Getting Ready For Summer

From the moment I spotted this fabric in The Fabric Store in Melbourne I knew it had to be made into a mini skirt.  I was instantly imagining it with a simple white tank and flats for summer.  The Gold Coast has really started to warm up in the past couple of weeks so of course it had to be the first of my frocktails purchases to be sewn up.


I was having trouble finding a skirt pattern to use.  I was looking for something extremely basic and simple but every skirt in my pattern stash had pleats or seams on the front.  The lovely Rachel came to my rescue with the suggestion of the jenny skirt from Burdastyle.  I am so thankful for her help because it turned out perfect.  But here are all the details...


Pattern: Jenny by Burdastyle

Size: I cut a straight 42 which fit perfect straight off the bat

Mods: Most obviously I hacked off a heap of the length.  To do this I measured one of my existing mini skirts and then used this measurement to work out where to cut my pattern.  I also removed the waistband.  My original plan was to replace it with a facing, however, somewhere along the line I decided not to do this and instead I just lined it in a thin white cotton poplin from my stash.  The last thing I wanted to do was make the back of the skirt a bit more smooth so I moved the zipper to the side seam and cut the back in one piece.  All in all they were pretty simple mods to incorporate.


I am so so so happy with this pattern!  I had heard some interesting things about burdastyle patterns so I was a bit wary but this one was perfect.  The size I chose fit me perfectly straight off the bat.  Needless to say I am pretty stoked with how this skirt turned out.  I am thinking it will be getting a lot of wear this summer!  My practice version is actually sitting in my sewing room waiting to be finished because I fell in love with this pattern so much.  I think there may even be a proper jenny that needs to be made soon for work.  The options for this pattern are endless!

A Frock for Frocktails!

I know, I know, I said I'd be back Thursday with a dress post.  Yes, I know today is Sunday.  Woops! This week has been a crazy one and the days just ran away from me.  But I'm here now so onto the dress! I apologise in advance for the photos. My camera died before I went to Frocktails so Corey took these half asleep at midnight when I got home.


As you know I was lucky enough to attend Frocktails in Melbourne last weekend.  One stipulation of the event was that everyone sewed something to wear.  I chose to make McCall's 6320.  Coincidentally I actually bought this pattern the last time I was in Melbourne.


Originally I was going to make this dress up in a completely different fabric.  Unfortunately, I decided to leave it to the last minute and then realised too late the pattern had princess seams.  Given the fabric I had chosen had a diagonal stripe I was confident I could execute it to the standard I would like in such a short amount of time.  So a quick last minute trip to Spotlight brought me this fantastic cotton pique that was just perfect!  For a little point of interest I decided to make the pockets out of purple.  I was deciding between a few different colours but the purple seemed the most prominent in the print so it was the clear winner.

Of course that meant I had to use a purple zip.  Even though I know hardly anyone will see it these little pops of colour keep me happy.  It's the little things in life!

The pattern is meant to be lined but I decided to leave it unlined so it wouldn't be too thick to wear during Gold Coast summers.  Instead of lining it I finished my neckline, hem and sleeves in bias binding.  I am a big fan of this method! It is so quick and easy and I always have bias binding in my stash.  And that my friend is my frocktails stories over.  Until next year which a little birdie told me is going to be in Sydney.  I can't wait!

Frocktails Weekend

photo courtesy of Poppykettle - me, Rachel & Mel

This past weekend I had the immense pleasure of heading to Melbourne to go to Frocktails.  What is Frocktails you ask? It is an awesome event organised by the lovely Kat.  Basically it was a chance for us sewing bloggers to get together to eat delicious food and drink cocktails all while wearing newly made dresses.  Genius idea!

photo courtesy of Poppykettle - Me, Liz & Amanda

I had so much fun on this weekend and was so happy to get the chance to meet some amazing ladies.  Amanda is one of the funniest ladies I have ever met! I am secretly hoping she will move to the Gold Coast so we can become bff's. I did get the chance to meet another Queensland blogger in Liz.  This lady has fabric finding super powers! Everything she touched I wanted.  I am still dreaming of the pink cherry print she found at Alannah Hill that I neglected to buy.

photo courtesy of Poppykettle - Belle, Rachel, Mel & Kat

The Melbourne girls are the most welcoming and beautiful group I have met in a long time.  They made us all feel so welcome.  And check out their gorgeous dresses!  This group of ladies has made skills in the sewing department.

But dinner wasn't the only exciting thing that happened that weekend.  There was also fabric shopping!!!  I met up with the girls on Saturday morning on Brunswick Street to check out The Fabric Store and the Alannah Hill clearance store.  The top photo is my fabric from The Fabric Store and the second picture shows what I picked up at Alannah Hill.  I already have plans for pretty much all of this fabric now all I need is time to sew it all up.  I also picked up a few patterns but none of these match up with these fabric purchases.  Poor planning on my part!

I'll be back tomorrow with some better photos and more details on my dress so make sure you pop back!