tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post4299273259334308144..comments2024-03-28T09:14:59.192-04:00Comments on La Sewista!: Gertie's New Book for Better SewingBunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-44404936466954646022015-01-31T10:08:54.140-05:002015-01-31T10:08:54.140-05:00First and foremost, Gertie is a very smart busines...First and foremost, Gertie is a very smart business person. She found her blog focus and audience early and she has strategically built her brand.. I applaud her success as a business person; she's done an outstanding job. <br /><br />The irony is that although she talks the talk (see the instructional section of the book at issue), she doesn't walk the walk (part two of the book). She may know that a garment needs underlining or boning in the bodice, but she'll install these elements in a slip shod way. I've taken her Craftsy class and at every step, she makes decisions that permit certain elements to slide into the mediocre. <br /><br />This is more than not having the skills. Accuracy just doesn't rank high on her list of priorities. Enthusiasm for sewing. the promotion of sewing, marketing herself, and the banquet of techniques available do. A beautifully sewn garment is not necessarily the goal, even though she may understand that it is the accumulation of well executed steps along the way. If it "won't be seen on a galloping horse", it's OK with her because she prefers "quick and dirty" sewing.<br /><br />Gertie's approach is the sewing equivalent of RTW fast fashion exemplified by H&M and Target. Just different from the traditional. However, her publications should come with a disclaimer so the reader knows, up front, what they're buying.Stitchmakernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-41324050223414729512014-11-30T01:36:48.756-05:002014-11-30T01:36:48.756-05:00It's all too true... I also noticed that the m...It's all too true... I also noticed that the models in the book weren't executed very well. I wouldn't have been happy if I'd made the 'new look' style jacket and skirt in the photo. That skirt hem gives me nightmares... having said that, I love the styles, and have made several from the book that have turned out beautifully.<br /><br />It's a great book, and is good to introduce new techniques, but I have to say I'm a fairly experienced sewer, and so I can see that this wouldn't be ideal for newbies. I was able to correct as I went, and able to fix other fit problems that crop up, re-shaping arm holes etc etc. The patterns are lovely, but it's better if you know what you're doing.<br /><br />Thanks for reviewing this book.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-34955951758645479562014-06-08T10:24:57.457-04:002014-06-08T10:24:57.457-04:00Welcome to the wonderful world of sewing! I wish ...Welcome to the wonderful world of sewing! I wish you the best on this journey and if I can help at all, just email me. Have fun!Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-14493306519657838242014-06-01T21:25:40.516-04:002014-06-01T21:25:40.516-04:00I've recently discovered your blog and am real...I've recently discovered your blog and am really enjoying your creations and posts. These book reviews have been great. I am a newbie and I've been looking for some books. Sarai's book isn't really my style but if it will help me gain skills properly, I may just have to buy it! Thanks again! Ms. Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17421456034570439003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-54686193113085411032014-04-22T07:30:34.879-04:002014-04-22T07:30:34.879-04:00Sounds fabulous, Claudine. Thanks so much for that...Sounds fabulous, Claudine. Thanks so much for that suggestion. I will look into it. Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-66974645554562658332014-04-21T14:16:52.198-04:002014-04-21T14:16:52.198-04:00I was disappointed when Gertie's book came out...I was disappointed when Gertie's book came out too. The green skirt was just horrible. However, I think the main thing that she and others like her do contribute is making sewing new and fresh again. Having sewn from a young age, I always found that there was something of a generation gap. I used to attend the local sewing guild and the second youngest participant was in her 40's. Everyone around me was making stuff for their grandkids. They would ask 'How do we get young people to come?' When we did the local craft fair the one thing people would ask about was classes. But they wouldn't do classes. Blogging is about having the conversations, and making sewing relevant and accessible. Hopefully also shedding some light on how the badly the high-street stuff is made too. My generation don't even have the vocabulary around clothing, let alone the skills. [PS. The big Readers Digest book is my favourite sewing reference]. Zoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01299921231063874840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-4525222656015297302014-04-13T10:25:58.458-04:002014-04-13T10:25:58.458-04:00I hope this is not terribly presumptuous of me, bu...I hope this is not terribly presumptuous of me, but I just got a book that I think you would love. It is called "Bibliocraft -- A Modern Crafter's Guide to Using Library Resources to Jumpstart Creative Projects" by Jessica Pigza. I did a review on my blog (http://rollingincloth.com/2014/04/11/bibliocraft-book-review/), but I would be interested to read what you think of it.Claudinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364637676915085292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-47601426334236996872014-04-10T05:55:11.763-04:002014-04-10T05:55:11.763-04:00Hi,
I should have said, I do already have the book...Hi,<br />I should have said, I do already have the book, as it was recommended to me a while back.<br />Thomas did an apprenticeship in an old style German couture salon. He moved to the U.K. in 1990 and besides having had a clientele of aristocrats, politicians etc, he also worked for the last surviving London couture house, Lachasse. He now runs his own business, since Lachasse sadly closed. I know that Marina Von Koenig who writes a blog as Frabjous Couture is travelling to London this year to take one of his courses!<br />I really look forward to your thoughts on his book.Marysiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17959080591821794196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-80748270905838874202014-04-06T21:32:34.441-04:002014-04-06T21:32:34.441-04:00Aggg. I know I read the von Nordheim when it came ...Aggg. I know I read the von Nordheim when it came out, and I cannot remember any of it. This has been happening a lot in the last few years; I'll read a tailoring/dressmaking book, and forget about it. I check it out again, and remember: Oh yes, it wasn't very interesting,<br /><br />This is probably due to an overwhelming number of books on the topic that I've absorbed over the years. For example, Gertie is inspiring to new sewists. I am not her audience, but I admire her positive attitude. The more Gerties and Project Runways there are, the more fabric stores reopen for us all. <br /><br />I just need to make better notes on my library page now about which ones I've already read!SJ Kurtzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871599515352715171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-5055269337881349862014-04-05T13:27:07.172-04:002014-04-05T13:27:07.172-04:00I thought I was the only one...............
