Diary of a Chain Stitcher

I know this is predominantly supposed to be a blog about sewing clothing and craft projects but I must say the majority of what I've been making in the run up to the big day is baking! I've really only started baking this year so what you see here are really all my first attempts.... Mince Pies - I've now made a few batches using the orange pastry recipe from here and they've gone down a storm! Each batch has evolved slightly, the last batch (top) definitely looked the best after I had finally found a star cutter the right size instead of cutting them out by hand. I think the final batch also tasted best after I trialled some mincemeat with Port and Orange in...mmmmm! Yule Log - Take my word for it, this did not taste as good as it looked. I used a recipe from a Cadburys Cookbook and for future reference that quantity of Cadbury's Flake, Bournville and Chestnut Puree filling all together NOT a good idea! Still we all appreciated how nice it looked on the tab...

For my Stepdad for Christmas I've made a very simple protective case for his iPad. I followed this tutorial as he's got one of those attachable covers for the screen but I wanted to give him something to put it into when he's carting it around in a bag. I wanted it to look quite professional on the outside as he would have to get it out in meetings and at work so I used some charcoal coloured stiff felt. I couldn't find collar felt as suggested in the tutorial and this might have given a bit more structure to the case but what I did find (in Fabric Land on Goldhawk Road) is really soft and smart as it's almost like a suiting fabric. I did want to have some fun with it though so check out the lining! I'm not entirely sure what my Stepdad's job actually is but I know he's some kind of chemist and works in labs. He also likes a bit of fun (my Mum got him a periodic table tie a few years back which was a big hit!) so I did a little search for scien...

This beautiful little hat from M&S which I discovered at the weekend - so sixties! And it also comes in a berry colour which I love for this winter. This Dorothy Perkins coat. I've also got a bit of thing about contrast collars at the moment. I actually ordered this and was then reluctantly forced to send it back as the lovely sixties (anyone sensing a theme here?) shape really does not suit my fuller at the top figure. Finally - these amazing Fashionary notebooks which I have just discovered via twitter. Full of fashion information, inspiration and helpful hints in the first half and blank body templates in the second. Amazing for quickly drawing out design ideas without the fuss of trying to draw out a body shape correctly in the first place. I've got one earmarked for a post Christmas treat as I think this is going to come in super useful once I've started my pattern cutting course in January and ideas of what to make next are flowing too quickly to get out t...

So I have noticed (and you may have noticed too) that my dressmaking progress has been a little slow off the mark! I have been a little preoccupied with the preparations for Christmas but I really can’t pass it all off on that. I’ve got plenty of things lined up that I want to make, I’ve even prepared some of the patterns ready to be pinned to the fabric but this is where production grinds to a halt. Fabric. I’ve got a big old box of fabric at home from leftover theatre projects but none of it is ever quite right for anything I want to make myself and it’s generally all scraps that won’t quite go far enough to make a top or skirt. So this means I need to go out a buy fabric. I always check for the advice on the back of my pattern envelopes suggesting which fabrics might be suitable but to be honest at this stage in my working with fabric development a fabric name alone isn’t much guidance! When I get in a fabric shop I just don’t know where to start looking, I have no focus, no clue...