Thursday, January 26, 2012

Gussets on Parade! The Finished Wiggle Dress

So, when I wrote about gussets a week or so back, you all seemed pretty intrigued. But were you intrigued enough to want to see pictures of my armpits?

That is the question.

Anyway, here is the finished dress. See how the kimono sleeves fit closely, thanks to our friend gussets?




I designed this dress pattern. It is directly inspired by a certain Mad Men character; I'm sure you can't guess which one. I suppose I can tell you now that the pattern will be in my book. So I hope you like it!

This version is made from Harris tweed, the real stuff. It has such interesting depth of color. In some pictures it looks purple; in others, it's red. It's fully lined and very comfortable to wear.

Also, it looks great with my new leather gloves and a little jacket.

Keep calm and sew on, indeed!

139 comments:

  1. I've been going through Mad Men withdrawal and started watching Season 2 last night while sewing. This dress definitely reminds me of a certain character. In this ep she was wearing that beautiful red dress that's shown up a few times. Your dress definitely reminds me of this. You look stunning in it. And those gussets.... I had no idea.... I may need to try these out!

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  2. Really gorgeous shape and I love the colour too - you look fab. So looking forward to your book too! Will you be doing any sewalongs?

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  3. It's impressive how well the kimono sleeves fit. I didn't know they could be so fitted.

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  4. Woah, I'm loving it! Harris Tweed is the best, but can be scratchy - great to have it lined. Inspired to put red shoes with that colour. I made a dress out of a similair coloured wool - it's a great shade. Am now so hungry for your book - do you have a publication date yet?

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  5. "But were you intrigued enough to want to see pictures of my armpits?"

    Of course! The dress is gorgeous. Your book is now officially on my wish list. :)

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  6. Well that's me sold. I'm definitely buying your book when it's released. How long do I have to wait?!!

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  7. Seriously Cute! I think that harris tweed is the best thing ever! Hopefully I can save for some.
    Can't wait for the book Gertie! x

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  8. Wow! I'd been convinced that I couldn't wear kimono sleeves because of all the extra fabric at the bust. You've completely changed my mind! I'll be keeping an eye out for your book for sure now!

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  9. Love, love, LOVE it !

    I can't wait for your book.

    You look gorgeous !

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  10. Gorgeous! The shape, the color...love it all! And you look mahhhvelous in it! ;)

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  11. Oh My Goodness, this dress is GORGEOUS! I love it!!

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  12. It's beautiful! can't wait for the book. When does it come out?

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  13. For this dress alone, I SHALL BUY THAT BOOK!!!!
    wow!!

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  14. I'm not a Bombshell girl, but Wiggle is right up my alley. Can not wait!

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  15. Your dress is Fabulous! I'd already made up my mind to buy your book, without seeing any content. I was sure anything you published would be amazing, and this sneak peek proves me right. I can't wait until it's published. :) Great job, Gertie!

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  16. Great dress! I love the Harris Tweed! I will definitely be looking for your book release - a wiggle dress is just what my wardrobe needs :-)

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  17. Gretchen, you look amazing -- the fit on this dress is fantastic! Can't wait to see your book!

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  18. It's gorgeous and I am even more excited about your book now! You look stunning in the dress, sophisticated and a little bit naughty all at the same time, just like that certain someone...

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  19. This is SUCH a wonderful dress! I'm in love! x

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  20. Love love love love love the dress... Can't wait until the book comes out!

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  21. That dress is INSANE on you!!! I especially love the red lips and heels with the plum. Insane I tell ya!

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  22. hahaha. Best armpits I've seen in a very long time.:) Gussets are something that I think might be the answer to my problem with sleeves/armscyes being too low, too.

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  23. The dress is gorgeous and you look fabulous in it!

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  24. BADDABOOM BADDABOOM. That dress is amazing!!
    I was still a bit horrified by the gusset (not my favourite word) but I will DEFINITELY be making this dress. Bet that zipper is all lapped too.

    You are GOOD!


    xxx

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  25. Gorgeous!!! I really adore the color--you look fantastic. :) I'm in the middle of making a similar dress from a vintage pattern, and seeing this is spurring me on to finish it! ;)

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  26. now you need a gold pen hanging off a golden chain

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  27. Gorgeous! Sexy and stylish at the same time! I want one too! :) xo

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  28. Stunning! And it looks amazing on you! I love that color purple paired with red. Wherever did you get the Harris Tweed?

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  29. omg! The best ever!! I want your book NOW!!

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  30. Gorgeous!! Love that the gussets worked well and that style of dress is may Absolute Favorite!

