Hello, BurdaStyle friends!
You know me as Gertie, I’ve been hanging around here for a while; you might remember my Malissa variation from last year. I’m thrilled to be starting a series of posts for BurdaStyle on sewing vintage: vintage patterns, vintage styles, vintage sewing machines, you name it. And what credentials do I have to do this, you might ask? Good question.
Up until this year, I hadn’t sewn from vintage patterns much. But then a mega-project was born: my blog, Gertie’s New Blog for Better Sewing. It’s a modern homage to a 1952 sewing book called Vogue’s New Book for Better Sewing, which promised the average woman that she could become an expert dressmaker by sewing 14 sequential projects: six dresses, two blouses, two skirts, a bolero, an evening dress, a coat, and a suit. (Whew!) So I’ve been tracking down the patterns and sewing each one of them, exactly as the instructions specify – and on a 1952 sewing machine no less! (Yes, it’s sort of a Julie & Julia for the sewing set.) I’m six projects in, and I feel like I’ve already had a full education on sewing vintage.
But the blog has become about much more than the project at its core: feminism, body image, pop culture, and the way these topics intertwine with fashion and sewing. I like to think of it as a sewing blog for the thinking girl, if I may be so bold.
So check back here for regular posts on the wonderful world of vintage sewing. And please leave any comments, questions, and suggestions for here! You’re a bunch of smart, stylish ladies, and I would love to hear what intrigues you, confuses you, and even provokes you about retro and vintage styles.
Oct 15, 2009, 11.13 PMby starryeyes11
I will be checking out your blog and I can’t wait to see your posts here on sewing vintage! I’ve recently purchased some vintage patterns off of ebay (still waiting for them to arrive), it is always interesting to see how people fare with vintage sewing!
Oct 15, 2009, 11.27 PMby sophienissirios
Hi Gertie, thanks for sharing. Looking forward to your next post :-)
Oct 16, 2009, 02.12 AMby calicocouture
Your project sounds really interesting. I’m looking forward to seeing what you have to write.
Oct 16, 2009, 02.58 AMby Mirela
Congratulations for this Gertie! Looking forward to reading your posts! I already adore the dresses you make, super!
Oct 16, 2009, 06.26 AMby kaitui_kiwi
Wow, I am really looking forward to your vintage blog, I am just beginning to get a few vintage patterns myself, I can see me really getting into it. I am sure your blog will help me out :) Welcome to the team,
Mel xx
Oct 16, 2009, 02.29 PMby JuM
i loooove vintage and I am trying somethings as well. will tell you about it, for sure!
and can’t wait for what you have to say about your experiences…!
Oct 16, 2009, 05.55 PMby Harlekin
Oh my, i already love your “own” blog (showing me at one moment a few weeks ago that sewing is perfect to keep a clear organized mind), so now i’m reallyreally excited about your posts :))
Oct 17, 2009, 02.02 AMby motozulli
Fantastic! I’ve enjoyed reading about your travels through the New Book for Better Sewing. I am obsessed with historical sewing techniques as well. Looking forward to your posts!
Oct 17, 2009, 02.42 AMby ihsgibb
好棒
Oct 17, 2009, 02.45 AMby ihsgibb
Sorry！Written English！You are great
Oct 17, 2009, 03.46 PMby ClaireOKC
Gertie – congratulations….what a great addition here! Looking forward to many more blogs!
Oct 18, 2009, 02.17 PMby CarotteSauvage
Yeah great! just red your blog, I like your writing style (and style in General). It would be interesting to know how to adapt those vintage sizes to contemporary ones, I am a fan of 1920s patterns, purchased a few of them on ebay and the fitting always seems a bit weird , perhaps the paper shrank in the mean time….
Oct 18, 2009, 03.53 PMby Tangerine-Dreams
Awesome Blog! A sew along with that book would be fun somehow :) Great style, Gertie!
Oct 19, 2009, 01.22 PMby wzrdreams
Hi Gertie, I just checked out your blog and I think it’s awesome! I added it to my RSS feed and I’m looking forward to your posts here. Good luck with everything!
Oct 19, 2009, 05.59 PMby Alden
Yay Gertie!
Oct 19, 2009, 07.01 PMby bellamabella
puffy <3 you
Oct 19, 2009, 08.05 PMby Gertie
Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone! I’m so looking forward to our discussions here!
Oct 20, 2009, 06.12 PMby JuM
your webpage is really nice and i am following it closely.
Just wondering about something: this book gives only the instructions and you HAVE to find the pattterns or the instructions are enough for you to trace the pattern yourself?
you look precious in this outfit.
**
1 Reply
Oct 22, 2009, 07.11 PMby Gertie
Yes, the book only has the instructions, so I’ve been tracking down all 14 patterns! Only two left to find.
Oct 20, 2009, 09.32 PMby BlaqkPepper
I’ve been making more and more vintage lately and I have to say that you are FANTASTIC! There are plenty of girls who love the vintage look, but they are so full on (not that they aren’t fabulous!) that it’s something I can’t keep up with. You manage to look fabulous and easy going all in one! Already love you!
Oct 21, 2009, 01.47 AMby gcamus
Hi, Gertie. Just dropped by your blog, and will be back soon:-) And you you are fab in that red vintage, luv it!
Oct 21, 2009, 02.38 AMby JaimeNicole
This is really cool. I love using Vintage Patterns
Oct 21, 2009, 06.35 AMby em_fp
As a keen vintage sewer I can’t wait to follow your blog… Very exciting!
Oct 21, 2009, 03.29 PMby AnaisaAsh
This is so exciting! I am following.
Oct 22, 2009, 03.32 AMby RhondaP
Looking forward to your posts Gertie. I’ve recently bought a number of vintage dress patterns and you’ve inspired me to get out my old favourite resource: “Clothes For Your Children” by Enid Gilchrist. It’s another vintage gem published by Argus Publications, Melbourne, Australia in the early 1950s for busy mothers. Lead on..