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

Great sewing reference, excellent price for getting 5 printed patterns. Gertie never disappoints.I’m most upset about the shipping quality, Amazon sent this in a thin box, no padding, the book is damaged throughout, scratches/dents, puncture hole on the spine, crushed corners so bad that I thought it was used, the patterns are intact but just barely. Too much of a hassle to return and wait for a replacement since I’m at a US location overseas and it takes 10 days at least to get Amazon.Request shipping as a gift to hopefully get better packaging or your book will arrive damaged.

Chapter one:Supplies and toolsSewing machines-Machines supplies and accessoriesBasic Presser Feet-Optional special presser feetMachines do’s and don’tsMachine troubleshootingIroning EquipmentYour Basic Sewing KitOther SuppliesThis chapter was a decent standard chapter about the equipment needed to get you started and troubleshooting some of the common machine problems. Keep in mind the best resource for troubleshooting machine problems is your Machine manual.2.FabricsFabric glossaryCottonOther Fabric FibersGeneral Categories Of FabricFabric CareThis is a decent section of an overview of the recommended fabrics that go along with the garments in the book. The fabric glossary is more than a fabric glossary Gertie also gives fabric terminology as she discusses body, drape, hand and napped fabrics.3.Getting ready to sewPattern Tracing, Supplies for pattern tracing, Tracing your pattersGetting Your Fabric On-GrainPreparing Your Pattern Pieces-Laying out your fabric-Pinning the pattern pieces to the fabric-Transferring patterns marks and notches-Snipping notches and dart legs-applying interfacing-staystitching-serge finishing seam allowancesAgain a decent section on the pre-work of sewing4.Dress Construction:The Basics Construction orderDarts, sewing seams Pressing, Seam Finishes, Gathering, Elastic Shirring.This section was clearly written and illustrated. Except for the pressing section. I wish she had discussed pressing versus ironing.5. Dress Construction: Essential SkillsFacings-securing facingsBias Edge FinishesSewing A Bias FacingSleeves-Easing the sleeve cap-setting the sleeve into the dressLapped ZippersButtons and Buttonholes-Making buttonholesHems-Narrow hems and Deep hemsHandstitching-slipstitching, flat slipstitchThis section was nicely written. If you do not know how to make buttonholes you will not find it here.6. Trims and flourishesFlat Trim, Pockets, Bows, Bias tubingThis section would have been better with step by step photos.7. FittingFitting StrategiesFinished MeasurementsStarts with your MeasurementsHow To Choose a size-grading between sizes-grading up or down in sizeMaking a muslinAdjusting your patterns-width adjustmentsLength adjustmentsFull But adjustmentsSmall Bust adjustmentsGaping NecklineNarrow ShoulderFoundation GarmentsThis section could use some sprucing up. If you do not know how to fit clothing you will not find it here. Fitting is such an indepth process that this book cannot even truly begin to cover.Part Two: WardrobeAbout the patterns, Seam allowances, sizing,The popover dress-Bias cut with Waistline shirringThe chemise dress-Square Neckline with BeltFringe cocktail DressThe Swirl Dress-Plaid with Double PocketThe Boatneck Dress-Sheath in Tweed-Party Dress with Flocked tulle skirtThe Patio Dress-Short Sleeve Day DressThis section presents you with 5 dresses. Gertie encourages everyone to truly make the dress their own and apply design changes if wanted. Some of the design changes IMO are not for beginners though. All in all there was one dress that I liked from the collection which was the Patio Dress. The stitch order and directions are nice.Pattern mapsFinished garment measurementsResourcesAcknowledgmentsIndexAll in all this is an okay book, is it a must have no. Again Gertie does not represent a truly historical 40’s-50’s style but more of a take on that style and that’s okay. Per usual if you do not know fitting you will not learn it here. I’m not sure where to rate this book, I think a beginner would be okay as long as they had other resources to help them fit. If you do intermediate to advanced sewing, I really wouldn’t recommend adding to your library. For the cost you may as well go and find some really cool 50’s patterns and have a go at it. For me the book covered a lot of already obtained information and I only liked 1 dress pattern so it wasn’t worth it. I do however see the benefit it would have to others.

I am excited about sewing the dresses in this book. I was very upset by the fact that the link to the patterns doesn’t work. Adams didn’t respond to my email and Gertie didn’t respond to my messages either. Two weeks later I mentioned my problem to my wonderful husband. Thankfully, he was able to discern that if you change the http: to https: the link then works! I was then able to get in and, following the video posted above, click on the pattern piece and get all of the patterns! Excited to get to work on a popover dress of my own! And update with pictures of my Popover Dress!

When i saw the dresses that were being made using this book i just had to get it! This is my second By Gertie book (my first was Gertie's Ultimate Dress Book). I have to admit some of the reviews on here were a bit concerning but I'm glad i bought it anyway! This book is super informative, I love the pictures that go along with the instructions and Gertie clearly mentions in the book to make sure to make a muslin/practice dress before cutting into your expensive fabric! I've been sewing for about a year and this book is still really helpful to me! My favorite thing I learned reading Gertie's books is inserting a lapped zipper. I was nervous at first but after finally deciding to try it out it came out beautifully, I wish I would've tried it sooner! I am super happy with my purchase and it arrived one day after i ordered!

Updated: Gertie got back to me minutes after I wrote this (while it was still under Amazon review, so it wasn’t because of this; she must have just been behind on her messages). The link just looks like it doesn’t have the patterns. You have to click on the one page after the maps and before the measurement chart. That will open the full file with all the patterns. And now we know Gertie does respond, too! :)Original review: The kindle version does NOT include the pattern pieces, just the pattern maps. The book is beautiful, but useless without the patterns. I tried contacting Gertie through Facebook, but didn’t get a response. I am now working with Amazon to try to return the kindle version, but that’s under consideration because they usually only do digital returns within 14 days (and let’s be honest, how many people buy a dress making book and actually sit down to try make one that quickly after buying the book?!?). Amazon did say they will reach out to the publisher, so there is some hope it may get fixed in the future. But as of January 2020, do NOT buy the kindle version!

This book is wonderful. It has a great structure. Each dress that is featured has detail instructions. Even a beginner can sew some dresses. This is a brilliant resource. The dresses are a range of styles to suit any figure. I’m so happy with this purchase.

I made the pop over dress. I made 3 before I got it right. They were huge on me I had to take them in a lot and cut off a foot on the hem on the bottom . It seems it was made for a much taller person with bigger boobs. (I'm 5ft 2in, 115lbs). At the moment I'm trying to make the swirl dress but the patterns is lacking the markers for stashes go into. I can't find anything online. Can someone please enlighten me. I would love the help. Its driving me nuts.

Can tell much time and effort has been put into producing the material. Although I don't intend to sew from this book, it is an enjoyable book and the pattern papers are nicely work out in 5 pieces, each for 1 of the patterns. If more sewing books were done this way, it will be easier to learn. 5 stars!

Absolutely beautiful book. Love it 😍

Love it. I have only made the popover dress and I will work my way through the book. Instructions are easy to follow. Remember to take your measurements first and note different styles will be different sizes but easy to trace and easy to follow patterns. I am not an experienced sewer and I was happy with my result. I figure I can only better from here on in.

Never sewed a thing in my life but this was easy to follow

I got the Kindle book thanks to my children buying it does that come with the pattern thing if it does where do I go to get it or downloaded or something