Despite taking a week’s holiday from work – and her
sewing machine – Corinne’s still got stitching on her mind...Confessions
of a sewing addict
66(^) sewmag.co.uk
“It would be untraditional for me not to give my
loved ones at least one thing that I’d sewn”
I’ve had a week off work. Yes, a whole week
without so much as touching my sewing
machine, despite having a staycation – and
I’m beginning to experience withdrawal
symptoms. That’s not to say I haven’t been as
busy as usual. Since confessing to the amount
of crafty clutter in my home last month, I’ve
taken heaps of neglected stuff to the charity
shop. At the moment however, the house still
looks like a weird museum dedicated to all
things vintage, colourful and quite possibly
useful in three years’ time!
Recently, I took advantage of the burst of
sunny weather to walk miles with our rescue
dog Rebel, foraging for hedgerow fruit as
I went along and cussing the fact that the local
council only plants hawthorns in the country
parks instead of plums, damsons or pears. I’ve
also discovered that making jam is not as easy
as the BBC makes it look in period dramas,
and that crab apples can save a batch of non-
setting blackberry preserve.
I’ve already filled the top shelf of one kitchen
cupboard with an assortment of fruits infused
in gin, and I’ll be starting on some plum rum
any minute now. In fact, the kitchen is so clean,
I’ve become almost domesticated. The plan is
to preserve all the fruits of my labours and give
them away as Christmas presents this year
- because there are only so many quilts you
can sew for your elderly relatives before they
start to suffocate under the weight of them.
Although, perhaps one more wouldn’t hurt?
If you’re tempted to make one, I think a quilt is
a thoughtful and practical gift – but then,
I am biased.
Handmade TRADITIONS
It would be untraditional for me not to give
my loved ones at least one thing that I’d sewn,
so I’m going to rustle up some nesting fabric
baskets to pack all the goodies in. I’ll decorate
the jars and bottles with matching covers and
probably make some oven gloves to go withthem, in the vain hope that my dad will finally
throw out the badly burnt pair that
he insists ‘still have plenty of life left in them.
The teenagers in my life won’t be overly
impressed with preserves, so I’ll have to
think again for them, especially as they also
have too many quilts, cushions, bags and
baskets between them. I’m leaning towards
cosmetic pouches filled with handmade
confectionery or maybe leather trimmed
stationery accessories to see them through
their last years in school.
Whatever I make, I’ll need to start soon.
I’m planning to relax during December;
no more panicked stitching the week
before the big day, as I’ll have enough on
my plate cooking Christmas dinner for the
family. I also feel that a week is long enough
to be away from my favourite hobby so
come Monday, it’ll be back to the cutting
mat and my faithful friend, the
Janome HD2200...Corinne’s (mostly) got her
Christmas sewing planned!SEE CORINNE IN ACTION AT YOUTUBE.COM/THECRAFTSCHANNEL
TEENS WILL LOVE
THESE LITTLE LEATHER WALLETS
I MADE FOR ISSUE 27 OF MAKE IT TODAY
DRESSMAKER, ON SALE 7TH SEPTEMBER.
I’LL SOON HAVE
SOME PLUM GIN READY
FOR CHRISTMAS...
MY ORIGAMI FABRIC
NESTING BOXES ARE GREAT
FOR PRESENTING GIFTS
- FIND THIS PROJECT AT
SEWMAG.CO.UK
FABRIC COVERS
TURN JARS OF
HOME-MADE JAM
INTO LOVELY GIFTS!
Confessions of a sewing addict 103.indd 68 08/09/2017 13:52