On this lovely Melbourne day, we headed along to join our fellow makers at the Sew Melbourne Garden Party. Hosted at the Stapley Pavilion in Kings Domain, the Sew Melbourne Garden Party is the perfect sew-cial day out. The event is organised by Libby and Abby and is a wonderful event.
Outfits
Erin in Vogue V1994 in denim from Darn Cheap Fabrics, Eliza in Peppermint Jumpsuit in berry fabric from East Coast Fabrics, Lauren in McCalls 8098 & McCalls 8161 in Inky Grove Cotton Sateen from Minerva and Kate in McCalls 8036 in cotton from Minerva
Name Badges
We took this opportunity to have a crafternoon together before the event to create our own name badges, how fun!
It’s Frocktails time! What an exciting time! Frocktails brings together local makers to celebrate their makes and enjoy a cocktail together. The event was hosted at The Bank on Collins and cocktail of the night was “Daylight Bobbin-ry” which was made with Jamaican Rum, Frangelico, Crème de Cassis, Dom Bénédictine, Cranberry juice and nutmeg.
Is Frocktails the event where you can walk up and pat someone else’s fabric? Yes, yes it is! So why not wear texture? We certainly leant into this with our fabric choices this year.
From the left – Erin Butterick 6351 Crushed pleat The Fabric Lab, Lauren McCall’s 8213 tinsel fabric The Fabric Lab, Katelyn in By Hand London Flora tulle Spotlight, Eliza Know Me 2016 Spotlight, Robyn Vogue 1723 The Fabric Store
McCall’s 8213 in Purple Tinsel from Fabric Lab
Well it was love a first sight. Purple, sparkle, tassel, love. With the fabric purchased the next step was to decide how to best showcase this fabric. We looked to McCall’s 8213 for the bodice band and ties then gathered a tube of the amazing tinsel fabric onto the band.
Butterick 6351 in a crushed pleat from Fabric Lab
Fabric Lab has an amazing selection of special occasion fabrics including amazing pleats! Erin found this sensational shot green in a crushed pleat. She stitched it up in Butterick 6351 with the elastic back waist and open draped section in the back bodice.
Vogue 1723 in georgette from The Fabric Store
Mum has created a stunning long-length version of Vogue 1723 in a stunning georgette from The Fabric Store that was lined in pongee lining to compliment the weight of the outer layer. Do you spot Dad there in his Stakes Day vest? That’s right, what a week, Frocktails was on the evening of Stakes Day, 8 events in 7 days!
Photo Credits
Photographer: James Christie Media Pattern: Butterick 6351, McCalls 8213, By Hand London Flora, Know Me ME2016 and Vogue 1723 Fabric: Fabrics from Fabric Lab, Spotlight and The Fabric Store. Millinery: Lauren J Ritchie Millinery
Looking for more Frocktails inspiration? Check out our 2022 Frocktails outfits here.
Our family loves a matching outfit opportunity, and there is no better excuse than family day! Stakes Day at Flemington is known as family day so here we go! We selected our fabric for the year which was a floral polished cotton from Spotlight. Mum created our outfit this year, what a task! All five of us wore a garment in this fabric.
From the left: James in a handmade tie, Erin in Butterick 6482, Mum in Vintage Simplicity 7083, Dad in McCalls 4321, and Lauren in Simplicity 8594
Floral Dresses Butterick 6482, Simplicity 7083 and Simplicity 8594
We were very excited to attend the VRC Kennedy Oaks Club Lunch at Crown Palladium for the first time. Where did we start with our outfits for this ladies’ lunch? We went for a hunt in our stash and found two fabrics that were just waiting for the occasion. We created two Vogue patterns for these fabrics Vogue 1723 and Vogue 1884.
Vogue 1723
We had seen a fabulous outfit of silk blue organza created by Laura Wolfgang on Instagram and set out to create our own version. The outer dress is Vogue 1723 by Carlos at Vogue Patterns in embroidered tulle from New York when we were there earlier this year. The underdress is Vogue 1834 in a peppermint rayon blend from The Fabric Store.
Vogue 1884
The fabric for Lauren’s dress was purchased in Vienna and patiently waiting in our stash since 2018! The border style print called for a skirt that would showcase the lovely design. When Vogue 1884 came out we knew it was just the design for this fabric.
Photo Credits
Pattern: Vogue 1723 and Vogue 1884 Fabric: We wish we could remember the locations but sadly all we can offer is New York and Vienna. Millinery: Lauren J Ritchie Millinery
We also got see see fellow sewer Bryony Bourke who was wearing a fabulous me made outfit!
Melbourne Cup Day, known as the “race that stops a nation,” is a renowned horse racing event and a showcase of fashion. Glamorous hats that complement vibrant and stylish dresses are a must! The style is generally of elegance with a focus on bold colours, intricate patterns, and tailored silhouettes. This year we lent into the vibrant pink tones of the day with three fabulous outfits.