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  31. Wow, this dress is a dream! The color is so interesting and beautiful. I love that even when it looks purple it pairs well with bright red - very eye catching!

    As always, you look great, Gertie.
    I'm really intrigued by the way you used gussets in this darling dress...can't wait for your book to come out so I can try it out!

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  32. You look beautiful in that dress, Gretchen! And you provide proof of something I always suspected: you don't perspire. ;)

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  33. You look sensational - can't wait for the book!

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  34. The fit is simply perfect. You look amazing.

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  35. Fantastic dress, Gertie. Can't wait for your book!

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  36. You never fail to amaze, your dress is simply stunning - the colour is fabulous on you as is the shape and fit.
    You look so great normally. But this dress is a real jaw dropper on you. Clever you, wish I was a quarter as talented xxxxxxx

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  37. That is just amazing! Been looking for a pattern like that for a really long time now! Looks really nice!

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  38. i love love love this. where did you find the bright colored harris tweed?

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  39. I cannot wait to buy your book and make this dress!!!!
    The first thing I thought when I saw was "I want, I want, I want"!!!

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  40. Oh it's beautiful Gertie and the fit is just perfect, it's very, very flattering. All the time I was reading the post I kept hoping you were going to name the pattern, I couldn't believe my eyes when you said the pattern would be in your book.....!! I can't WAIT for it to be published now. Fabulous job. x

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  41. Gorgeous! Ive always loved purple and it looks great on you... Looking forward to the book...

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  42. I rarely comment, but I love this. That is just about my favorite color to wear. I'm also not that into sewing books (the internet is usually enough of a resource for me) but I cannot wait for yours! I love looking at vintage patterns on the internet but I never buy them. I'm so excited to buy your book and have an instant collect vintage-inspired patterns!

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  43. Love the dress! And, truly, thanks for the close up of the gusset. I hadn't been able to fully visualize the kimono sleeves with the gusset; a fabulous look!

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  44. You look gorgeous Gertie! well done. I am just finishing up a vintage coat and you just made me think of the dress to go with it...

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  45. That is one gorgeous dress! I'm so pleased it's included in the book, since as soon as I saw the back of the dress and read that you designed the pattern yourself, I immediately thought "please be in the book, please be in the book". :)

    Do you have a release date yet?

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  46. I absolutely adore this dress. I can't wait to make it, and seing this makes me even more eager for your book!

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  47. If this pattern is in the book, it's on my must buy asap list. Love it!

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  48. The fit is amazing. Like so many others -- I plan to buy your book when it comes out.

    P.S. You look fabulous!

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  49. Well done! You look adorable in it and can be very proud of your design and workmanship, love it.

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  50. WOW! this dress alone will make your book worth buying. The color is sooo becoming on you.

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  51. Gertie Hirsch, you little potato bug! How classy is that dress? And the gussets are divine. Thanks for showing us the finished details on a living, breathing, moving human body. All the technique in the world is useless unless you can comfortably wear the finished garment. You are an inspiration to a new generation of sewists, for which I salute you. (I thought I would die at my sewing machine, alone and unloved, never to be able to converse with someone else who enjoyed sewing. Glad that ain't gonna be so.) Got to love a tweed that reads several colors -- especially when you have to amortize the cost by getting multiple wears for multiple years.

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  52. Wooh, that is absolutely gorgeous! Can't wait for your book to come out!!!

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  53. Oh it's just darling! You look positively delicious in this! The gussets are completely magical and such a revelation. Love them! This makes your book even more of a staple! I have to have it! Give me a wiggle dress! Yay!
    xoxo

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  54. I think this is my favorite dress of yours -- it looks amazing on you, and I love how Joan it looks. I'm excited that it will be in the book!

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  55. Love the dress, it suits you to a T. And the shoes! You have such courage with shoe colour and I love it every time as I wear my functional black shoes.

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  56. Love this dress, the pattern, style and fabric looks gorgeous on you! And any opportunity to say the word gusset is good in my book!

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  57. Gorgeous! You've put so much hard work into this book of yours. I can't wait for it to come out! And, I like this sneak peek. I hope you can share more of your designs in the coming months.

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  58. Harris tweed? Joan Harris? Coincidence? I think not!

    Sizes for the new book? I was afraid I wouldn't fit into any of the Collette book patterns, so I opted out. I know I could probably grade up a size or two, but I really couldn't see me in any of those designs.

    PS: the new dress is as fabulous as you are!

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  59. That's it! The dress I have wanted for the last 12 years, ever since I saw Shirley McLaine in "The Apartment"! Can we pre-order your book yet?

