About Us
Fitzroy’s fabrics and dressmaking kits was an idea that grew from our passion for sewing clothes. The passion started many, many years ago with a little girl making clothes for her small collection of dolls and grew to a place where she could escape from the pressures of work and family to create beautiful things she would be proud to wear and give to others. Sewing was therapeutic and creative and being complimented on her skills and style brought her so much joy. We want to share that feeling with you.
That feeling when someone asks you “where did you buy that from?” and their look of disbelief when you tell them that you made it yourself is unbeatable. Don’t be fooled though, there were lots of mistakes along the way – buying the wrong fabric for the pattern was our greatest sin in the early days, and then as we became more adventurous, choosing the wrong trims and notions added to the woes. It took time and a lot of confidence to figure out the right formula, and a conviction that if you were going to spend precious time on making something, that you could not only wear it, but make it look as though you didn’t make yourself. We want to share that experience and knowledge with you.
The Kits
Whether you are a seasoned seamstress, or someone who is just starting out and learning this rewarding skill, we are here to help you create something that you will love to make and wear. Our dressmaking kits, which we have fondly nicknamed “FrocKits” bring everything you need to make an item of women’s clothing – pattern, matching fabric, trims and notions, and everything else that goes with it, lining, interfacing and thread. The kit is complete, and once you have it, there is nothing to stop you from sewing it, assuming of course that you already have a sewing machine!
There is nothing more frustrating than getting ready for a sewing session, only to find that you don’t have everything you need and you have to dash down to the shops to buy that zip, or that interfacing, or those buttons. If you are anything like us, the momentum has gone, and all of the shiny things in the shop distracted you, and you probably ended up buying more stuff than you needed anyway. Maybe you live in a remote area, and ‘dashing down to the shops’ is not as easy as it sounds, seeing that the shops are miles away. You could try to buy the individual items you need to make up a garment, but sourcing that great fabric, pattern and hard to find double ended metal zip takes time, and then some by the time it all gets to your door.
We’ve done all of that hard work for you. We choose great, fashionable patterns, pair them with gorgeous fabric and source hard to find trims and notions to complement the outfit. Our FrocKits have everything that you need to make the garment you have chosen, so you can lock yourself away and just focus on making your new creation. Bliss.
You can buy the FrocKits whenever you like, as it isn’t a subscription service, so there is no need to wait long to receive your kit. Whenever you feel inspired, you can shop in our store and have the entire kit delivered to you within 3-5 working days. You have control over what kits you choose to buy and when.
The Patterns
We have chosen to use patterns from “The Big Four” Pattern companies (Vogue, Butterick, McCalls and Simplicity which include New Look and Burda) because they are the most popular, and many sewers are familiar with the sizing and adjustments that may be needed for custom fit. We are not averse to using independent patterns, and many of these are wonderful, but for now, we will just be focusing on what we know will work for you. Our patterns are selected from current collections, but every once in a while, we will add a pattern that is no longer in stock for the Big Four, but is just so nice, that we couldn’t resist including it our collections.
The Fabric
We select fabrics that work with the patterns and reflect current fashion trends. Our fabrics are all sourced in Australia, and are of a very high standard. We don’t want your garment to look like it has been mass produced, so we keep our FrocKits in small quantities, and in some cases, we create one-off kits so you know your garment is unique.
The Trims and Notions
A beautiful trim, or a stunning buckle or buttons can really make or break a garment. It can be very frustrating trying to find the perfect clasp or trim for your finished garment, and unfortunately compromises are often made, but we have access to the widest range of notions and trims in Australia, and we make that available to you in your kit. We select trims and notions that enhance your garment and provide those finishing touches that set it off to its best advantage.
The Rest
Every FrocKit comes with Gutterman thread that perfectly matches your fabric, and where your FrocKit pattern requires it, enough interfacing, lining and elastic to complete the garment. Our aim is to give you everything that you need to sew your garment. We have gathered your supplies, so you don’t have to.
We have also provided links to PatternReview entries where you can benefit from the prior experience of other sewing enthusiasts who have already made up the pattern you have selected for your FrocKit. For those of you who are new to this, Pattern Review is a huge community of sewers who amongst other things, post reviews and comments on garments they have made from patterns. Reviews can be accessed for free, but becoming a member opens many other doors in this treasure trove for sewers.
And Finally…
We want people to love sewing as much as we do.
Browse our collection and start making it easier for you to love what you make.