Sydney Frocktails

On Saturday night Sydney held its second Frocktails - a cocktail party/raucous catch-up where attendees are encouraged to wear something fancy and me-made. Frocktails happen all around Australia and are usually organised for members of the Spoolettes group by members of the Spoolettes groups - although anyone who sews can attend.

Saturday night saw 70 ladies descend on the The Edinburgh Castle Hotel in the city. It was a great night - catching up with old friends and meeting a lot of new sewing buddies. It was perfectly acceptable to go up to someone and say "I love your dress" and make a grab to fondle their fabric...often followed by "hello"! Priorities!

I still don't have any "fancy dress" sewing under my belt so I went with a Mabel Skirt made in a bonded lace ponti from the Fabric Muse. The fabric doesn't have much stretch so I added 2cm to both the front and back fold to ensure I could breath and not bust any seams. The top is just a cheapie modal jersey from Uniqlo -- I knew it was going to be hot so wanted something that I knew I'd feel cool in. To "pad out" my me-made skirt I also took my leather Essential Wristlet with me and made some VERY sparkly polymer beads for a necklace and earrings - I don't think I'll ever get all the glitter out of my house after making these!

I felt pretty good all night - comfortable and not too hot. Best of all I felt like me, not dressed up in clothes that I just wouldn't wear and would feel not myself in. And, best of all I can re-wear and re-use everything!

I think everyone had a VERY VERY good time and is eagerly awaiting our next Frocktails which I've heard may be in late October this year. I'm already thinking about what to sew for my next Frocktails outfit...I have an idea for a dress! Fancy!

A big thanks has to go to Caz from UsefulBox who arranged the entire event as well as some great door prizes too! And thanks to her hubby who took great photos of everyone on the night.

Another Maria Denmark Kimono Tee

I really love the print on this fabric that I first saw at Fabric Muse a few months ago. After weeks of fabric stalking I finally purchased 90cms of it  and decided to make myself another Maria Denmark Kimono Tee. The fabric is $35/pm so it was hard to justify buying anything more than this...sadly!

I'm getting a bit tired of getting properly dressed for blog photos, so here are two photos of the new top...what you're not seeing are my PJ bottoms and ugg boots!

Since my first kimono tees I've put on a bit of weight (insulation for winter) so this doesn't fit as well as my others did when I made them. I also think I've cut the fabric off grain as it not sitting as nicely as it should. Moving forward I'm going to stop being lazy and actually make a neckband for my kimono tees...my method of turning the neck under and stitching before joining the shoulders works OK but doesn't look very good.

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Pattern: "Kristen Kimono Tee" by Maria Denmark
Size: size 3XL (no seam allowance added); with size 4XL at the shoulders
Modifications: none, other than not using a neckband
Fabric: Botanical Digital Print Jersey from Fabric Muse (97% Viscose + 3% Elastaine). 
Changes for next time: maybe I'll forgo the use of Wondertape; and maybe try sewing it with a neckband. I might go up a size also.

"Our Fave Top" by Tessuti

How great is this fabric that I picked up from The Fabric Muse during one of my lunch breaks. Rhetorical question as it's obviously fantastic! The print is so pretty and the fabric (polyester/spandex) feels so nice. I initially bought 90cm for another Maria Denmark Kimono Top but after feeling the two way stretch and drape of the fabric I thought it would do nicely as Tessuti's "Our Fave Top".

I've made this top once before and the underarms/sleeves have been widened to accommodate my ample "guns". I also decided to lengthen the sleeve pattern by 2cm and add a cuff. I think I could make the lower arms a bit wider still and the cuffs are a smidgen too tight (as I decided to make the cuffs 1cm smaller as I didn't want them to be loose and messy looking - if I'd just left well enough alone the top would be perfect - d'oh) but the fabric is SO stretchy that hopefully they'll not be too uncomfortable when I wear the top.

As my overlocker is playing up a bit I decided to stay stitch the neckline before overlocking as I didn't want the fabric to stretch out and be ruined. I think I should unpick the stay-stitching as it looks a bit messy on the inside now. I'm going to drop my overlocker in for a service next week and I shall miss it dearly whilst it's gone.

With the hem, as with my first version of this top, I decided to roll the hem with my overlocker...because I'm lazy! As I was sewing I kept thinking "ah, f**k, it's stretching out and I've ruined the top", but as soon as I finished and pulled it off the machine I LOVED the fluted finish to the hem. LOVE. IT!

So, whilst not perfect in sewing or fit I do love this top, mainly as I think the fabric is so well suited to the pattern and the print is just so lovely. I'm really going to enjoy wearing this once the weather cools down a bit more.

** I'm wondering if I have forward sloping shoulders (or something) as it's very obvious when on that this top is twisting and something funky is happening when I wear it???

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Pattern: "Our Fave Top" by Tessuti
Size: One size fits...most
Modifications: added 1cm to each sleeve piece which continued under the arm and tapered off to zero at the bust. Lengthened sleeve by 2cm and added a cuff.
Fabric: Flashing Lights & Florals Printed Jersey (95% polyester and 5% spandex) from The Fabric Muse in Chippendale
Changes for next time: none, though leave the cuff piece as I've already drafted and don't make it smaller.