I read...I thought I was the only one...............<br />I read blogs and wonder 'who taught them to sew?' as I see essential fitting and pressing techniques overlooked. <br />But then, I wonder through any suburban strip mall of mainstream clothing stores. I see unfitted clothes of poor quality, presented as if that should be the standard by which our wardrobes are judged. How can a novice seamstress, especially if she is a young woman who hasn't been exposed to fine fabrics, and professional fit, discern what is and what is not good practice???<br />Those old Mary Brooks Picken - Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences - are still MY standard of choice. I have 16 volumes, but I don't really know how many there were supposed to be. The styles may be a bit dated, but the techniques withstand the test of time.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04700758717630560514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-35402829196901089312014-04-05T10:12:23.875-04:002014-04-05T10:12:23.875-04:00I very much appreciate your honest review of this ...I very much appreciate your honest review of this book, and by doing so you may have spared others a lot of frustration (and money too!). Like a couple of other sewing books I've seen, this one could cause a beginner to give up on sewing altogether...who would want to continue sewing when their finished garment doesn't fit well? This author has a point of view well worth sharing, but her sewing skills shouldn't be included (yet). Such a shame she rushed to print. Linda Snyderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16475302158025161202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-64721389408796259192014-04-04T01:21:57.690-04:002014-04-04T01:21:57.690-04:00I completely agree with Pattyc. Your blog has a le...I completely agree with Pattyc. Your blog has a level of class that is sorely missing in many others. Perhaps if I were younger I would enjoy some of the other blogs a bit more, but honestly, even when I was 20 I would have felt the same. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14855258283549942928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-20419413324274328642014-04-03T22:05:54.130-04:002014-04-03T22:05:54.130-04:00With six brothers I learned very early how to hold...With six brothers I learned very early how to hold my own conversationally. Luckily I had a mom who taught me the essentials of being a lady. <br /><br />Thanks for your kind words and I appreciate them sincerely. Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-73408651274551202872014-04-03T20:06:55.276-04:002014-04-03T20:06:55.276-04:00Thanks for the honest review of the book. I am tr...Thanks for the honest review of the book. I am trying to establish a library of good sewing resources. Books are expensive, but if they are going to give me accurate information to make me a better sewer, then I will spend the money. I tried to follow Gertie's blog, but it didn't "do it" for me. I think it just wasn't for my age. If she is a source of encouragement to get someone to sew, that's great. Of all the bloggers I follow, your blog is number one. You are very competent and cordial as well. A rarity in this day and age. I get completely turned off to blogs that have to use the "f" word and others to get their point across.pattychttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12794698451921706705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-27437884050870493612014-04-03T15:57:03.158-04:002014-04-03T15:57:03.158-04:00Here is my two cents worth on Gertie and some of t...Here is my two cents worth on Gertie and some of the other bloggers I see and read on a regular basis. They do not understand good fit! I regularly see dresses they make and love that have serious fitting issues and I think it comes from the idea that good fit means that clothing is very form fitting and tight. I think Gertie is fun, lively, and genuinely enthusiastic and generous of spirit. A fine woman, I just do not think she is an expert on fit.<br /><br />There are several very popular blogs where the clothing is interesting and creative but not well fitted. I see a lot of blogs with tight, wrinkled, and strained clothes. I see a lot of badly aimed darts, I see a lot of gaping necklines and badly set sleeves.<br /><br />I give all these women, Gertie included, a pass because they are trying new things, learning, adapting and honing their skills. I agree with you completely that Gertie's book just was written and published before her skills were worthy of the complex styles she was trying to fit.Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13651748625848813891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-51365953098671589772014-04-03T14:31:41.564-04:002014-04-03T14:31:41.564-04:00I appreciate this review. I've read the same f...I appreciate this review. I've read the same from other sources. I too was hesitant to buy her book based on the garments I see on her blog. I love sewing books but I think I will have to pass on this one for now. Thanks for the honesty.Mama Doghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00612430403837932560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-66403207557326193082014-04-03T14:00:55.896-04:002014-04-03T14:00:55.896-04:00Thanks for that suggestion, Marysia. I will look i...Thanks for that suggestion, Marysia. I will look into that acquisition. Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-26415929752707360142014-04-03T13:45:28.141-04:002014-04-03T13:45:28.141-04:00Knowing a bit about your location, I suspect we sh...Knowing a bit about your location, I suspect we share similar libraries...mine was in a private school and named for a Ford - you might know it. We were (gently) obligated to add wisely to an already impressive collection. I'm so glad you are adding your expertise to your community!!Robynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04909309793191033875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-2920696966864316262014-04-03T12:27:27.794-04:002014-04-03T12:27:27.794-04:00Hi there Bunny,
