Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Gertie Fabrics Are Here!

What an insanely busy few weeks this has been, readers! I took a whirlwind trip out to Puyallup for the Sewing and Stitchery Expo and got back just in time for two weeks of photo shoots for my upcoming Gertie's Ultimate Dress Book. In the midst of it all, my first line of fabric was released! Joann Fabrics now has the full Gertie line in stores. I was so excited when I saw them in my local store in Poughkeepsie, NY!


Would you like to know what each fabric is? Yes? Okay, here we go.

First, a classic rose print on a swiss dot! This is lightweight and textured, and would be perfect for blouses and dresses.

Swiss Dot Roses

I have my freshman design students at Marist College make tank tops as a first project, and I sewed my sample in this rose print. You can see the swiss dot texture here!




Here's another swiss dot with a floral-bow stripe print! This was inspired by Horrockses dresses of the '40s and '50s. I would love to see this with a chevron design on a bodice, like Vintage Vogue 8789.

Swiss Dot Stripe
Next, a rose border print with polka dots on cotton sateen.

Border Print Rose Sateen

I designed Butterick 6167 specifically with this print in mind. Here it is on display in Puyallup!


Is it okay to have a favorite fabric in your own collection? Because mine might be this one. Huge roses in lovely pink and red tones on a black background. This is also a sateen. My next project is to make a half circle skirt in this for spring.
Sateen Rose in Black 

It also comes in coral and yellow on cotton poplin! I want to make a HUGE full-skirted dress in this to go flouncing about in.

Coral Rose Poplin

Of course, we couldn't do without a tropical floral print sateen. This would be perfect in a Shaheen-esque pattern like my Butterick 6019.

Tropical Floral Sateen

Cherries! We have them on an aqua background in a heavenly rayon challis with an amazing drape.

Cherries on Aqua Rayon Challis

And on a white background on crisp cotton poplin.

Cherries on White Cotton Poplin

Another favorite: KITTIES. This is inspired by a 40s novelty print and is done on a poly chiffon with a sheer windowpane background. I was hesitant about polyester, but when I felt this one I was so in love! It has a really nice hand and feel to it. (Also, the grey kitty is my Henry. Obviously.) I'm going to be making the "40s-Style Blouse" from Gertie Sews Vintage Casual in this print. More to come.

Poly Dobby Chiffon Kitties

Also on the poly windowpane chiffon: BOWS!

Poly Dobby Chiffon Bows
Don't worry, I didn't forget the doggie lovers. Poodles and polka dots on cotton lawn. Squee!

Poodle Dot Lawn

Next, a mini-collection of three grey chambrays. These are all cotton and feel so nice. In little white bows:

Chambray Bow Print

Pink cherries.

Chambray Cherry Print

And red polka dots:

Chambray Polka Dot Print

Embroidered strawberries! This is on a medium weight ribbed-texture cotton.

Embroidered Strawberry Cotton

And finally (whew!): a really cool novelty weave fabric. It's a swiss dot cotton with polka dot chiffon "pinwheels" appliqued on top. This is super special and would make a beautiful full circle skirt.

Embroidered Swiss Dot in Black 

It also comes in pink!

Embroidered Swiss Dot in Pink 

Well, there they are! They are in Joann stores and on their website (which ships to the US and Canada. I will be doing a giveaway for international readers, so look out for that soon). I really hope you like them, readers. I would love to extend a huge thanks to Fabric Traditions, who made the line a reality, my supporters at Butterick, and of course Joann Fabrics and their dedicated sewing-obsessed employees.

Now that all my sewing for the dress book is done, I plan to spend some time making myself a spring wardrobe in these fabrics. More to come!

65 comments:

  1. The border print and the chiffon pinwheels are A MUST but they are all so cute! Congratulations and I will DEFINITELY be looking out for these at my next Joann's trip!

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  2. Oh my word! C'mon Canadian dollar, pull yourself up so I can go fabric shopping in Bellingham! I need all of those fabrics in my life.

    That's it, I'm sewing nothing but party dresses from now on.

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  3. Yay! I saw them at my local Joann's a couple weeks ago but not on display yet. They were just stacked in a cart and I was all trying to dig through without knocking them all over. Lol I was wondering when they would actually be available!

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  4. tous plus beaux les uns que les autres.

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  5. I love your fabrics! Is there a chance to get them in europe?

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  6. Get it girl!
    I admire your business skills as well as your fabrics!

    I love florals and cherries so these are right up my street! I look forward to seeing what you make with them!

    Let us know when these are out in the UK, can you believe that I'm just making your bombshell dress now?! These would be perfect for it!
    All the best

    J

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  7. Your fabrics are beautiful. I will be giving my daughter a shopping list when she goes to the States in July.

