There is a definite nip in the air, the days are drawing in and the trees are starting to turn. This is by far my favourite time of year. I love the cosy nights by the fire, the rich autumnal colours and, of course, Christmas is just around the corner. With just over 10 weeks to go till the big day, now is the perfect time to start organising your stash of Christmas Fabric and planning your festive projects. Whether it’s a Christmas gift, stocking filler or the actual stocking, we have the fabric and haberdashery that’s perfect for you. Christmas is a big event in our family; we all get together for a fabulous roast with plenty of wine and presents for everyone. We always make the house look beautifully festive with lots of Christmas fabric. A lot of the Christmas Fabrics here at Calico Laine are 54” to 60” (140-150cm) wide which make them ideal for tablecloths. I love traditional Christmas colours so this year we’ve gone with a gorgeous red and metallic gold complete with matching napkins. Making a Christmas table cloth is so easy, you just need to hem your fabric and you’re done. I think they make all the difference too, it’s a relatively cheap way to make any sized table look classy and sophisticated. Once Christmas is over, throw your cloth in the washing machine and pack it away for next year. You’ll use it year after year. We’re always looking for new ideas and ways to make the house look nice at Christmas; in the end many houses end up looking very similar with whatever is fashionable that year. This year I’m decorating my house with some Christmas bunting. Bunting is very popular at the moment but what I like about making your own is that it’s unique. It’s always fun choosing your Christmas Fabrics and a matching bias binding for across the top. You can go with a theme like snowmen or holly for instance or stick to a particular colour scheme. I’d usually choose something the kids would like but this Christmas I’ve decided to coordinate with the red and gold tablecloth - my tree is those colours too. I’m hoping the bunting will give our house a fun but tasteful festive look. You can never have too much bunting either so I’ve got plenty of Christmas Fabric triangles cut out ready to be sewn over the weekend.