Events Archives - Page 2 of 5 - Two Sewing Sisters

Cup Day in Butterick 6556 Vogue 9357 and Vogue 1883

November 21, 2023January 10, 2024 by two.sewing.sisters, posted in Events

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

Cup Eve Reception in Vogue 1802 and Vogue 1578

November 16, 2023November 16, 2023 by two.sewing.sisters, posted in Events

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 2023

October 11, 2023January 9, 2024 by two.sewing.sisters, posted in Events

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.

Make a donation to Frocktober

Looking for more frock inspiration? Check out our 2019 Frocktober here, our collaboration with Alexandra Nea with a Frocktober Fabric print here,

Sew Gorgeous 2023 – Songlines Art

August 8, 2023August 9, 2023 by two.sewing.sisters, posted in Events

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

Sew Gorgeous Project Credits

Photographer for Two Sewing Sisters Photos: James Christie Media
Dress Fabric: Seven Sisters print by Anwari Mitchell of Papulankutja Artists Flying Fox Fabrics website
Patterns: Vogue 9343

Check out our project for last year’s Frock On project here.

Winter Vogue Wedding Guests

March 7, 2023November 21, 2023 by two.sewing.sisters, posted in Events

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

Christmas Outfits for 2022

December 25, 2022December 24, 2023 by two.sewing.sisters, posted in Events

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

If you have been following along with your makes over the past few years you will know but this family tradition. If this is a new project for you we are excited to welcome you to our family Christmas! One of our favourite family traditions is that every year we make matching Christmas outfits.

Christmas outfits is something we’ve been doing in our family since our Nan made Christmas shirts and dresses for our Grandad and parents before we were born! You can see last year’s red Liberty outfits here and see the historical collection here. This get pulled out every year as every December you will see us wearing the outfits from previous years.

We continued the tradition of family Christmas outfits continued this year. This year we were all home together in North East Victoria for the first time in a long time. We celebrated this with a green backed echidna print by Jocelyn Proust.

Lauren in Vogue 1723 and Fergus

Lauren made the cotton into Vogue 1723 and put elastic around the sleeve hem instead of using the sleeve stay for a more casual look

We have made this dress before but in more formal fabric for Lauren’s Myer Millinery Award entry and Erin silk fabric from @injalakarts for the Cup Eve celebration but in cotton. It is such a comfortable cut especially for that big Christmas lunch and the cotton sits so well in the dramatic sleeve and neck tie.

Fergus practised this posing and sitting very patiently for his photo his year. If you missed his efforts last year check out our blog post. Let’s just say there was a lot less handsome puppy face and a lot more fluffy happy tail. With his sit more solid than ever thank you to the team at ProDog training Fergus wore a Two Sewing Sisters original dog bow tie pattern that included a D ring for his lead and quick-release buckle.

Robyn in McCalls 7542 and David McCalls 6044

For Dad’s shirt, we used McCalls 6044 which features a shaped body, curved hem, collar with stand and front placket detail for the buttons.

This year Mum chose to create her Christmas dress this year using McCalls 7542 bodice and attached a box pleat skirt with pockets. We have made a few versions of hacking this McCalls pattern into a dress, the first was this blue checked number, check it out here.

James in McCalls 6044 and Erin in Schultzapparel Senna

James chose his go-to collared shirt pattern McCalls 6044 which is a popular shirt pattern in our make set at the moment.

Erin made a variation of the Schultzapparel Senna. We were part of the pattern testing team for this Schultz pattern, you can see this make here. For this Christmas version, we straightened the waist seam and created a tiered skirt but kept all of the great features of the bodice which include a fastening-free finish with very clever ties.

Photography Notes of Christmas Outfits

Photographer: James Christie
Dress Fabric: Jocelyn Proust green background with echidna with Santa hat Christmas fabric
Patterns:
James – McCall’s 6044
Erin – Schultzapparel Senna with tiered skirt
David – McCalls M6044
Robyn – McCalls 7542 with pleated skirt
Lauren – Vogue 1723
Fergus – Two Sewing Sisters drafted doggy bowtie

Stakes Day, Family Day!

