New Slip-Making Kits in Stock, with Plus/Tall Options!

My Etsy shop is open again! I have new kits for our slip sew-along, which begins in April. I now have red + black kits, fuchsia + black kits, and a few yellow + white kits.

These kits will make a slip and pair of panties up to a Butterick size 22 (which corresponds to bust/waist/hip measurements 44"--37"--46").

You can also buy your pattern in my shop, as it is not included in the kit.

New Plus Size/Tall Kits!

If you need to grade up the pattern or add length, I'm also offering plus/tall kits in red and fuchsia. These include an extra 1/2 yard of fabric and extra lace.

More Kits Coming Up . . . 

I will probably offer more kits in lavender and black again, but I'm not sure when exactly that will happen. If you want to start sewing along on 4/1, I would buy one of the available colors rather than waiting. Update: I have 5 black kits and 7 lavender kits left! Buy now if you're interested!

Thank you all for the amazing response to the kits and the sew-along! Okay, back to cutting and packing . . .

Slip Sew-Along! (Plus Slip Kits for Sale)

As you may recall, I released my first lingerie pattern recently! It's Butterick 6031, and it includes patterns for a slip, camisole in 2 lengths, and panties.

I spent some time yesterday whipping up a a version to show you. It took me a little over an hour to sew--instant gratification! Plus it's all done on a regular sewing machine, no serger required.

I'm pleased to announce that I'll be hosting a sew-along here with detailed sewing help for the slip. I'll work on setting up a schedule; I thought we could start sewing in about a month. This will give you plenty of time to gather supplies.

Speaking of supplies! I've been on a mission to put together slip making kits to sell in my Etsy shop. One of the most frustrating aspects of sewing lingerie is just hunting down the supplies--the rings, sliders, elastics, stretch lace, and the appropriate fabric. Finding them all in one place, in coordinated colors is close to impossible. It's enough to make anyone throw in the towel!

That's why I'm putting together kits with everything you need to sew a slip and a pair of panties. They're available for pre-order in my shop right now. All orders received this week will be packaged this weekend and shipped out early next week.





Kits are currently available in:

1) black fabric with white lace and pink bows

2) lavender fabric with white lace and white bows

3) all white

The kits include micro jersey fabric (poly/spandex blend), wide stretch lace for the slip/panties trim, narrow lace for the straps, a set of rings and sliders, 1/8" elastic to stabilize the neckline, picot elastic for the slip upper back, and two vintage-y bows with flowers.

The micro jersey is amazingly silky and drapey. I've been super busy sourcing the materials, and I'm so happy with how the kits are shaping up.

In time, I'll be offering kits in more colors, including some hand-dyed options. More to come!


UPDATE: Wow, the response to the kits has been overwhelming! Due to popular demand, I'm now offering the pattern in my Etsy shop. Shipping for the pattern is free in the US, and free worldwide if shipped with a kit. If you've already ordered a kit and want the pattern, please place a new order and make a note that you've already ordered a kit. I also have a new color available: canary yellow with white lace!


Because I'm now backordered on some supplies, shipping for new orders will be in 10-14 days. Thanks everyone!

Commenting Systems + 30% Off Fabric Sale

A Rosie pic for the dog people out there!

With my blog redesign well underway, a few of you have asked for a new commenting system. No one likes having to enter those ridiculous (and unintelligible) recaptcha phrases, obviously--the ones that prove you're not a robot. I experimented with not requiring a word verification, but I was seriously inundated with spam comments--like hundreds a day. That won't do, either.

A few of you have recommended switching my commenting system to Disqus. Before I jump into that head first, any thoughts? What are your experiences with Disqus, either as a commenter or a blogger?

Thanks for taking the time to weigh in. Reading your comments is one of my favorite things ever, so this is really important to me!

In other news, my remaining summer fabrics in my shop are now 30% off! Woo hoo!

Giveaway Winner + 25% Off All Fabrics!

Happy Friday, readers! I'm here to spread some weekend cheer.

First of all, ParisGrrl is the winner of the Prior Patterns giveaway! She will get a $20 gift certificate to the Prior Patterns to choose a lovely vintage sewing pattern. Thanks to all who entered and to Sheila of Prior Patterns for providing the giveaway. Sheila is still giving us all a discount on her patterns until the end of the year with code 10Gertie2013.

