Gertie's Charmed Sewing Studio

Bestselling sewing author Gretchen Hirsch returns to her roots with a fresh look at fashion classics—how they were made then, and how modern day sewists can re-create them now—in Gertie’s Charmed Sewing Studio.

Gretchen Hirsch, aka “Gertie,” returns to her roots with a dive into beloved fashion classics, including the mermaid gown, the structured sheath (think Elizabeth Taylor), the Rose Marie Reid swimsuit, and more—plus a little fashion history, to inspire modern-day style mavens.

Sewists, thrift shoppers, and fashion collectors will love making the book's three downloadable patterns, and learning how to reproduce favorite vintage looks that fit modern figures.

The first half of the book is a journey through pattern and couture sewing techniques and iconic designs. Gretchen combines a bounty of sketches, historic images, process photos, and clear instructions to create an irresistible sewing guide and lookbook for the vintage fashion enthusiast.

In the second half, Gretchen deconstructs three intricate garments, the Madeleine dress, the Camille sheath, and the Lillian princess coat: Focusing on just three designs offers a sewing and design foundation in a full range of sizes—from 2–20 and 18 to 34, with separate A-H cup sizes. This wide range is not easy to find in other sewing books, and more important than ever for body inclusivity. Each garment (two dresses and a jacket) is shown with detailed instructions and links to download and print full-size patterns.

Featured garments:

The Structured Tropical Dress

The Rita Blouse

The Night and Day Dress

The Lilli Ann-Style Princess Coat

The Rose Dressing Gown

The Tropical Mermaid Gown

The Marilyn Jeans

The Rose Marie Reid Swimsuit

The Cummerbund Bubble Dress

Plus full-size patterns (to download and print) for:

The Madeleine Dress, the Camille Sheath Dress, and the Lillian Jacket

From Gretchen Hirsch:

Gertie’s New Book for Better Sewing

Gertie Sews Vintage Casual

Gertie’s New Fashion Sketchbook

Gertie’s Ultimate Dress Book

Gertie’s Charmed Sewing Studio