Cover Girl (New Dress Pattern!)

Hi readers! I've been felled by a nasty stomach thing for the past several days, but I just got something in the mailbox to cheer me up: my dress design on the cover of a magazine! Stitch with Style is a special fashion sewing edition of Stitch Magazine, out on newsstands May 14th. (You can find ordering info and stuff here.) The magazine features the dress and instructions, and then you can download the free pattern on their website to make it yourself! Update: you can also buy a digital copy of the magazine here. 

The dress made its merry way to back to me yesterday, along with a fresh-off-the-presses copy of the magazine.

And hey! I also have an essay on the back page, all about the process of designing and making the cover garment.

This dress was really fun to make. I developed the pattern by draping it on my small (model-sized, not me-sized) dress form. It has a low scoop neck, tiny cap sleeves, and a full skirt with side pleats.

The fabric was a delightful find at B&J Fabrics. (I don't see this particular fabric on their website, but I think they have more, so you could call them or email them this picture if you're interested in buying some.) It's a pure silk organza with a soutache-like ribbon embroidered on top. I choose a periwinkle silk habotai as a lining/underlining (there's both in the bodice) to set off the deep blue of the ribbon work.

I'm definitely going to be making this design for myself now that it's available to download in a range of sizes (XS to XL, or bust size 32" to 44-1/2"). More to come on that!

Gertie In Print

Readers, I have two articles out right now that I'm really excited about!

First, an article on Alfred Shaheen in the summer 2012 Stitch Magazine (of which I'm now a contributing editor--never thought I'd see my name on a masthead!).

This article was a dream come true to work on. Shaheen's work was the inspiration for my bombshell course, and he's one of my favorite designers of all time. To write a profile on him, I ended up getting in touch with his daughter and having several enlightening phone conversations about her father's work, their family history, and the surprising way Alfred was influenced by his mother's work as a seamstress. I also learned one of the sewing secrets behind the icornic "Shaheen Sheath" (see below)--clever elastic stays in the bodice! You can find this issue of Stitch in bookstores or you can order it online here.

You'll also find some of my design work in SewStylish magazine!

I was asked, along with fabulous sewing superstars Cal Patch and Christine Haynes, to design our own take on a new Simplicity pattern, number 1920.

I used the blouse and skirt patterns to come up with a glam 50s-inspired ensemble.

It has an illusion neckline (which you may remember me blogging about here and here!). I sewed crystals onto lace appliques to get the scattered floral effect on the shoulder.

Then there's a full skirt and a matching cummerbund belt. The tutorial for the belt is online here!

Here's the whole look in my (old) apartment before I sent it off to SewStylish.

I had envisioned lime green pumps, but they went with truly fabulous purple suede ones.

SewStylish is now in stores, or available online here. I hope you will read and enjoy!