Gertie Sews Jiffy Dresses: A Modern Guide to Stitch-and-Wear Vintage Patterns You Can Make in a Day

Gertie Sews Jiffy Dresses is Gretchen Hirsch’s modern reinvention of a simple idea, focusing on easily mastered sewing skills, minimal pattern pieces, and fabulous designs.

In the ‘50s and ‘60s, Simplicity released their popular line of Jiffy sewing patterns, which had minimal pattern pieces and simple constructions, yet were chic enough for fashion-conscious customers. This approach appeals now more than ever to stylish women who are continuously looking for ways to fit their love of sewing into busy lives packed with family, work, school, and countless other obligations.

With the lessons offered here, you can make a Popover Dress, Chemise Dress, Swirl Dress, Boatneck Dress, and Patio Dress. Everything you need is included: pattern maps, finished garment measurements, and more. And the best part? Readers will end up with a sparkling wardrobe of easy-to-wear, fun-to-style dresses that will fill busy modern lives with retro charm. Chapters include:

• Supplies and Tools
• Fabrics
• Getting Ready to Sew
• Dress Construction: The Basics
• Dress Construction: Essential Skills
• Trims and Flourishes
• Fitting

Hirsch writes in her introduction, “So why did I write this book? Because I want to show that it’s possible to cultivate real sewing skills without spending days or even weeks on a project. Sewing more projects means more practice!”

The vintage aesthetic of these projects will appeal to beginner and expert crafters alike. They stand on their own as great examples of retro fashion. They aren’t just simple sewing projects. So, don’t wait. Start sewing

Includes color photographs and illustrations.

About the Author:

Gretchen Hirsch is a sought-after teacher and designer with two highly successful sewing pattern lines and a fabric line with Fabric Traditions. She lives in Beacon, New York.