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  8. Will we see these in Spotlight stores in Australia Gertie? I want those rose print sateens and the embroidered Swiss dot so bad.

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    1. Hi! Spotlight is carrying a number of the prints, however it's a bit different because they are all on a poly crepe. If I recall correctly, they have the border print in two colors!

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    2. How come us Aussies only get the polys!? Waaa!

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    3. spotlight have stocked these for a month or so now. some stores have more than others so, would be worth asking your local one to check the computer to see if any other stores have the ones you're after.

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    4. I agree with Esz - it's a real shame that Australia and NZ are only getting polyesters. They've been out for a while and while the print is pretty, the polyester does not feel good.

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    5. I agree- I saw these a little while back, and looove the designs, but I live in Brisbane and it was 36°C today in the middle of autumn, so the poly was just not something I was willing to shell out for in this heat.

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    6. So, no reply as to why the NZ and Australian market get lumped with polyester?

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    7. The short answer is because that's the order that Spotlight placed! They feel they can better differentiate designer collections if they're all on the same fabric, and they chose crepe. I would urge you all to write to spotlight if you're unhappy with the decision so they will take that into consideration for future orders.

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  9. I absolutely love the strawberries and the tropical florals - so beautiful!
    And yes, please, do an international giveaway... I'm in Europe and I'd love to have a chance to get some of your fabrics!

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  10. I'm out sick but can't wait to get back to work (at Joann's in Appleton, WI) and get some of that fabric. Thank you Gertie!

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  11. WOW!!! Happy St. Patrick's Day to you too! Hey Gertie, how about we make this an annual or semi-annual release of new fabric!! Love them!

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    1. Aw, thanks! There's already a fall line planned, and if all goes well, there will be another next spring too.

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    2. Omg! Keep this awesome retro fabric coming!!!! I bought a few yards of almost every print in your collection!

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  12. I was surprised by the QUALITY of the fabrics! Very nice! I bought four pieces, including the strawberry embroidery. When I was maybe four years old my mom made both of us matching sleeveless sheath dresses for Easter out of an almost identical fabric. The vintage prints are really lovely!!

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    1. That's wonderful to hear! I agree about the quality, if I do say so myself. :) I'm really happy with how everything turned out!

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  13. It would be wonderful if you could source fabric for your layer cake crinolines - especially in pretty colors!

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  15. I'm so in love with your fabric. Unfortunatly, I live in Quebec, Canada and Jo-Ann doesn't ship in my area. Is the fabric available some where else online?

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  16. The kitty fabric was the one I fell in love with and had to have. And now I find out it's yours and I love it even more. Nicely done!!

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  17. I want them ALL!!! It is truly wonderful to have quality vintage-inspired prints available in stores. I can't wait to sew up some pretty clothes with these pretty fabrics!

    xoxo, Alesha

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  18. I fell in love immediately with the strawberry and cherry fabrics. I just might have to buy a few meters of each, they'd look gorgeous as blouses and/or dresses... Just have to find away to get them into my sewing corner without my husband noticing I bought YET ANOTHER series of fabrics!
    Thank you for your lovely patterns and fabrics!

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  19. These are great, and I'm excited they're at Joanns. I'm a bit too uneducated about fabrics to try our local stores much. So intimidating! I hope you'll have some blues and greens in the next collection.

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  20. Lovely all ´around! That large scale pink roses on black background is divine! And hooray for international giveaway!

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  21. Joanne's doesn't carry them all? The boarder print isn't showing up. Is there somewhere else to order it?

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    1. I noticed that too! Very strange, since it was there when I posted yesterday. I'm trying to figure out what's going on with it. I'll get back to you!

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    2. Perhaps it sold out already? It sounds like a favourite on these comments. :)

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    3. Yes, turns out it sold out online! You can still find it in stores though. If you can get to a store, I would call first and confirm that they still have it.

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  22. The roses on the yellow background are BEAUTIFUL! I can't stop thinking about wearing yellow but I'm such a fussy picker about the shade, you've nailed it though. It would make such a fresh looking summer dress, ooh!

    Hnnngg, I wish Joann's would ship to the UK

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  23. Ooh they're lurrrvely... and so you :) Congratulations Gertie! x

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  24. Love them -- especially the border print with the polka dots and roses. Congratulations!

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  25. Why oh why? I don't NEED more fabric, but those kitties are calling my name. Great job!

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  26. The border print is not available at Joann.com nor is it available in my local Joann store. Border prints are difficult to find, and I really want this one!

