Frocktails Round Up

Frocktails events have been popping up around the world.  Frocktails events are an opportunity for sewists to meet up in real life and socialize in an exciting setting.

Wearing something you made is absolutely not a requirement. Each event is different, but the overall theme is to meet other people that sew. Sewing can be an isolating hobby, but events like this are designed to grow your sewing community. We wanted to highlight some makes and experiences from members of the Curvy Sewing Collective that have attended a Frocktails event.

Sierra

Hi! I am Sierra and I recently moved to Atlanta, GA. I was super excited about the Atlanta Frocktails announcement because I hadn’t been able to meet many sewists in the area. I invited my sister and we decided to make it a mini sister’s trip. I sketched my outfit a few weeks before the event but didn’t start making it until that Thursday afternoon.

I used the Cashmerette Appleton Dress pattern that I shortened to top length. I used a black crushed velvet that was in my stash. I hadn’t sewn with velvet before but I decided it was a risk worth taking. I paired it with the Muna and Broad Glebe Pants in a neon rayon & linen blend. This was my first time making the pants and I love how big the pockets are. I put my boxed water from the event in my pocket and it actually fit.

It was supposed to get cooler that evening so I also brought my Alice Alexander wool coatigan to keep me warm. I am very pleased with how the entire look turned out.

I was super comfortable but also felt chic. I think I’m most excited about the fact that I was able to meet some amazing people in the community. Everyone was kind and I’m really glad I pushed my (slightly) introverted self to sewcialize at this event.

Michelle

Sandwiched between the indie sewing meccas of Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, British Colombia, Seattle has been a little bit behind the sewcializing curve of some of our Pacific Northwest sibling cities. That said, the volunteer crew behind @seattlefrocktails have put together an amazing event the past two years in a row!

I was hit with a major case of indecision as far as what to sew up for Frocktails. Did I want to make a fancy new version of a dress that I’d already made an liked, or did I want to try out a new pattern (on relatively short notice at that point)? I ended up hitting up Gillian of Crafting a Rainbow and Sewcialists fame for advice, and she pointed out that one of my new-to-me options would be perfect for Frocktails, saying, “If there’s any occasion to sew a Wilder Gown, Frocktails is it.”  So I sewed my own version of the Friday Pattern Company Wilder Gown!

I sewed mine from a luscious Jade-colored Avery Slub Linen Blend from La Mercerie. I loved the color, and the fabric itself has a decent amount of body while still having plenty of drape for the gathers.  I’ve been dressing it down to wear around town on these cold post-Frocktails days.

And the twirl factor!  What’s not to love about a dress with a twirl factor like this one?

I was a little worried that given its popularity, half off the Frocktails attendees would be wearing Wilder gowns, but amazingly, there were only three of us, all with very different takes on the pattern. Of course, we had to take a group photo:

Photo credit to Lilly Everett Photography.

Thanks again to all of the awesome volunteers who made such a fantastic event possible!

Andie

Organized by the wonderful team of Hilary (Tinkering and Tailoring) and Sarah (Sew By Night) from the Toronto Sewcialists, the Toronto Fancy Sewcial was a hit back in July at the Tranzac Club. Hilary had previously held events in her condo party room before. Her pavlova is amazing fyi! The Fancy Sewcial was catered with all the plates marked for allergens (super important to me since I collect allergies like Pokemon), we got little quilt charm packs and a drink ticket when entering along with a ticket for door prizes.

The Friday Pattern Company Wilder Gown is kind of the perfect dress for a Fancy Sewcial. I made it with a sheer bright yellow chiffon with polkadots and wore a white tank dress underneath.

I also made a felt flower crown because this dress makes me want to frolic in the fields.

It was such a fun night. There was a photobooth set up and tons of door prizes.

I got some giggles when I posed like this and declared it was “for the gram.” LOL

I won some cotton canvas from Figo Fabrics, who also provided the quilt charm packs. I already made a couple of Helen’s Closet Costa Totes out of the canvas and a mini quilt out of the charm pack for a fellow sewist, who I also send one of the Costa Totes (keeping one for myself since I loved the fabric so much!)

Thank you Hilary and Sarah for a wonderful night!

Photobooth and group photos done by Julie Mac Photography

Final Thoughts

Have you attended or are you planning on attending a Frocktails event? Are there other sewing meet ups that you participate in locally?