November 13, 2022January 26, 2023 by two.sewing.sisters, posted in Events

Those who have been following us for a while will know our family loves an opportunity for matching outfits. There is no better opportunity than Stakes Day! This year we went with a striped fabric that Erin sourced from DK Fabrics in Adelaide. If you are in the area and looking for fabric stores check out her Must Visit Fabrics Store in South Australia blog.

Lauren and Erin’s Outfit

For our stakes day outfits, we chose patterns with panelled sections so we could play with the direction of the stripes in the fabric.

Lauren wore Vogue 9357 which is designed by Carlos at Vogue Patterns. We took the band out of the waistband as we didn’t need the extra panel or else it became too busy with all of the stripes. We utilised the front seam and cut the panel on a 45-degree angle and matched the stripes up the middle when it was stitched together (a nervous but rewarding moment)

Erin created a striped version of the Vicki Sews Lorraine bodice and added a gathered skirt with a horizontal band around the hem. The hem panel was the width of the crinoline we had on hand, we like adding crinoline into the hems of some of the dresses to give a fuller hem to some light fabrics.

Robyn and Davids’s Outfit

We don’t often have the opportunity to share what we sew for our parents, but after ourselves, they are the people we sew for the most!

With all of these garments, we were looking for a chance to showcase the panelling with the stripes of the fabric. For Mum, we returned to Vogue 1312 which is a pattern we had made for her in a light blue textured linen we love the bottom band and then insert the chance to cut it with the stripe going around meeting an up and down of the bodice running into the skirt was a great combination.

We love making Dad a matching shirt but for this occasion, he wanted to wear a tie so we created a self-drafted, Two Sewing Sisters tie that he could wear with tan chinos and a white shirt. The weather was surprisingly cool and we had just finished making him Simplicity 9191 in blue wool which we quilted.

Stakes Day Family Outfits

Kennedy Oaks Day

November 3, 2022January 5, 2023 by two.sewing.sisters, posted in Events

This year we were so excited to put together our outfits for Cup Week this year. After two years of fashion on your front lawn creating the floral Stitch Witch Atlas top and blue tulle Gertie Princess Coat we were excited to be back in person this year. We headed into our stash first to see what gems we could find and build outfits from there. Melbourne however in its classic weather fashion threw us a curve ball and rained for most of the week.

Erin’s Outfit

This didn’t impact too many of our outfits but if you were in Spotlight South Melbourne on Melbourne Cup Day afternoon you will have spotted the Two Sewing Sisters (still in their Cup Day outfits) on the hunt for fabric for Erin’s Oaks Day outfit. The original yellow and white lace choice was in production but the prospect of wearing it on a breezy wet day for Oaks Day was ideal.

So continued the week of jumpsuits. We used the same patterns as the purple jumpsuit earlier this week, hacking together Vogue 9327 and Vogue 1647 – just swapped the peplum for sleeves and patch pockets! A strong and vibrant print came together with an exposed purple zipper.

Erin paired the dress with pointed black patent shoes, a maroon leather headpiece made by Lauren and gold earrings.

Fabric: Spotlight
Pattern: Vogue 9327 and Vogue 1647
Headpiece: Lauren J Ritchie Millinery

Lauren’s Outfit

This traditional yet bold floral print was calling for a pop of red. This wonderful colourful print is quilting weight cotton that joined the stash at some point (we can’t remember where or when) so to lift the surface finish we used satin piping around the collar and a red belt to enhance the colours.

Lauren paired the dress with navy patent tan and lavender headpiece that she made.

Pattern: Vogue 9201
Headpiece: Lauren J Ritchie Millinery

Vogue 9327 and Vogue 1647 in purple with white pinstripe

Melbourne Cup Day Outfits

November 1, 2022January 5, 2023 by two.sewing.sisters, posted in Events

We love putting together our looks for Cup Week and heading out to Flemington Racecourse. Melbourne Cup is hosted on the first Tuesday in November and is known as the race that stops the nation. The day is filled with bright vibrant colours and we pick our fabrics to reflect this.

