Gertie's new book for better sewing

• Mar 15, 2013

• #1

M

Miss Retro Chic

New in Town

Messages

25

Location

Antwerp

Hi everyone!

I've done a quick search to see if anyone has posted on this book before, but could not find anything. If there is a post about, please excuse me starting up a new one. :eusa_doh:

I have ordered this book on the internet today as it got such good critics. Is there someone who has already bought the book? What did you think about it?

 

• Mar 15, 2013

• #2

Drappa

One Too Many

Messages

1,141

Location

Hampshire, UK

I have and I love it! I haven't had time to make anything from it yet, but hopefully over Easter. It's definitely worth the money.

 

• Mar 15, 2013

• #3

QueenOfRandom

New in Town

Messages

25

Location

Hertfordshire, UK

Ooo straight on my wish list! Thanks for pointing it out!

 

• Mar 15, 2013

• #4

Alice Blue

One of the Regulars

Messages

153

Location

Western Massachusetts

I had it out of the library for several weeks. The first section is an excellent how-to for beginning to intermediate sewers and has a lot of great info on understanding and working with vintage patterns. It is also extremely well written and edited. (You can tell that Gertie's day job is as an editor.) The book has a handy spiral binding so that you can keep it open flat and see what you're doing.

The book comes with basic pattern pieces, and the second half shows examples of how to make them up. I didn't make any of them so I can't comment on the quality of that section, but it looks really useful for people who like that style.

I will probably buy it once I "get going" with real vintage patterns. The first half alone is worth it for me.

 

• Mar 16, 2013

• #5

Tenuki

One of the Regulars

Messages

202

Location

Seattle

I am waiting for my copy to arrive. I am curious about the patterns, but I bought it for the vintage sewing help so I'm glad to hear that section is useful.

 

• Mar 16, 2013

• #6

Idledame

Practically Family

Messages

897

Location

Lomita (little hill) California

Sounds interesting. Thanks for posting. Here's a link to Amazon. Used ones at moment for $14 plus shipping.
http://www.amazon.com/Gerties-Book-...&keywords=Gertie's+new+book+for+better+sewing

 

• Mar 16, 2013

• #7

M

Miss Retro Chic

New in Town

Messages

25

Location

Antwerp

Thank you all for replying.

Now I am even more eager to receive my copy!

 

• Mar 16, 2013

• #8

L

lareine

A-List Customer

Messages

309

Location

New Zealand

I've heard that the pattern measurements are very non-standard and designed to suit somebody with a figure like hers (which makes sense) - as my figure is very different, I'm not going to bother with the book for that reason. It does look interesting though.

 

• Mar 26, 2013

• #9

Tenuki

One of the Regulars

Messages

202

Location

Seattle

It's true, lareine, the sizing is non-pattern company standard. On the plus side, I dropped several sizes without dieting, what an ego boost I'm not going pay much attention to the sizes and use my tape measure to work it out. My plan is to make the muslin of the portrait blouse this weekend.

 

• Apr 4, 2013

• #10

M

Miss Retro Chic

New in Town

Messages

25

Location

Antwerp

Tenuki, when it's finished : please show us! I am still plucking up the courage to start on a dress!

 

• Apr 6, 2013

• #11

Tenuki

One of the Regulars

Messages

202

Location

Seattle

Miss Retro Chic said:

Tenuki, when it's finished : please show us! I am still plucking up the courage to start on a dress!

Click to expand...

It's gonna be a project - I made the muslin but need to fine tune the fit and try again. I have a broad back and that is one fitting adjustment she left of the book, so I have to dig out my P&P Fit for Real People...I'll post the final project, though. My lofty goal is to work all the projects in the book. I'm half tempted to re-group and go back to the beginning and have some easy success with a skirt.

 

• Oct 7, 2013

• #12

Tenuki

One of the Regulars

Messages

202

Location

Seattle

Today was my first day back at the sewing machine since the last post here. My plan is to work systematically through Gertie's book because the first 5 projects are skirts: dirndle, circle, pencil, pencil with flounce, A-line. Gertie explains how to draft and make the dirndle circle skirts. The pencil is the first provided pattern. The next 2 skirts are based on the pencil. Gertie explains how to draft the flounce and how to add to the pencil to make it A-line. If you make them all, you have 5 new skirts, but you also have the skirt patterns drafted for all the future dresses, which make use of all 5 skirt patterns.

So, sorry for the cross post (I also posted to Show us what you've made), but here is the dirndle. The next project, is the Circle skirt.