Karola 

In the TV series “Outlander,” Claire often wore knitted items. They were so popular that patterns for the garments were even released—I think they were even published in book form.

When something like that happens in movies, I notice it.

In the movie "How to Make an American Quilt," they sew a beautiful, large quilt.

And in the TV series "Little House on the Prairie," that happens a lot too. They sew, knit, and things like that.

I’m a huge fan of the old Miss Marple films with Margaret Rutherford. In “Murder Most Foul,” she sits in the courtroom as a juror with her knitting. She says she can concentrate better while knitting, and the judge replies, “But I can’t!” I always love that part (when I watch the DVD). However, I always wonder when—or if—those knitting projects will ever be finished, given the English knitting method of wrapping the yarn around each stitch individually.<\/p>

It’s true—in historical movies, you often see the ladies doing their needlework. And then I wonder how they were able to embroider under the poor lighting conditions back then. 

Small windows and candlelight! They surely only embroidered and sewed during the day. I can’t imagine it any other way. 🧵

Best, Karoline 💕

You’re probably right, dear Karoline—I’ve been thinking about that myself. Most of the time, you see the ladies sitting by the window with their needlework. :-)

Best regards, Petra

Oh yeah, I think Margret Rutherford is great, too—she’s so wonderfully quirky... 

Best wishes, Petra

The knitting style doesn’t matter when it comes to speed. The world’s fastest knitter is Hazel Tindall. And she knits using the “English” method. Her record is 262 stitches in 3 minutes.

I think it’s all just a matter of getting used to it. 

I think no matter how someone knits, the main thing is that it’s fun—not everyone has to be a world champion right away....

I’m also a fan of Margret Rutherford. You can watch her movies over and over again. And knitting seems to help her solve the cases.

It also occurred to me that handicrafts often played a significant role in old fairy tales as well. Think of “The Six Swans,” where the sister knits shirts out of nettles for her six enchanted brothers. Or the spinning wheel in “Sleeping Beauty” or “Rumpelstiltskin.” Without these fairy tales, many children today wouldn’t even know what spinning is. 

Best regards, Ina

For about two years now, I’ve noticed that people are wearing hand-knitted items in many TV shows and movies. In the latest Tatort, I think I saw a total of four knitted pieces.

Crafty greetings, Rena

I find this especially noticeable in historical films. Once you've done a bit of crafting yourself, you suddenly start noticing seams, stitch patterns, and materials you would have completely overlooked before.<\/p>

Yeah, I feel the same way. The clothing was sewn entirely by hand. I once visited a small clothing museum in Barcelona—it was fascinating. I was particularly struck by the lace gloves and delicate stockings. Wow! And so many items had been mended over and over. And ever since I watched *The Tudors*, I’ve been looking at things like embroidered coats of arms and tapestries in castles with a whole new perspective!!

Yes, I really admire that too—especially historical clothing, which used to be sewn by hand, and then the exquisite embroidery on it—wow…

Best regards, Petra

What really fascinates me is when they show traditional folk costumes in movies. In Gerolzhofen, Lower Franconia, there’s a sewing machine museum—they have some of those old traditional folk costumes on display there, too. They’re all handmade and look absolutely amazing. Especially when you see these so-called *Froschgöschle*—they’re all handmade and are still made by hand today; it’s really amazing how great they look.

Best regards, Inge

I agree with you — it’s really admirable what people used to create back then...

Best regards, Petra

The Miss Marple scene is a great example, precisely because the knitting isn’t just decoration—it’s somehow part of the character. Details like that stick with me much more than some random sweater in the background.

That’s a great idea—thanks so much!

In *The Big Bang Theory*, there’s a square tissue box shaped like a Rubik’s Cube next to Sheldon’s spot on the couch. I’d love to recreate it. Does anyone know if there’s a pattern for it? (I’ve been mulling it over for a while, but I haven’t had that lightbulb moment yet...)

Hi Anne,

There is a paid pattern here from the designer AngiesHook for a crocheted Rubik’s Cube. Maybe you could repurpose it as a tissue box cover if you leave an opening at the top.