Posted on 5:07pm Friday 19th Aug 2011
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I know brides get nervous - I was a wreck on the morning of my wedding and I won't embarrass my sister by telling tales, but do spare a thought for those helping make your big day special.
I used to edit live radio programmes so I've suffered many a sleepless night wondering if a guest would turn up or whether a satellite dish signal would hold out or a big story would break just as I was about to go on air.
But nowadays my anxieties are fabric-centred. I've had a nerve-wracking week with two customers. Not because they are bride-zillas - far from it - but because one had reserved the very last two metres of a limited edition Liberty print called Plum Dog pink that I can't reorder and the other had asked for bespoke sashes and ribbons to sew onto divine ivory satin dresses.
Normally cutting is an almost meditative activity. You have to be methodical to get the most out of each metre and careful so as not to spoil the fit but worst comes to worst you can start over - that is unless you are at the dreaded end of a roll. The nightmare for me is nicking the fabric with my scissors or even worse, ruining everthing at the last minute with a careless chop of my button holer.
Added to this I've had four ivory satin beaded dresses covered in net hanging in my little sewing room all week. As my Mum will tell you, I don't wear white or cream for a reason. I'm clumsy. I was terrified. If I spoil my own fabric I can wash it or in the worst case scenario start over. Ivory satin is a whole different kettle of fish. I couldn't pop these on a quick spin cycle and imagine if my iron had caught on the netting and melted it! (It's happened to me and I've just cut another length).
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