Erin’s Outfit

This dress is a classic hackathon from the Two Sewing Sisters. The bodice or Vogue 8494 with the sleeve of New Look 1619 and the skirt from Vogue 1486. All are individually great patterns but had elements that we wanted to bring together for this dress. The fabric was a velvet-textured material that gave a lush finish and was rich in colour. The combination of pink and red is a common mix for Melbourne Cup with similar hues tieing the outfits together.

Erin's Melbourne Cup Dress made with Vogue 8494 (bodice), New Look 1619 (sleeves) and Vogue 1486 (skirt)

Erin paired the dress with a tan shoes, a magenta and red headpiece made by Lauren and coordinating earrings.

Fabric: Spotlight
Pattern: Vogue 8494 (bodice), New Look 1619 (sleeves) and Vogue 1486 (skirt)
Headpiece: Lauren J Ritchie Millinery

Lauren’s Outfit

This week quickly became a week of jumpsuits with pockets! For this bold colour blocking look, we hacked together Vogue 9327 and Vogue 1647 (also used for Lauren’s Cup Eve outfit – see the blue jumpsuit here) with free-form peplum.

Vogue 9327 has three sleeve options, but sleeveless isn’t one of them! We want to use this pattern because we loved the neckline and darts. In addition to making it sleeveless, we also reshaped the sleeve head to bring it closer to the neck.

The fabric was a deep purple with white pinstripe that had been sitting in our stash for some time.

Lauren paired the dress with tan shoes and a marigold boater that she made.

Pattern: Vogue 9327 and Vogue 1647
Headpiece: Lauren J Ritchie Millinery

See Fergus on Melbourne Cup Day.

Cup Week Drinks at Government House

October 31, 2022January 3, 2023 by two.sewing.sisters, posted in Events

We had the honour to be invited to attend the Cup Eve Reception at Government House this year. Lauren was invited as President of Millinery Australia and showcased a piece of millinery as she was a finalist in the 2022 Millinery Australia Design Award. This celebration called for a new outfit and we hit the fabric stash to find something special.

Erin’s Outfit

When Mum and Dad were travelling near Darwin they found Injalak Arts which is an Aboriginal-owned organisation with the community at its heart, that strives to deliver positive social, economic and cultural outcomes for all involved. They produce beautiful unique hand screen-printed designs on the fabric in their workshop in Gunbalanya.

Mum and Dad selected a piece of fabric for each of us and we were waiting for a special event to use this fabric. Erin found the stunning gold screen printed Dupion which she decided to use for this event. As the fabric has a great structure and we wanted the print to be the hero of the garment so she used Vogue 1732 with an A-line all-in-one bodice and large statement sleeves.

Erin paired the dress with a matching clutch from the same fabric also purchased at Injalak Arts, black shoes and a black headband made by Lauren.

Fabric: Injalak Arts
Pattern: Vogue 1723
Headpiece: Lauren J Ritchie Millinery

Lauren’s Outfit

Lauren wanted to create an outfit that would compliment the stunning print of Erin’s gold silk and show respect for the design. We came across this blue crepe fabric with a water-like print. When looking for a pattern for this fabric, Lauren looked back on some previous makes and loved the line of a red floral jumpsuit we had made a few years ago that combined the bodice of Butterick 6410 with a pant to create a jumpsuit. For this combo we used Vogue 1647 as it has a wide leg but flat front to make the most of the fabric.

To show off the design lines of the patterns we inserted black piping around the collar edge and horizontal bodice seam. In-seam pockets are a must and remove the need to carry anything and Erin was inspired to continue the piping theme and inserted it into the side seam as well. A tricky conquest given the pocket as well.

Lauren paired the dress with taupe and black piped shoes and a black riding-style hat she made.

Fabric: Spotlight
Pattern: Bodice Butterick 6410 and pants Vogue 1647
Headpiece: Lauren J Ritchie Millinery