Friday, October 10, 2014

The Wrap Dress from Gertie Sews Vintage Casual

My new book has been out for a couple weeks now and I've been wanting to show you some of the designs! Here I am wearing the Wrap Dress, a simple short-sleeve dress with a narrow shawl collar, gathers on the shoulders, and a gathered skirt. 

In the book, the design is modeled by my friend Allyson and she looks adorable in a plaid seersucker version. 

Of course, I wanted to make the dress for myself too! I chose a floral quilting fabric by Amy Butler. I love the big blue roses. 


Here you can get a better view of the shoulder gathers and the collar. 



The skirt has side gathers in the front, and is gathered all the way across the back. It has a slight fullness, but not a huge amount. In keeping with the casual theme of the book, I wanted something that felt very wearable on a daily basis.

This is one of 10 included paper patterns in the book. (Bonus: I also show you how to adapt the Wrap Dress bodice into a Rosie the Riveter style jumpsuit and a one-shoulder romper.) In case you're wondering, the sizes go from 2-16, and they're pretty equivalent to ready-to-wear sizing.

I have more designs to show you, so stay tuned!

30 comments:

  1. Now blue hair? Fabulous! It goes really well with the dress!

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  2. This is a great classic woven wrap dress! I think Santa is bringing me the book for Christmas, otherwise I would have already gotten my hands on a copy. Can't wait to devour this book.

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  3. Super cute!!!! I'm thinking this might need to be added to my "to sew" list

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  4. love it! just got my copy of the book in the mail this week and have been struggling to pick which project to start first... perhaps this one now!

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  5. When I received my preordered book, I dove right into the boat neck top pattern and made two of those (love!) but I was SO excited to see this pattern in the mix! It's just the style of woven wrap dress pattern I've been looking for. It is so next! Hooray!

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  6. Great silhouette. I can see it as a maxi dress too.

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  7. Fantastic! I love the cute yet practical details and it looks like you can play around with fabric choice, too! I'd love to see a sew-along. :)

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  8. I just got myself a copy of your book and this is my favourite pattern. I can't wait to start making. Thank you!

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  9. Love seeing extra variations! Your book is really awesome, can't wait to try out some of the patterns!

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  10. I LOVE your version! I didn't really care for the plaid one, as the different direction of all the striped was a little confusing, but this definitely takes the cake. I have the book, can't wait to start making some of these patterns when my life calms down.

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  11. I just made your portrait blouse and I am thrilled with it I will post a picture on the board. Jo x

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  12. I really love wearing comfy easy to wear dresses almost every day so I'm definitely looking forward to making one of these (perhaps with cats on it haha) when I get caught up a bit with my backlog. Really enjoyed all the details in your book like comfy shoe suggestions as well. Cheers!

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  13. Glad you posted this - like others I wasn't enamoured with the pattern when I first saw it (not a fan of the plaid) and thought if I DID make it, I wouldn't bother with the collar. This version has changed my mind though, and I'll look at making a muslin of the wrap dress soon after finishing the zip-front dress (muslin'd and waiting for some appropriate fabric)

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  14. Blue roses and blue hair . . . you are too much! (not in a bad way, of course)

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  15. I got your (my, now) book in the mail this week (It felt like getting a present!!), and this was the only pattern I doubted. There's something about the plaid that makes it look almost frumpy. But, seeing it in this floral fabric is making me change my mind. Sadly, it's starting to get colder here, so I can't start on floral summer dresses just yet and I need a lot of new summer tops (It's about the icing and the cake, I guess), but I unpacked my winter wear boxes yesterday and found the wiggle dress and the 60's boxpleated dress I made using the sultry sheath pattern... and I love wearing those :) The patternmaking part is so usefull (again) and so is the fitting chapter. You do explain things in understandable words (and I'm flemmish!), it all sounds doable and almost easy. I'm also glad you wrote about the sizing and fit. If it's designed to fit curvy girls, I don't mind falling between sizes :) So, thank you for for your new book and for this new version of the warp dress.

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  16. I like this one better than the plaid in the book. I just found a fabric store in Peekskill at 1013 Park Street and got some very nice black brocade. I'm thinking of making this with it.

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  17. Lovely floral dress, and really wearable. I've recently purchased your book but it's still in the mail, so it's a wonderful surprise to see this pattern included. Can't wait to have it!

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  18. Love your innovative creations!! How about including plus sizes up to size 28?!? Is there a reason larger sizes aren't included?

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  19. Love this. I have reviewed your book over on my blog. http://seamsoddlouise.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/book-review-gertie-sews-vintage-casual.html

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  20. I have this dress on my make-next list! I just finished the Zip Front Dress and love it. It was really fun to sew and super comfortable to wear. So many things I'm itching to make from this book. Thanks!

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  21. Sorry babe, not a fan of this look. Looks like a house coat to me, perhaps its the fabric.. How was the turn-out at Novi?

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  22. Gorgeous dress, and I must beg to know where your shoes are from? Love your blog Gertie!

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    1. They're on modcloth under the name Lemonade Stand by the brand Miss L Fire

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  23. This dress is absolutley adorable and it looks fantastic on you! Congratulations!
    Thank you for showing and all my best from Austria
    Elisabeth

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  24. You need to go to a darklit cocktail lounge and just hover in the door. I feel that you need to be backlit all the time!

    Thanks so much for using quilting cottons in your sewing choices. I go back and forth back and forth and I just have to say that quilting cottons keep winning in the print range. You look beautiful!

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  25. What a wonderful print for a wonderful dress! I have a vintage wrap dress in bright orange and brown and I've always thought I should try my hand at making one. Mine doesn't have any gathering though and I always thought a fuller skirt would improve it! That's it. I've got to go buy your book!

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  26. I have just stumbled across your blog and i must say, i adore it! I especially love this dress style! I will definitely be buying the book, just for this pattern.
    I am just starting out sewing myself, it's something i've always wanted to do. But it's become pretty much necessary i learn because i have such a unique style, i want to create my own, and also being a professional burlesque artist it will be better for me to learn to sew my own costumes instead of hiring people!
    Thank you for the inspiration doll, xo.

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  27. Love your style! Blue hair and a bruise on one knee: you rock! The dress is very pretty, too.

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

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