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  27. I just found out about you and your amazing designs from an e-mail from JoAnn Fabrics announcing your fabric line.
    I'm actually a quilter, who loves vintage quilts, fabrics, and quilting by hand. I occasionally sew simple clothing, do simple alterations, and make oh say, curtains. Lol
    Your fabrics and stunning designs make me wish I I had better "clothes making skills". I'm even debating how I could somehow make a quilt using "not 100% cotton" fabrics. I tend to go against the grain anyways.
    Good luck with the new fabric line, it's wonderful!

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  28. I had just given up on buying anything pretty this year from any of the big local fabric shops...but this makes my heart stop! These are absolutely gorgeous! I do believe a trip to Jo Ann's is in order this weekend! Thank you for sharing and for your part in all of this!
    Laurie

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  30. These are beautiful! Did your students use a particular pattern for the tank top? I'd love to recreate that. :)

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  31. Love them all and wish we could get them in the UK.

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  32. My local JoAnn store doesn't have your fabrics. They say they are a small store so they may carry a bolt of two in the future, but that's all. Gertie, I've been counting down the days waiting for your fabric line! I'm so disappointed that my JoAnn's isn't carrying it! As you know we really need to feel the fabric in order to decide what to make out of it. Thank you for your detailed description of the fabrics. I will try to order on-line using your descriptions to decide which ones would be best for the patterns I have in mind.

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  33. Fabulous Fabrics! Will these be available to buy in Europe?? Please say yes!!

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  34. I just LOVE these fabrics!!! I have already purchased the border print, white bows, red bows, and my favorite also, the black rose sateen - cannot WAIT to get started on these :)

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  35. Such gorgeous fabrics! My local Joann's (Albany, NY) has almost all of them *super squee!* Now I just need the time to sew up some new pretty things :)

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  36. These are gorgeous. Will the fabrics be coming to the UK any time soon? We know a fabulous distiributor if you need one in England?

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    1. Julie - that would be excellent for me too. I've ordered fabrics from the USA recently and the post cost more than the fabrics.
      My favourite is the cherries on rayon challis.

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  37. edit "the post cost" I mean the shipping cost.

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  38. What a lovely fabrics! I wish I can go here in Holland to a store to buy some (all?) of these fabrics.

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  39. Mercy! It hasn't even been a week and the lovely swiss dot prints are sold out online.

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    1. Actually, they went live on the joann website on march 1st, but considering the number of non-poly apparent fabrics available at joann, I'm not surprised they sold out.

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  40. Your fabrics are stunning! I am a Joann employee and saw the Butterick pattern 6094 using the rose dot sateen fabric in our Fashion Fusion magazine and just loved it so much that I'm making that same dress for Easter. The pattern does not call for a lining on the skirt, did you sew one on that dress? If so what type of lining do you suggest?

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  41. Wasn't fast enough! Waiting for months for the rose border print...but it's already sold out. "sigh"

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  42. Please, please, please start selling them in Australia.

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  43. was just in my local JoAnn ans got to check out the fabric - love it!, Also flipped through your 2 books. fun but quite intimidating. I am newer to sewing having been motivated to teach myself by my daughter getting into American Girl Dolls. oh the cost of the little outfits! I would love to make myself a retro halter but Whoa! and wondered you might recommend a project or place to start for those of us w/ more meage skills we are trying to build? I really want to buy some of that fabric!

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  44. Today I bought the tropical print on aqua and the embroidered strawberries. I'm going back for others though. The drape and feel is gorgeous! Even the cashier couldn't stop drooling. She gave the bag one last hug before she let me have it!

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  45. I love all of your new fabrics! It just so happened that I bought fabric for your pattern 6094 months ago and recently made it for a special occasion where I met Tim Gunn of Project Runway. Everyone thought my dress was stunning! You can see it here: http://zibergirl.com/2015/04/08/me-and-the-inspirational-tim-gunn/
    Keep all of those great vintage inspired patterns and fabrics coming! I'm a big fan.

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  46. I so wanted the Swiss Dot with Red Roses but it is all gone! I love your fabric!

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  47. I love your fabrics and have purchased several different designs. I was looking for the Rose Border print, which my local store (Albany NY) is out of, so I called the store in Queensbury, NY (on-line stock shows they have some in the store). I asked if they had any of your collection of fabrics and the sales associate had no idea what I was talking about! She asked someone else, and they didn't know either! I described it further, and her reply was "Sorry hon, I don't even know what you're talking about." No offer to go and look for it either. I still love your fabrics and will continue to purchase them, but really the sales associates at Jo-Ann's need to know what they're selling in their stores.

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  48. I love the strawberry print but it's sold out online and I couldn't find it in the store :( I'm not giving up hope yet, though!

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  49. The fabrics are great! I cannot wait to snag some!

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

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