Secondly, I'm having a major sale in my fabric shop (which has a shiny new design and name!) until Tuesday. Everything is 25%! No coupon code needed or anything. I would really like to start stocking some fall and winter fabrics (wool crepe in jewel tones, anyone?) but I need to sell these summer fabrics first. So you'll be helping me out AND getting new fabric--it's a win/win!

50s Swimwear-Inspired Linen Mini Dress

I bought this floral linen fabric for the shop, and the bolt was just calling to me to make something from it. The print reminded me of 50s swimwear and sarong dresses--so why not a swimsuit-inspired dress?

New Fabrics: Lobsters, Dots, and More--with 10% Off!

I found some great novelty prints and polka dots for my little fabric shop! First of all: LOBSTERS. How cute are these little guys?

Blog Changes A-Comin' + New Fabric + Blouse Class

Black floral linen

Hello, readers! Big news: I'm finally making some design changes to the blog, as posted here. It will be a template update to make the content easier to navigate--plus a cute new look too. A generous reader named Rachel Kate totally did all the work for me; more about that to come. Anyway, I'm letting you know ahead of time since things will be in transition for a little while. There may be some little issues here and there, but it will all result in a more organized site. Yay!

The Last Two Simplicity 1609 (For Now)

Okay, I think I've finally exhausted my fascination with this pattern. (Five dresses later . . . )

Gertie Goes 60s (Simplicity 1609 Finished!)

I finished my shift dress! They aren't kidding when they call this pattern "Jiffy." It goes together super quickly.

I surprised myself by picking out this pattern, and then surprised myself some more by hacking 4" off the length to make it mini. I mean, if you're going to do 60s, do it right!

I made it in a stretch plaid cotton, available in my little shop. I kept the center front seam because there is some VERY subtle bust shaping there. I'm glad I did because I needed extra seam allowances--this pattern is tight! I'm so used to the Big Four patterns having lots of ease that I usually size down from my actual measurements and make a 14. That's what I did with this and it was super tight across the hips. (Yeah, I didn't make a muslin. I'm a 60s rebel without a cause!) I let out the side seams and center front seam and it fit perfectly.

It's still pretty snug in the bodice, though. I'd like to make another version, adding ease to the side seams so it's more of a loose shift.

I got into the spirit with the hair and makeup too! I did a bouffant with side-swept bangs, cateye  liner, and pink lipstick.

I think I will make a small swayback adjustment for my next version.

I have to say, making and wearing this dress has given me an entirely new appreciation for 60s fashion. How liberating it must have been! Suddenly you were getting rid of your girdle, wearing bikini underwear, showing your thighs, actually having some room to move in your dress, feeling sassy. Very cool.

I'm excited to make another version, like right away. I got this lime green stretch gingham for the shop and am going to use it to make the version with the Peter Pan collar next.

I'm feeling incredibly inspired by this pattern. Perhaps this will be my grooviest summer ever!

Tons of New Fabrics in the Shop (Plus Coupon!)

Well, readers, the response to my fabric shop experiment has been excellent. I've been stocking garment fabrics with a vintage flair in my Etsy shop to see if there was interest, and the answer is YES. There is interest. So I took the money I made and bought a ton of new fabric, which I've just listed. Here's a preview:



Now that I have all this fabric, I'd love to start sending it out to good homes. Won't you please adopt some fabric today? I'm giving 10% off on everything all weekend, until Monday. Use the code: ROSESGALORE.

Thanks so much for your support of the shop! My uncanny radar for rose prints is finally being put to good use, thanks to you.

Cambie, Take Two

I loved my first Cambie so much, that I immediately cut out a second! I used a straight neckline this time, and I think I prefer it to the sweetheart. I had this Japanese double gauze in my stash and it was perfect. It's brown with aqua dots on it.

As a brunette, I would have totally avoided this color. But as a pinkhead, I think it's perfect. I've realized that I had very set ideas about what colors I could wear, and it's fun getting to turn my rules upside down. BTW, this pic was taken just after I'd gotten my hair colored and blown out. Hence the smoothness and lack of roots.

 Armpit flap! Sexy!

A couple construction notes. I spent some time making this in the studio, so I didn't have fusible with me. So instead of using a strip of fusible to stabilize the pocket opening, I used a little strip of the fabric's selvage. It worked perfectly! In fact, I think I prefer it to fusible since it's so strong. That pocket is NEVER going to stretch out of shape.

