Erin and James are off jet-setting to Europe this month so this was a fantastic excuse to plan a capsule travel wardrobe. We will share some of the makes on the blog but also follow along on our Instagram for all the outfit updates. The first make featuring on the trip in London is the Adrift Shift by Gracie Steel in Faces Canvas from Spotlight.
Fabric: Faces Canvas from Spotlight
Pattern: Gracie Steel Adrift Shift
Photos by: James Christie Media
We enjoy exploring new things in sewing so when Case from Sew Unsteady invited us to try out her first pattern Junk in the Trunk we loved the idea of exploring bag making.
This bag is designed with a side band and flat front that has an adjustable strap and can be worn around the waist, across the body or over the shoulder making it extremely versatile. There are two views included in the pattern with the strap attaching at different points to create a vertical or horizontal shape.
We used an offcut of lightweight cotton we had and interfaced to give it some more support. This pattern could use a heavier woven fabric and even a leather so there are so many options to make it your own. A perfect scrap buster too!
This Jungle Garden Cotton was in the upholstery section in Spotlight. The fastenings we used white cotton tape and found the fabulous yellow clip at Super Cheap Fabrics in Fitzroy.
Pattern: Sew Unsteady Junk in the Trunk Bag
Fabric: Â Jungle Garden Multipurpose Cotton from Spotlight
Fastenings: Yellow clip Darn Cheap Fabrics
Oaks Day is known as Ladies’ Day at Flemington Racecourse during Melbourne Cup Carnival. The fashion features lots of florals and soft colours.
Lauren wore a vibrant green floral polished cotton from Spotlight in Vogue 9021.
Erin wore a gorgeous blue polished cotton from Spotlight in view EÂ of Vogue 9328.
Photographer:Â James Christie Media
Pattern:Â Vogue 9021 and Vogue 9328
Fabric: Fabrics from Spotlight
Millinery:Â 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.Â
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.
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.
Photographer: James Christie Media
Pattern:Â Vogue 1578 and Vogue 1802
Fabric: Blue and Black Jacquard from Fabric Deluxe and floral crepe from Spotlight
Millinery: Lauren J Ritchie Millinery
We celebrated the end of 2019 and welcome 2020 with New Year Celebrations at a Tiny House Escape with our dear friend Kate, also known as Stitches and Sutures! We stay in a lovely tiny house that was situation in Carrickalinga in South Australia. With bushfires threatening so many parts of Australia we were wishing everyone a safe start to 2020.
We wore matching outfits made out of Abstract Multicoloured Digital Printed Cotton Linen Fabric that is 112 cm from Spotlight – you can find the fabric here.
Last year we set ourselves some sewing resolutions- some we were able to complete, others that made it back on the list for this year. See last year’s sewing resolutions here. Our sewing resolutions for 2020 are:
Christmas outfits have been a family tradition that started in the mid 1980’s when our Dad suggest that his mother-in-law, our Nan make him a shirt out of Christmas fabric. From then on it would not have been Christmas without themed attire.
The fabric for this years outfits had been purchased from Spotlight around two years ago and sat waiting for a family Christmas that involved some sunshine and we could all be together on Christmas Day.
This year we also had a guest, Mr Sammywise Gamgee, a spoodle dog and naturally he also needed a matching bow tie to wear for the family photo.
