Frocktober 2023

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. 

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 Spotlight
Frocktober 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 Spotlight
Day 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 Minerva
Frocktober 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 birthday
Frocktober 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 9225
Frocktober 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 9328
Frocktober 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 Minerva
Frocktober 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 Spotlight
Frocktober 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 Fabrics
Frocktober 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 Minerva
Frocktober 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 cotton
Frocktober Day 12: Our favourite bodice to hack into a dress yet again #m8161 from Sewdirect Australia cotton purchased from Super Cheap Fabrics
Frocktober 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 Minerva
Frocktober 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 Street
Frocktober Day 17: A favourite work dress today 🌊 Sewdirect Australia Vogue 1633 in crepe from Fabric Deluxe
Frocktober 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 @spotlightstores
Frocktober Day 19: A button front Butterick 6090 in fabric provided by Minerva
Frocktober 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 8347
Frocktober Day 20: A version of Sewdirect Australia Simplicity 8594 in cotton poplin from Tessuti Fabrics for a day of teaching at Holmesglen Fashion
Frocktober 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 Hoarders
Frocktober 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 fabrics
Frocktober Day 24: A very fun Dashwood Studio pear print from Minerva in Sewdirect Australia New Look1619
Frocktober day 25: Our favourite pattern of winter – Know Me 2016 in cotton from Darn Cheap Fabrics
Frocktober day 26: A wizzy skirt on a Schultz Apparel combination of Ottilia wrap top and Minna sleeve in a paisley from Minerva
Frocktober Day 27: Simplicity 9136 in cotton from Spotlight for a day of teaching at Holmesglen Fashion
Frocktober Day 28: Studio weekend as we enter peak sewing period! 👒 Erin: McCalls 8282 in cotton poplin Spotlight Lauren: Butterick 5840 in fabric provided by Minerva
Frocktober 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 Stores
Frocktober 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
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,