Butterick 5882 -- The Gertie Dress

When Butterick came out with this pattern, designed by Gertie Hirsch, last year, I snapped it up because it was ridiculously cute. Honestly, I couldn't see myself wearing it, but not too long afterwards my daughter emailed me and asked me if I would make her the "Gertie Dress". Yes, I would, since I was halfway there--I had the pattern. The only thing left was fabric shopping and the year-long procrastination period that always happens when I make myself finish current projects before jumping into something new, fresh, fun.

This is obviously a dress that requires a muslin and I decided it may as well be cute, so I bought red retro floral cotton for under $3 a yard. I traced the pattern size that corresponded to my daughter's measurements, then brought the bodice to the haunted hotel for a fitting. The bust cups fit perfectly, but I had to take the sides and waist in over an inch--almost two inches toward the top. I had the boning basted into the bodice for the fitting, so I was fairly confident until I got home and sliced two inches off the top. Suddenly it looked way to small, but I finished the dress and mailed it off to my daughter. Guess what? It fit perfectly--so perfectly that the muslin has become the finished product. I love it when that happens.

This pattern was really easy to make, except for those cups. I loved making them, because I like tackling techniques I haven't yet tried, but attaching them to the bodice was pretty tricky due to extreme curves. I didn't take photos because I was going to document the construction of the "real" dress, but I wish I had. Anyway, with a lot of curve clipping, I got them sewed in.

I will make this dress again. We're talking white with black polka dots and black bust cups, which will have a nice retro feel. So, in closing, kudos to Gertie for coming up with this pattern.