Downton Abbey-mania does not stop with the TV and film awards season. Costumes worn in the series will pull in crowds at a new exhibition.

As costumes from award-winning drama Downton Abbey go on show in Kent, the public appetite for the show is far from waning. The ITV programme won the battle for the Christmas ratings and was crowned best mini-series at the Golden Globes in Los Angeles earlier this month.

Next week, outfits from the series, set in First World War England, will go on display at the Creative Stitches and Hobbycrafts show at the Glow exhibition centre in Bluewater.

“How fabulous this is,” enthused series creator Julian Fellowes in a BBC interview after picking up the Golden Globe. “The whole Downton Abbey adventure has been an extraordinary one, like spotting a promising child and waking up to find they won the Olympics.”

That promise instantly captivated Britain’s imagination as the programme followed the lives of the Crawley family and their servants, who all live in a majestic Edwardian country mansion. It highlighted the stark differences between the grand lifestyles of the Crawleys and the lives of those below stairs.

The drama of the period oozes out of the costumes worn by actresses Dame Maggie Smith (Dowager Countess of Grantham,) Elizabeth McGovern (Countess of Grantham,) Penelope Wilton (Isobel Crawley,) Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary Crawley,) Laura Carmichael (Lady Edith Crawley) and Jessica Brown-Findlay (Lady Sybil Crawley.)

Imitating the French design of the period, the dresses are influenced by the Russian Ballet company the Ballet Russes. About a third of the outfits were made from scratch.

The collection includes one of Cora, Countess of Grantham’s most recognisable outfits, worn by actress Elizabeth McGovern. The cream jacket and skirt with heavy black braid decoration and wide brim hat is seen at the flower show in the programme.

Also on display is the two-piece purple and black jacquard outfit worn by Dame Maggie Smith’s character, Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham. It has black tape-lace decorations around the jacket edges and was used for much of the publicity for the series.

Other costumes to look out for are Lady Mary Crawley’s burgundy evening outfit worn when Matthew Crawley comes to dinner. There is also a pretty summer day dress donned by Lady Edith Crawley and Lady Sybil Crawley’s harem pants outfit worn to a Crawley family dinner.

All the outfits have been leant by designer Susannah Buxton and are based on works of Parisian designer Paul Poiret.

A wave of creativity

More than 200 exhibitors will be on hand with advice on the latest products, ideas and innovations at the Creative Stitches and Hobbycrafts show.

Visitors can find out techniques for anything from the world of creative craft including knitting, sewing, jewellery making, quilting, cardmaking and papercraft.

As well as the Downton exhibition, the show will host the Above and Below the Waves international knitting project, which is raising money for the RNLI’s Train One – Save Many Campaign.

The display includes a 3D walk-through tunnel with knitted beaches, waves and all the creatures that lurk beneath the waves. Craft-lovers can tip their toes in the wool sea.

Also on show is the Quilters’ Guild of the British Isles’ new collection, inspired by the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility.

Plus, remember being young again with the Glimpses of Childhood embroidery display, featuring everything from Dorothy and Toto to Rupert Bear.

The Creative Stitches and Hobbycrafts show takes place at Glow, Bluewater from Thursday, February 2 to Sunday, February 5. The show is open from 9.30am to 5.30pm (Sunday 5pm.) Admission is £8, in advance £6, seniors £7, in advance £5, children free with an adult (£5 otherwise). Call 01425 277988.