Our First Festive Frocktails

Our first Festive Frocktails (2026) was absolutely amazing and so much more than we could have possibly predicted. We had never hosted a Frocktails before, but a few of us had attended Melbourne Frocktails a couple of times, so we had an understanding of what the nights were like.

Putting on a Frocktails event is a lot of work, but like anything we do with passion, it was completely and utterly worth it. For anyone who has never been to a Frocktails event before, it is hard to explain in words what it feels like to attend one. It is honestly the most welcoming, encouraging, and friendly environment I have ever been in, just like our Sewcial Sewing catch-ups but on a much larger scale.

I have been thinking about this feeling all week and have been on a complete high because of it. I think the main reason these events are so joyful is because everyone in the room shares the same passion. We all have a love of sewing or the handmade.

To me, sewing is a magical skill that enables me to make garments that feel 100% like me. I get to choose how I present myself to the world, and I think that makes me more open. When people are open, it creates connection, and I think those small moments of connection are where the magic happens.

The night started with everyone arriving, hanging up their coats, and grabbing their cocktail on arrival. We decided to give everyone a button to trade for their drink as a convenient way to make sure everyone received one, with a nice nod to sewing. Once everyone had arrived, we welcomed them into the space. Sheryle, the Sewcial Sewing team, and I made a big effort to make everyone feel welcome and let them know what would be happening throughout the evening.

After that, the food and mingling began. I love that I can walk up to a complete stranger and start a conversation simply by touching their sleeve and asking what amazing fabric they used. There is something pretty special about that. Soon the room was full of laughter and conversation. Our wonderful photographer, Lea, helped capture this feeling, and our awesome DJ, Jane, set the tone with some easy beats in the background. When we decided we wanted to put on a Frocktails, we knew that, if possible, we wanted to hire a female photographer and DJ to enhance the night, and I am so glad we found them.

Once the food was finished, we announced the door prize winners. As someone who absolutely loves giving presents, this was my favourite part of the evening. That pause before someone realises we have just said their name, and the massive smile that follows, fills my heart. The door prizes could not have been possible without the support of our amazing sponsors, many of whom are small, independent businesses juggling the challenges of running a business in today's economy. For them to donate anything is incredibly generous, so thank you all. We couldn't have done it without you.

Then we had our raffle. The raffle was a fairly new addition to the planning process and simply started with the idea of, "Wouldn't it be cool to have an amazing prize to raffle off on the night to raise some money for our group?"

They always say it's who you know, not what you know, and that was 100% true in this situation. One of our sewing ladies, Barbara, used to work with Sheryle, and Barb's sister, Sandra, works at Shepparton Sewing Centre. No sooner had Sheryle floated the idea than she was speaking directly to Brad, the owner of Shepparton Sewing Centre. We could not believe it when Brad said that, in conjunction with Baby Lock, they would like to donate a brand-new overlocker for the raffle.

To me, this is another example of how community and connection can do amazing things. Because of that generosity, we managed to raise a combined total of $3,000 for our group, which will buy much-needed equipment and support the learning and growth of more sewists as they join our sewing sessions.

Once the raffle was finished, we started the amazing catwalk. The catwalk was not only a way to showcase everyone's beautiful garments, but there is also nothing more confidence-boosting than strutting down a red carpet wearing something I have made. The photos that Lea captured of this moment sum it up perfectly. Pure joy!

Once the catwalk was finished, the beats kicked in, and I, alongside many other sewists, had a serious boogie. I frickin' love a dance floor. I read somewhere recently that raving for the over-40s, particularly women, is making a comeback, and I can completely understand why. Dancing definitely gets the serotonin flowing.

I could have danced all night, but like most good things, it had to come to an end eventually. Everyone claimed their goody bags. Lots of the items came from our wonderful sponsors, but also from the effort and support of the Sewcial Sewing team. As soon as we mentioned that we wanted to give everyone a wrapped present in their bag, the team jumped at the chance to make something. Quite a few ladies also donated 100 items, one for each bag. They did this without being prompted—they genuinely wanted to—which pretty much sums up the sewing community to me: generous, friendly, and connected.

If there is one thing I know for sure after this night, it is that sewing people truly are the best people in the world. I genuinely believe that connecting with a group who shares the same passion is good for the soul.

I certainly thank Sewcial Sewing and Frocktails for making my life better. I cannot wait until Frocktails 2027, and I already have a million ideas rattling around in my head to make it even better.

Thank you again to the whole Sewcial Sewing group, our amazing sponsors, Shepparton Sewing Centre, and Baby Lock. We could not have done it without you.

Photo credit: A huge thank you to our talented photographer, Lea Bickley, for beautifully capturing the joy, laughter, and connection of the evening.