Butterick 6556
Erin’s outfit was a top and tiered skirt with multi-coloured layers. The pattern used for the top was Butterick 6556 with the addition of a sleeve from Schultz Apparel. The skirt is a self-drafted skirt which is basically just lots of gathered rectangles together to create the wrap skirt.
The Inspiration
Early this year when we were in New York, just casually strolling along 5th Avenue, this fabulous outfit caught our eye. Thank you to the windows of Bergdorf Goodmans for providing us the inspiration!
Then the challenge began to find the fabric. It was important that it was all the same fabric type so we needed to find a supplier that had the same fabric type if a wide range of colours. We wanted to find a light taffeta to provide a luxe feel to the finish and a full body to the skirt.
We hunted far and wide and ended up finding a range of taffeta from Minerva based in the UK. See the fabric here.
Vogue 9357
Lauren’s dress was created as a polyester jacquard from Spotlight Pink for Cup Day, which was not a wise choice for such a humid day! Anyway, next year we will be wearing cotton. The dress was a combination of the top pattern Butterick 6134 with the skirt from Vogue 9357.
Vogue 1883
Lauren presented her entry for the VRC Lillian Frank AM MBE Millinery Award track side on Cup Day so we got to have the fabulous Molly Richardson with us! Molly wore a vibrant coral crepe from Fabric Minerva in a dress pattern Vogue 1883.
Photo Credits
Photographer: James Christie Media Pattern: Butterick 6556 Vogue 9357 and Vogue 1883 Fabric: Taffeta from Homecraft Textiles, pink jacquard from Spotlight and crepe from Minerva Millinery: Lauren J Ritchie Millinery
We had the honour to be invited to attend the Cup Eve Reception at Government House. The evening celebrates the first Melbourne Cup run in 1861 when Victoria only began to find its feet as an independent colony. We chose to pull Vogue 1579 out of the cupboard and created a new Vogue 1802 for the occasion and pair it with pieces from Lauren’s millinery collection.
Vogue 1579 in Fabric Deluxe
Lauren wore a fabulous bird and butterfly with blue detail and a black background jacquard from Fabric Deluxe. We used Vogue 1579 to create the straight skirt with a fitted bodice and cape detail.
Vogue 1802
Erin wore Vogue 1802 a dress pattern from Sewdirect Australia that has a loose-fitting bodice with a neck tie and gathered dropped skirt. She stitched it up in a floral polyester crepe that we found in Spotlight.
Photo Credits
Photographer: James Christie Media Pattern: Vogue 1578 and Vogue 1802 Fabric: Blue and Black Jacquard from Fabric Deluxe and floral crepe from Spotlight Millinery: Lauren J Ritchie Millinery
Frocktober is Australia’s is a month-long fundraiser created by the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF) to raise awareness and funds for vital ovarian cancer research. If you have been following for a while you will know that we have taken on the Frocktober challenge of wearing a different dress every day in October. We take the challenge of wearing a me made dress every day in October in support the OCRF.
Frocktober Day 1 – Navy Gingham to start us off for casual Sunday frocks 👗
Lauren wears a vintage McCalls Boxy dress
Erin wears Helens Closet Ashton Top hacked into a dress with a three tier gathered skirt
Navy Gingham is from SpotlightFrocktober Day 2 – We converted McCall’s 8161 (previously McCall’s 7542) into a boxy dress by adding two gathered tiers in this printed poplin from SpotlightDay 2 – Senna Dress from Schultz Apparel in Dutch print cotton found at Afrodesigns.co.uk African Queen Fabrics at Brixton Markets in London.Frocktober Day 3 – This dress brings together some of our favourite features from three Sewdirect Australia patterns Vogue 1743 Butterick 6016 Butterick 6410 in navy polished cotton provided by MinervaFrocktober Day 3 – A version of Vogue 9201 in May Gibbs from Spotlight that was a gift from our high school textiles tea,cher, Gayle O’Keefe for Lauren’s birthdayFrocktober Day 4: Lauren pulled out one of her favourite Know Me 2016 from Sewdirect Australia in polished cotton purchased from Super Cheap Fabrics early in the month. Was this a frock risk wearing it so soon when we plan to wear a different frock everyday this month? Possibly but there are plenty more frocks to choose from.Frocktober Day 5: We got this material from DK Fabrics on a Fabric Hunt road trip with @stitchesandsutures over New Year in 2020, what a trip! It did take three years to make buy here it is in Sewdirect Australia Simplicity 9225Frocktober Day 5: This gorgeous print is a Minerva exclusive print and aren’t the colours just wonderful! We are on a mission to sew more work wear so chose Sewdirect Australia Vogue 9328Frocktober Day 6: Fear not there are a few more Know Me ME2016 from Sewdirect Australia on the frock rack yet. This one is a whimsical purple print from MinervaFrocktober Day 7: A night out at NGV with @sophia_rasch wearing purple floral from Mood Fabrics in Simplicity 8733 and Know Me ME2016 from Sewdirect Australia in May Gibbs (or nakie babies as we call it) from SpotlightFrocktober Day 8: Lovely sewing day in the studio!