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  60. You look amazing! I love it. And purple is such a great color on you.

    Hopefully you'll be releasing the pattern with your new book?

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  61. SO adorable,I want one! Will you make me an entirely new vintage inspired wardrobe? I'm in frumpsville over here and need to work on my sewing skills-I am years bheind you!

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  62. I WANT THAT DRESS!!! When is your book coming out?
    ANSWER ME!! (Just kidding, but it looks awesome on you. Can't wait!)

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  63. I love everything about this dress - design, color, etc. I'll definitely get your book just for that!
    And I and am still so thankful for the armpit gusset tutorial; I'm doing a short turquoise wool jacket soon that will require this bit of help! Lovely job.

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  64. Wow!!! I love it! The fit, the color, this dress is perfect!!! I was longing for your book already, but now I just cannot wait!

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  65. I love how tall you look in this fitted number! Hotcha!

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  66. You look gorgeous in that dress....and oh color

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  67. Love the dress, LOVE the fabric, love the poses! And gussets, who knew? Gotta keep those in mind.

    Have we seen the jacket before? I like what little I could see of it.

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  68. I've always thought that gussets were just an ornament not used for making the kimono sleeve more fitted. I love the way it looks. I think I have to try it. Your book is on my wishlist.

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  69. Fantastic! The dress is perfect!

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  70. Well if I wasn't buying the book already I'm totally sold now. When does it come out?! Soon I hope?

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  71. It's amazing on you. I'm taking your class on Craftsy. Hope you do more in the future. Looking forward to your book.

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  72. Yowza! That's definitely a wiggle dress complete with fitted armpits! Although I think underarm gussets are ugly and distract from the overall construction flow of many garments (in that they're not long, curvy lines), they do keep the silhouette of said garments pleasing. A big, baggy underarm sleeve with that dress would definitely detract from the rest of the garment. I can't wait to see it in your book!

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  73. Absolutely stunning! I'm so excited to see this pattern in your book!

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  74. It looks beautiful! When will the book be out??!! Can't wait:)

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  75. I love how the dress is so flattering to your shape!

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  76. Oooh I love it and I can't wait for your book!

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  77. Amazeballs! That dress is one of the most beautiful dresses I have ever seen. And I have seen a few....

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  78. I love it, it is gorgeous as everyone is saying. Can't wait for the book!

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  79. What a lovely dress!
    I've bought tweed from this company, who have a selection of Harris tweeds:
    http://www.scotweb.co.uk/tweed
    But très cher!

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  80. I LOVE it - it fits you like a dream! I once tried to brave a cropped bolero with gusset sleeves - it wasn't pretty! yours on the other hand, delightful :) x

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  81. Your dress is AWESOME, Gertie! I love it and I love gussets - they make everything a little more interesting! Can't wait for your book!

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  82. OH my! Love it. Can't wait to check our your book. x Katherine

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  83. Obsessed! I can't wait to have a chance to make this stunner! Well done :D

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  84. Fabulous dress! It fits so nicely.

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  85. I love, love, love underarm gussets! That dress is fab-u-lous & I would buy your book for that pattern alone.

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  86. smoking hot! What an awesome dress and it suits you! sigh,that is the joy of custom fashion.I love the sleeves, love the gusset( not a phrase I ever expected to type in any way, shape or form) and I am sooooo looking forward to this book of yours. you SO own this look!

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  87. Breath-taking! A perfect fit! It is mind-boggling how talented you are! Book book book gimme gimme

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  88. Looks so good, Gertie, love the color!! The fit is fantastic too. I was just at TSS this past weekend. Such a cool space!

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  89. The book will be worth the price for that pattern alone. I don't always buy the books created by my favorite bloggers--not enough interesting information that I haven't already seen, or the patterns aren't very interesting. The advance peeks at yours suggest LOADS of terrific material!

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  90. OMG!!! That is literally the dress pattern I've always dreamed about. Also, it looks incredible on you! You did such an amazing job! Plus, I love your fabric choice! I was super excited about your book before, but now I just can't wait until fall. Even if I didn't already know it would be amazing cover to cover (which I do) I would buy it just for this pattern alone.

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  91. OMG, Gertie! This dress looks incredible on you. I mean, all your projects are stunning, but this is off the charts.

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  92. Fabulous dress Gertie. This is one of my very favorites on you, you look wonderful! So glad it's in your book & I am guessing with instructions telling how to adapt patterns.