On the inside, I used a Freespirit voile solid in perfectly coordinating aqua as a lining and it is amazing--though, at $14 a yard, not for every project. (See my post about summer linings here.) Again, I added a front facing so the lining wouldn't peek out the top.

Hey, did you notice my shoes? I went for the Worishofer wedges, and OMG. They are so comfy.

In shop news! I got more of this beautiful Ascher mint bow print, which is a miracle. My supplier told me he was out, and then unexpectedly got more! It sold out so quickly last time, and I'm dubious I'll be able to get any more in this color again.

I saved 4 yards of it for myself, and I think it's going to be my next project. I want to make Vogue 8789 with it, since I think the ribbon will form a cool chevron on the bodice. I'll just have to be very strategic with it, so I don't end up with boob bows.

Fruity Floral 40s Chiffon Dress

I found this amazing fabric last week, and immediately bought 15 yards for the shop. Of course, 3 of those yards were for me, ALL ME, readers. Because this has to be one of the best retro prints I've found in a while.  It's a fruit and floral print that veers far away from kitschy.

It has rose bouquets, baskets of cherries and strawberries, lemons, daisies, and basically all of my favorite novelty print motifs in one fabric. To top it off, the chiffon has an open weave mesh pattern running through it, forming a plaid on top of the print. (It's very subtle, one of those little things that makes a fabric special.)

I used Butterick 5744 as a starting point, because I liked the faux-wrap skirt and the neckline flounce. Plus the waistline seam is elasticized, so I knew it would be comfy for summer.

I made a few changes, as you can probably see. First, I added two inches to the hem length. It is super short right out of the envelope, and Gertie don't play that. Second, I omitted the lining because I wanted to play up the sheer nature of the chiffon. I'm wearing a light pink slip to cover up my unmentionables. Third, sleeves! I wanted a more 40s-inspired design, and also to show off the fabric a bit more. I borrowed the sleeve from New Look 6069, eliminating a couple inches of length. It's a puff sleeve so I didn't have to worry too much about pattern compatibility, and it fit right into the armscye of the dress. Also, I made the neckline a bit lower and wider because of the way I attached the flounce--I decided on a french seam at the last moment, which ate up a bit more seam allowance.

A few other construction things: I used the narrow hem on my serger for all the raw edges, in a contrasting ivory color. I like how it plays up the details of the dress, like the flounce.

I used french seams on the inside. I had a brilliant idea (if I may say so myself) about the waistline seam. The pattern calls for you to stitch the waistline seam, then stitch again 1/4" away--making a channel for the elastic. You insert the elastic with the old safety pin trick. I tried it, and was unhappy with how messy the raw edge of the chiffon was. I found myself wishing I could bind the seam allowances. And then it came to me--fold over elastic! I took out the elastic from the casing, and used the fold over elastic to cinch in the waist fullness and finish the raw edges of the waistline seam. (I am so weirdly proud of myself for thinking of this.)

Fold over elastic is basically an elastic binding that can be used to enclose edges of lingerie and other knits. It worked perfectly for this purpose too. I cut the elastic to fit snugly around my waist, folded it over the raw edge of the waistline seam allowances, and stitched it in place with a multi-step zigzag--aka serpentine stitch (though a regular zigzag is fine), stretching the elastic as I sewed it on. I had to first make sure the elastic was evenly distributed by dividing it into halves and matching it to the dress's side seams. Once it was sewn on, I steamed the elastic to shrink it back to size. It worked like a charm, and is so pretty on the inside.

Oh, one other pattern change: the directions called for a small snap to hold the wrap bodice in place, but I just tacked the layers together instead. The snap seemed unnecessary, plus I have an irrational hatred of sewing on snaps.

Perfect with red pumps!

This was a fast project, and the chiffon has a bit of body and was easy to sew. (I have 6 more yards of it for sale, if you're interested. Use coupon code HAPPYWEEKEND for 10% off until tomorrow.)

Hey, speaking of sales! Miss L-Fire shoes have been on sale several places and it's my civic duty to pass the info on to you. I found the Lola mules in navy for almost half off. (The rest of Sole Addiction's Miss L-Fire stock is on sale as well.)

At Anthro, the Casablanca slingbacks in black and red are half off. I picked up the black and white dot. (A very sick part of my mind thinks I should get the red as well, since I saved 50%. I mean, right?)

I resisted the Tease wedges, but they are very cute in navy and also on sale.

Enjoy!