@ritchie_robyn Vogue 1511 in linen blend from Super Cheap Fabrics
@sophia_rasch in blue corduroy
@ezziekr New Look 6694 in Little Johnny Fabrics fabric provided by Minerva
@lozziejr Simplicity 1651 in cotton print from Spotlight
@stitchesandsutures
New Look 6446 in linen blend from Spotlight
@elizarenouf in Nina Lee London Park Lane Dress in rayon from Rathdowne Fabrics Day 9: A green floral linen blend Edith Smock from Pattern Union which is a lovely zero-waste design. Have you tried any zero waste projects?Frocktober Day 10: Aura Dress by Papercut Patterns in striped cotton from DK FabricsFrocktober Day 11: Another boxy dress favourite while hanging out with Fergus McCall’s 8161 (previously McCall’s 7542) from transformed into a dress with two gathered tiers in fabric provided by MinervaFrocktober Day 11: Melbourne is that warm weather we feel? 🌞
Embracing the (slightly) warmer weather in #Vogue9201 with our favourite #NewLook6694 puff sleeves from @simplicitymccallsaustralia 🌸Frocktober Day 13: We used Sewdirect Australia #v9075 to show off the lovely flowers of this Spotlight Stores polished cottonFrocktober Day 12: Our favourite bodice to hack into a dress yet again #m8161 from Sewdirect Australia cotton purchased from Super Cheap FabricsFrocktober Day 14: Finder Keepers with our friend Nic
Lauren Schultz Apparel combination of Ottilia and Minna in viscose Mindthemaker from Maai Design
Nicola Helens Closet Ashton top
hacked into a dress from fabric from Salvosstores Wangaratta
Erin Sewdirect Australia
#m7969 in viscose from MinervaFrocktober Day 15: Dinner at Mamasita in Melbourne
Erin a Sewdirect Australia (…we need to dig for the pattern number because we can’t remember) in a linen look print from Super Cheap Fabrics
Nicola #s1610
Fabric: purchased at Komolka Stoffe while visiting Vienna, Austria
Lauren #v9370 Asymmetrical Shirt dress in stripes from DK Fabrics
Frocktober Day 16: A shirt dress in Sewdirect Australia Simplicity 8014 in dotted cotton from ClearIt Outlet when it was on Brunswick StreetFrocktober Day 17: A favourite work dress today 🌊 Sewdirect Australia Vogue 1633 in crepe from Fabric DeluxeFrocktober Day 17: Schultz Apparel combination of Ottilia and Minna in a bright zoo print poplin from Spotlight Stores🦩🦒🐅Frocktober Day 18: Yay for a warm Spring Day! A floral polished cotton from Spotlight Stores in By Hand London Flora Dress with a gathered skirt. We used a rectangle and added some darts for shape before gathering the skirt.Frocktober Day 18: Another dress in Sewdirect Australia Vogue 9021 a pattern that we enjoy making as it has the collar and placket but no drama of a button front. We made this version in a poly print from @spotlightstoresFrocktober Day 19: A button front Butterick 6090 in fabric provided by MinervaFrocktober Day 20: The weather roller coaster continues! 🎢 🌞
This fun fabric is the
Lady Mcelroy Fabrics parrot Marlie cotton lawn gifted by Minerva
Pattern: Vintage Vogue 8347Frocktober Day 20: A version of Sewdirect Australia Simplicity 8594 in cotton poplin from Tessuti Fabrics for a day of teaching at Holmesglen FashionFrocktober Day 22: This is the original conversion of McCalls 8161 (previously McCalls 7542) into a dress by adding two tiers in checked linen from Darn Cheap Fabrics to the top pattern
We were excited to make this stunning fabric from Fabric Deluxe into the #JosieMcCalls McCalls 8030 from Sewdirect Australia which we got on our fabric hunt day.Frocktober Day 22: Magnolia Dress from Sola Patterns in Liberty Fabric from Fabric HoardersFrocktober Day 22: Isn’t it too cold for this dress? Correct. We’ve hit the point of Frocktober where jackets and layers help us keep warm 🌧
This is an out of print @simplicitymccallsaustralia
t-shirt pattern which we hacked into a dress and made pretty much entirely (except for the hems) on the four tread overlocker 💚Frocktober Day 23: This checked fabric was the material for the @tessutifabrics Skylines Sewing Competition a number of years ago.Frocktober Day 24: A flash back to Stakes Day from last year taking it to the office, Sewdirect Australia v9357 in stripes from DK fabricsFrocktober Day 24: A very fun Dashwood Studio pear print from Minerva in Sewdirect Australia New Look1619Frocktober day 25: Our favourite pattern of winter – Know Me 2016 in cotton from Darn Cheap FabricsFrocktober day 26: A wizzy skirt on a Schultz Apparel combination of Ottilia wrap top and Minna sleeve in a paisley from MinervaFrocktober Day 27: Simplicity 9136 in cotton from Spotlight for a day of teaching at Holmesglen FashionFrocktober Day 28: Studio weekend as we enter peak sewing period! 👒
