Lin, it might be worth contacting the textiles departments at various universities. I'm an alumnus of the clothing engineering department at UMIST (although not touched a sewing machine in years) and I know Central Saint Martins in London is very highly regarded (lots of the top UK designers studied there).
Hi, might be able to help you out there... know someone who designs and makes wedding dresses but apparently also has a big interest in celtic designs and i'm sure could knock something up!
My wife had her Wedding dress altered there last year and the quality of the work is second to none. Its in Belper, Derbyshire if its not too far from you?
Send me a pm if your interested and I'll get some details
Chi - Excellent idea that and I really can't imagine you at a sewing machine
The problem stems from the design I want being in the states and i've seen nothing in the uk that matches it so I figured i'll just have to have it made
not only have I sat at sewing machines, I've written dissertations on them!
One of my most embarrassing moments was at the start of my second year trying to chat up a couple of first year girls in the student union. Just getting into full swing when a course mate taps me on the shoulder and says "come on, we're late for our knitting class." Never saw those girls again...