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  93. The fit is perfect! I've a few blouse and dress patterns from the 50's that use gussets and they really do give a great fit. You have done an great job on the pattern, simple and classic and I love that you have used princess seams for the bodice :-)

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  94. I'm somewhat besotted with that dress.

    BOOK NOW PLEASE :)

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  95. Love it! Those gussets really work!! Put "gussets" on my to do list. :-)

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  96. So lovely! It looks amazing on you. Is it lined? I am so buying your book. Do you have a release date?

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  97. Oh my gah, I love this! So beautiful!

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  98. This is the first dress pattern I have seen in a long time that really made me want to rush out and sew. I am now officially anxiously awaiting the book so I can do it. Just beautiful!

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  99. I LOVE this dress!!! You did a fabulous job.

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  100. Gertie,

    I love the dress - the pattern is stunning and I can't wait until your book comes out!

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  101. Why isn't Henry on Pinterest? Not good!!!!!!! He must be very unhappy about this.

    How do you adapt cutting a pattern to go from a non stretch fabric to using a stretch fabric?

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  102. Love love LOVE!!! It's perfect! And it looks wonderful on you!

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  103. WOW! Must.... make.... underarm.... gusset! Love ya gal!

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  104. Can't wait to pre-order your book. I hope sew weekly does a week challenge called ode to Gertie!! All the Best, Krista

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  105. The dress looks so classy and comfortable at the same time. Nice design!

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  106. The dress is gorgeous. The fabric is gorgeous. You look gorgeous. Cannot wait for your book!!!!!

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  107. I love the dress too. It is really flattering - you look great in it. I can't wait for your book to come out so I can make one of my own! I love the gussets! I wasn't exactly sure what gussets were but now I can't wait to try making my own! You are an inspiration

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  108. Harris tweed for Mrs Harris! It's absolutely beautiful, Gertie, and you look stunning in it. I'm not usually a fan of princess seams - they can sometimes look a bit too late 1960s mod for my taste - but on this dress they really work, so I'm converted. Gorgeous!

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  109. Presiis !
    Kaunis and tyylikäs !

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  110. I love this dress on you. Can't wait for the book

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  111. It does look fantastic, glad to see it will be in your book.

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  112. It is absolutely beautiful. The colour suits you and it fits like a dream! You are an exceptionally talented woman!

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  113. A fabulous dress needs a fabulous brooch, like this vintage Benedikt NY piece

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Signed-Benedikt-New-York-Brooch-Goldtone-Starburst-Pearl-Cluster-/260940879313?pt=Vintage_Costume_Jewelry&hash=item3cc149d5d1#ht_776wt_1159

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  114. Fabulous! I can't wait to get my hands on your book and try sewing it for myself.

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  115. I love your dress, and really pleased I found your blog, i'm in the process of making a vintage wedding dress which has gussets well sort of anyway there not under the arm pit but part of the shaping in the top/side, to see your instructions on doing them was great and would help next time, must admit I found them difficult to do but they are not to bad for a first attempt as I have found out vintage patterns dont really explain what you should do. Looking forward to your book too.

    Sonia

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  116. adorable! you could not have picked a better color :)

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  117. oh. so stunning! cannot wait for your book to come out.

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  118. Great dress, and interesting armpits!

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  119. Wow! All I can say is you look AMAZING! Margaret

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  120. O. M. G. !!!!

    this dress is bananas!!!!

    I can't wait for this book!

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  121. Hope the gussets tutorial will be in the new book. My mom won't read blogs online.

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  122. Wow! Your dress looks gorgeous and you look stunning in it! I'd love to be able to design my own pattern! Your gusset tutorial was fab and its great to see it in the flesh! Looking forward to seeing more of your projects! http://thesecondhandrose.blogspot.com/ XxxX

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  123. Having been to the Isle of Harris, I know what you mean about the real tweed. Gorgeous dress.

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  124. HOLY SMOKES!!!! You look fabulous! That dress is absolutely stunning. I would love to wear that!

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  125. You look seriously killer in that dress! Beautiful work :)

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  126. you look great in purple!

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  127. Even more pumped for your book now!

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  128. So cute.. I absolutely love it!

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  129. Wow I love this dress and you look soooo sexy in this dress. can you send me the pattern of this dress of let me know where I can find this pattern?

    Greetings,
    The Netherlands

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  130. I ordered your book for many reasons, but number 1 is for this pattern. I am foaming at the mouth basically. Would you recommend it in a double knit? I would love to make it as a nicer work dress and I think the double knit could do that, if the pattern works well with it.

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  131. Harris Tweed for Joan Harris. How perfect

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Thanks for your comments; I read each and every one! xo Gertie

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