Erin: McCalls 8282 in cotton poplin Spotlight
Lauren: Butterick 5840 in fabric provided by MinervaFrocktober Day 29: Studio weekend as we enter the busiest sewing week of the year! 👒 We’ve got plenty of projects on the go – hats, tassels and #MelbourneFrocktails outfits! We can’t wait to share them all with you soon 😍
Fergus is keeping a close eye on our sewing progress (and the treat in Lauren’s hand 😂)
Lauren: April Pattern by Forget Me Not Patterns in aqua cotton from our stash
Erin: Adrift Shift Dress by Gracie Steel with hacked detachable in a bee embroidered white demin from Joann Stores
Frocktober Day 30: Simplicity 8014 in a floral from Spotlight StoresFrocktober Day 31: Last day of Frocktober! We have loved sharing some frocks with you and raising awareness for OCRF.
Erin’s frock is a Woven Stretch Cotton Sateen from Minerva in a mash up of the skirt and pockets of Vogue 9357 to the bodice of Butterick 6410
Lauren’s frock is Schultz Apparel Minna dress in a dutch print cotton found at afrodesigns.co.uk African Queen Fabrics at Brixton Markets in London
We had the honour of taking part in Sew Gorgeous which is a special collaboration between Songlines Art, Flying Fox Fabrics & Papulankutja Artists. This is the second year we have worked alongside a great team of makers in this project led by Songlines Art.
Fabric
We chose to work with the Seven Sisters print by Anwari Mitchell of Papulankutja Artists.
It is a digitally organic cotton fabric printed by Next State Print in Melbourne. The classic cotton is made from organic yarn and woven in a satin finish at 140cm wide.
The artwork by Anwari explains the creation of two constellations: the Pleiades and Orion. Find out more about Anwari’s work and the story behind the design on the Songlines Art website.
For the pattern, we looked through our pattern collection for a design that had a bodice that would showcase the fabric. The trick to this was that it doesn’t have too many design lines. We found Vogue 9343 and adapted the skirt to be A-line to better show off the material.
Construction
Cutting this fabric it was really important that we considered the pattern placement in this beautiful work by artist Anwari Mitchell. Enjoy watching us debating the print placement in the video and then see the pattern placement in the skirt captured in the photos below.
Finished dress
Sew Gorgeous Photos
Seven Sisters print by Anwari Mitchell of Papulankutja Artists Model: Jadene Croft Photographer: Nicholas Gouldhurst
We had the honour of being invited to our dear friends Max and Cassidy’s Wedding in New York! This called for new dresses, a winter black tie wedding in New York isn’t something we have hanging around in our closest. This was a wonderful opportunity to tackle more advanced Vogue Patterns! Off we headed to the fabric stores to find some inspiration for some wonderful fabric and patterns.
Erin in Vogue 1520
We couldn’t think of anything more fitting for a winter wedding than a full-length velvet dress!
We’ve seen Vogue 1520 by @badgleymischka in the pattern books for a while, but never had the opportunity until now to make it!
The pattern only has 5 pattern pieces for the outside layer, each a really unique shape given the side gathering! We sewed about 70% of the dress just on the four-thread overlocker and completed gathering stitches and hems on a domestic sewing machine.
We deviated from the pattern in two ways: 1. added gathering around the wrist (by extending the sleeve piece and using the same method of the side waist of the dress) instead of the lace feature. 2. removed the train to allow for maximum dance floor moves but kept the shaping at the back
Lauren Vogue 1908
A winter black tie wedding in New York was an excellent opportunity to tackle Vogue 1908 in a challenging fabric
This pattern is a wrap-style dress with a button-bodice closure and a wrap skirt. We loved this pattern for the self-covered button and collar feature, even though the self-covered buttons were challenging in the metallic georgette!
This fabric was tricky to work with and looking at the photos afterwards could use a popper on the left side seam to help hold the wrap strap into place. If you would like to follow along with the construction of this dress check out our Instagram Highlight here.
Credits
Photographer: James Christie Media Pattern: Vogue 1520 and Vogue 1908
