Pattern designer, teacher, and author Gretchen Hirsch discusses the growth of her brand and business, her upcoming plans, and her sewing fantasies in the Sewing with Threads Episode 18 video podcast.

Gretchen, better known as Gertie, came on to the sewing scene with Gertie’s Blog for Better Sewing. She expanded her business and created By Gertie, which offers online sewing tutorials; announces her upcoming events and traveling workshops; and sells her patterns, fabrics, and books. She also has been a licensed Butterick pattern designer.

Multipattern and a book

The Night and Day Dress is one of the most recent designs from Gertie’s independent Charm Patterns line. It graced the cover of Threads #203 (June/July 2019). Gertie reveals her inspiration for the versatile pattern and how it developed. It’s an advanced pattern with detailed instructions for 72 dress variations.

But Gertie says she also wanted to reach out to beginner sewers and “everyone who struggles to fit sewing into their day-to-day lives.” Her solution was a book: Gertie Sews Jiffy Dresses (Abrams, 2019). She explains how she chose the title, her goals for the book, and the popularity of one of the book’s five patterns.

Plans for the days ahead

What’s in store for the future? Gertie is rereleasing the Lamour Dress pattern. It includes a 60-page instruction book to thoroughly explain how to create 18 variations of the design. This and her other work stems from her sewing dreams.

“And making my fantasy come to life is my favorite thing,” she declares.

Gertie’s goal is to release half a dozen patterns in 2019. At least one late this year will be particularly challenging. “I’ve got a great love for tailored things,” she says. So she’s revisiting an out-of-print princess coat design she created for Butterick years ago. The design will include bound buttonholes, fussy interfacings, and other tailoring details.

She also reveals where she sources most of her fabrics and why some designs require boning, preferably the spiral steel variety. For information on boning, see “Fundamentals: Easy-to-sew boning,” Threads #159 (Feb./March 2012).

Bias or shaped facing?

Gertie and the Threads editors also tackled a reader question about when it is a good idea to use a bias facing instead of a shaped facing. Insiders can learn a clever method for finishing an edge with bias tape, in “How to Sew a Bias Edge.”

This episode of Sewing with Threads is sponsored by Baby Lock and Dharma Trading Company.

Do you want to get your first Baby Lock machine? Are you ready to upgrade to a newer model? Maybe you want to get your hands on that embroidery machine you’ve been thinking about. You’re in luck. Baby Lock’s Warehouse Sale is here. For a limited time, you can get select Baby Lock machines at reduced prices. Hurry, the Baby Lock Warehouse Sale ends July 31. Selection and quantity vary by location and retailer availability. So, if you have your eye on something, get it during this sale or it may be gone forever. Visit BabyLock.com to find a retailer near you.

Dharma Trading Company is your one stop shop for all fiber art supplies and service. You can see them online at DharmaTrading.com or call toll free at 800-542-5227 and you can speak to a live human about how to use everything they offer. Dharma Trading customer service is the best. You just give them a call, and they will do all they can to help you make your life more colorful. Check them out online at DharmaTrading.com or call 800-542-5227 today.

We have created a podcast survey to help guide our content. Please take a moment to answer a few questions.