IMG_2479
Instructor: Rebekah Joy

Hopeful Frock with Rebekah Joy of Flux Bene

Learn to make a FLUX BENE Hopeful Frock. Turn a second hand shirt & some new or second hand fabric into a cohesive and thoughtfully designed button front dress.

The Hopeful Frock is a button front dress with large lined pockets and an optional back channel for cinching at the waist. We will be adding side panels and bottom panels to a second hand shirt to create a slightly flared and swingy silhouette. The Hopeful Frock hem can be mini, knee or ankle length, depending on your preference. The sleeves can be short and cuffed, or bracelet / three quarter length and finished with hem tape.

In this class you will learn how to:

  • Quickly & efficiently deconstruct a second hand shirt for upcycling into a dress
  • Add side and bottom panels to create volume and length in a garment
  • Create & add a cinching channel to an existing garment- this technique can be used on any existing shirt, dress, or pants!
  • Create a simple placket with buttonholes- We will be using the existing button placket from the shirt, and most people will need to extend this placket by adding an extra button or two in their bottom panel
  • Consider different factors for upcycling vs. sewing from scratch
  • Combine different fabrics together for visual interest
  • Assemble & attach lined patch pockets- This technique also can be used for any existing garment
  • Make & use straight grain hem tape and / or create short cuffed sleeves

Pre-Requisites

This class is beginner friendly. It is not for the newbie sewist who has never sewn before, so you must have at least taken the Intro to Sewing class or have similar beginner level experience.

You will need to purchase a digital pattern for the class which you will print at home and tape together PRIOR to the first class! If you have questions about this please contact the studio. Rebekah will be sending instructions regarding pattern printing prior to the class so that everyone has patterns properly scaled and ready for class.

Supplies

Materials List:

  • 1 second hand shirt in a lighter weight- a light denim chambray can work, linen is excellent, and any dress/ office weight cotton shirt is a great choice.

  • The shirt can be oversize, or slightly small in the torso, but should fit you well in the shoulders. If you don’t have a shirt on hand, try looking at thrift stores, on Poshmark, Depop, or Ebay

      • If you are making a short sleeve version, your second hand shirt can begin with either short sleeves or long. If making the long sleeve version, it is easiest to begin with a long sleeve shirt.

    • Fabric for your side panels, bottom panels & pockets

      • This fabric should be similar to your shirt in both weight and fiber composition. For example: lightweight linen fabric for a lightweight linen shirt. If you are using a slinky rayon shirt, look for a slinky rayon fabric.

      • The easiest fabric to work with will be a crisp cotton shirt (with no stretch) and a quilting cotton or other tightly woven cotton. If you are comfortable with garment sewing and using a machine, feel free to branch out into other fabrics.

      • See chart below for fabric qty. Requirements based on the version of Frock that you want to make

  • 1/4 yard / fat quarters / scrap fabric to line your pockets – this is a great place to use up an old bedsheet or an old fabric that you don’t particularly like OR you can go in the other direction and use a fabric that you will be excited to see when you look in your pockets

  • FLUX BENE Hopeful Frock PDF Pattern- Link HERE

  • All-purpose thread

 

OPTIONAL:

    • 3 ½ Yards of narrow cotton twill tape (¼” – ⅕” wide)- This will be used to create your side ties if you choose to add the back waist cinch channel

  • ¼ yard (or fat quarters, or scraps) of any fabrics that you would like to incorporate into your pockets, cuffs, or any other place in your Frock for visual interest.

Frock Version

44” Wide Fabric

55” Wide Fabric

A: Short Sleeves & Mini Length

1.5 yards

1.5 yards

B: Short Sleeves & Knee Length

2 yards

1.5 yards

C: Short Sleeves & Ankle Length

3.5 yards

2.5 yards

D: Long Sleeves & Mini Length

2 yards

1.5 yards

E: Long Sleeves & Knee Length

3.5 yards

2 yards

F: Long Sleeves & Ankle Length

4 yards

3 yards

Don’t hesitate to email Rebekah with any questions about materials: rebekah@fluxbene.com

**All shirts & fabrics must be woven (not stretchy).

Class Availability