I agree with the comments made th...Hi there Bunny,<br /><br />I agree with the comments made thus far; I follow Gertie's blog and admire her enthusiasm, but yes, it was a pity about the clothes in the book. From what I understand there was a gap between her clothes being made and then being modelled for the book. I am sure I read that Gertie did put on a little weight...................so that may give some clarity on the fit issues that we all noticed after we purchased the book.<br /><br />I will be looking forward to reading your review on Claire's latest book with dvd. I have a copy and love it. Do others note the same as me though, that there is a lot of repetition in subsequent sewing books. I guess that cannot be avoided.............<br /><br />May I suggest a book you may wish to obtain for the library and review.I am new to tailoring techniques and really wish to make a jacket that incorporates welt pockets, and the use of pad stitching using hair canvas as I have never tackled these. The book is called Vintage Couture Sewing by Thomas von Nordheim. I have other tailoring books, but this one is written by a well know Tailor and I thought it would give a really good insight into that world too.<br /><br />Many thanks Bunny for your balanced approach to the review, I do agree with its content and you have delivered it in such a warm way that no offence could be taken.<br /><br />Regards,<br />Marysia.Marysiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17959080591821794196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-5484854581895678812014-04-03T12:21:26.454-04:002014-04-03T12:21:26.454-04:00I'd have to think about that one. It never occ...I'd have to think about that one. It never occurred to me to track those. I give my honest opinion and move on from negatives. Most sewing books are quite good. It's the fluffy new ones on making one item that's never ironed that get to me. I move on really fast from those!Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-87695907730206464452014-04-03T12:18:21.116-04:002014-04-03T12:18:21.116-04:00Robyn, we are in an enviable position with our lov...Robyn, we are in an enviable position with our lovely library. It is WELL endowed so we purchase many books. That means many books are pulled from the shelves on a regular basis. If a topic is too populated or lacks interest (no checkouts for several years) out they go. We have a wonderful book sale 3 times a year where 25 cents will buy you and of those discards! It's great fun and a bit crazy when it happens. On the last day it's a dollar a bag for all you can fit in!<br /><br />I take books home too. I read them then bring them back for the sale. As Robin said, I'd rather read a sewing book than a novel. Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-55786427132737233222014-04-03T12:13:28.107-04:002014-04-03T12:13:28.107-04:00Thanks for your input, Robin. It is greatly apprec...Thanks for your input, Robin. It is greatly appreciated and very informative. Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-36325355213681449362014-04-03T12:05:36.274-04:002014-04-03T12:05:36.274-04:00Hi Bunny, I just edited a sewing book. The author,...Hi Bunny, I just edited a sewing book. The author, Claire Shaeffer, is someone I worked with during my short stint at Vogue Patterns Magazine when I edited an article she wrote. She introduced me to Taunton Press, and and that's how I came into this wonderful opportunity. The content was easy for me to handle because I have been sewing all my life, and I read sewing books the way cooks read cookbooks (in other words, I'll read a sewing book before I read a novel if I am in the mood for sewing!) Once I finished my work, more was done by the in-house staff at Taunton. In another month or so, I will review it all once more, just to make sure nothing is out of place before it goes to the printers.<br /><br />I met Gretchen a few years ago, before she had the book deal. She struck me as charming, likeable, enterprising and very hard-working. I still believe she is extremely talented (for example, she'll dip her toes into a millenary class, and then whips up beautiful hats - she is a quick study). <br /><br />I share your observations about the 2nd half of her book and I think she just didn't quite have the skills to pull it all off. With a knowledgeable editor, and help with sewing the samples, she could easily put out a top notch book.a little sewinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18086285440873869055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-55866899265543236762014-04-03T11:46:13.004-04:002014-04-03T11:46:13.004-04:00I'd love to follow your library's collecti...I'd love to follow your library's collection development path, and learn if these new titles circulate. In my librarian years, I had the 600 shelves. Lots of great cookbooks followed me home! ;)Robynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04909309793191033875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-22964090006997133882014-04-03T10:11:17.213-04:002014-04-03T10:11:17.213-04:00Dearest Ms. Bunny - I DID see the list of favorite...Dearest Ms. Bunny - I DID see the list of favorite books and mags on your blog - so I should clarify that I wondered if you had any others on your "avoid" list? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14855258283549942928noreply@blogger.com