Ask Us Anything! Podcast Q&A coming soon...

I started to listen to your podcasts, I absolutely love them❤️ my question is: will you release another book? Maybe with focus on tops, blouses, shirts?

Is maternity and post natal wear something that you'd consider designing? I certainly hacked a few patterns to allow me to use the charm patterns for that chapter of my life, but there's so much fast unfashionable maternity and postnatal wear it's embarrassing.

Vogue’s New Book for Sewing, did you ever finish all the projects? It’s the blog that started it all (including a silk dress to eat NYC bbq!)

Just finished listening to this one. I must be one of the outliers, but I loved the Esther Swimsuit!

"The Elevated Woman" "Make Me Look Expensive" "How to Look Classic" "Achieving a Proper Wardrobe" "Caring for your Valuable Wardrobe" Some suggested topics for the coming year. I really enjoy your Vintage magazine and am willing pay for my own print copy. I would hate to see it discontinued, in fact, I'd like to subscribe to it.

I just listened the swimsuit podcast and it sent me back to Gertie’s Charmed Sewing Studio. I love this book. It’s so comforting. I’d love to hear more about the dress restoration gig. Did you learn all about construction? Was it like a million Mrs Harris Goes to Paris moments? I feel like there should be a novel about that job. Also silly question: if Gretchen is Gertie, what’s Andrea’s alter? She’s a treasure, and I appreciate the podcast so much.

Will you do a Hollywood Icons part 2 next year? This is my favorite collection!

It looks like the “Big Five” are in trouble financially and we are seeing the sewing community wanting to support independent sewing pattern companies more. Is that affecting your business strategy? If so how?

nice video, I want to do collabe or work with you we can discuss further detail later as your interest plzz reply. I am waiting for your response

Do you use software to design your patterns? If so, what do you use?

How often do you get recognised (and fan girled over) in the street?

As I get older (I’m almost 40) I feel like my body shape is changing. As someone who uses their body measurements every day in their work, do you feel pressure to keep your body measurements consistent and have you found that harder as you get older?

Will you be coming to Australia again one day soon?

The difference between "did you make that" and "OMG YOU MADE THAT??" is both huge and subtle. What should we be doing while sewing to make sure the reaction is ""OMG YOU MADE THAT??" and not "did you make that?"

When you choose to buy a garment you yourself could make, why do you make that choice? what do you generally choose to buy instead of make? What are your favorite online fabric stores?

Your schedule must be so full every day. What do you do to wind down and take a break from Charm, so you can avoid burnout and keep the joy in sewing?

Like everyone here, I'm sure, I've had my fair share of sewing project failures. I'd love to hear about failures and what you learned from them.

When did you first use boning with your garments? Were you intimidated?

Is there any chance of the lamour dress being put out in larger pattern sizes?

Can you tell us more about the actual business side of things? I think folks glamorize the “sew everyday” aspect of the job, but dont have a sense of costs, revenue sources, deadlines, what can go wrong, product development, etc

On a personal note: your tattoos are very well placed/suited for your vintage styles. Did you plan them this way? What was your body art journey? Julie

if you could see any Charm Pattern being made in a specific theme by a member of the community, what would be your pick? I love reimagining Charm Patterns to fit different genres and have used several to make Taylor Swift looks, Disney looks, etc. but I'm curious if there's something you've never seen that you think would be a fantastic challenge! (I'm currently dreaming up a mashup involving at least one Charm Pattern for a Nightmare on Elm Street look!) Loving the podcast and absolutely love Charm! Thanks for all your hard work! (For what it's worth, I thought the bloomers were cool!)

How do you decide what becomes a Charm Pattern vs. a Patreon pattern? I assume level of difficulty plays a role but after 5 years of Patreon we have had such a range of skills and techniques, I imagine there's more in the decision. As always thanks for all of your hard work.

How do you plan a Patreon year? Do you have a list of pattern ideas and then find a theme that matches with them or do you start by choosing a theme and brainstorm garment ideas that could fit with this theme?

What is your advice for "Charmify" a garment for cosplay?

What desk or table situation do you recommend for a sewing? I am struggling to buy something online, what if it's not strong enough or rattles when I speed sew?

Wow. U got my attention

What is one sewing tool you can’t live without?

What are your 3 top Rupauls Dragrace looks!

I have always struggled with darts and having a large bust (40ub, 52bust) and I almost always give up and convert it to a princess seam but I feel like it hurts the vintage look. By the time everything is smoothed out, I end up with a massive upside down L on the front of my dress because the two darts basically touch and the princess seam is the lesser of two evils

I'd love to hear more about your obscure references and inspirations . What other shorthands do you guys have? Ie. Jewels of the sea, slutty Italian summer.

Echo many of the Qs already asked, so I’ll take a different tack… 😜 What have been the most challenging moments or transitions in the business as you’ve grown and why? Did you envisage the company as it is now or did it happen more organically? What’s the vision for in 5 years time? 🤩

I've been dying to know for a while, Gertie, are you ever planning on finishing some of your tattoos? Hopefully that's not too personal

What do you wear on day-to-day basis? How much makeup and hair effort do you put on for a non-gertie day?

When are all of your patterns going to have the full size range? Still waiting on some of the earlier charm ones in the large sizes.

I just wanted to say how much I appreciated how Transparent and Vulnerable (TM) you and Andrea were on the 'Who are we?' episode. I know that might have been uncomfortable, BUT I appreciated knowing who you are and hearing about your journey. I think it helped knowing that even Andrea and Gretchen have 'gone through it' regarding life moments. Like, see, they've experienced the same thing I have, and they made it through, it's going to be OK! Thank you so much for being a friend to all of us, Gretchen ❤️

Maternity Patterns or Hacks for your amazing Patterns! also including breastfeeding friendly for when baby is here!any reccomendations?? expecting my first baby in Feb 26, need some fun and glam Maternity clothing for an Aussie summer Christmas and new year celebrations!

Nylons….. they are not my friend, but if I have to I will. When you girls do your photoshoots what is the leg situation? Nylons? No nylons? Leg makeup? If Nylons are ever involved, what brand do you like? LOVE the podcast!

I absolutely LOVE vintage inspired dresses, but unfortunately I can only wear them for a couple hours before I have to go back to comfy clothing, which for me means pants, preferably knit and loose fitting. Does anyone on the Charm team struggle with sensory issues and if so, what are their favorite Charm patterns for everyday?

Is there a book or guide that is your go to when researching vintage couture garment closing? By that I mean the waist tape how the inside closures were put in to make it stable and have structure while the outside looks effortless and has the amazing lines. I'm a I want to see what is under the hood kinda person. So I love it when I can see the inside of vintage garments so I know what tricks of the trade they did to make it stable, fit well and last for the next few hundred years.

Does monetizing sewing sap the joy? What’s your favorite fabric fiber and weave?

What’s your favorite Sabrina Carpenter song and/or video?

What advice would you give to a designer and sewist from across the pond who is looking to create her own indie pattern business? Much love!!!! ♥️♥️♥️

How near or far in the history would you reach for inspiration, even as a challenge or just-for-fun project?

Do you find it hard to balance vintage inspiration with modernizing practices/ fabric availability? Are there things you'd love to try in a pattern, but thing people would find it too hard or the fabric inaccessible? Where does the inspiration for charm patterns come from (ie. Books, movies, modern looks you want to make more vintage)? Have you ever had to scrap a pattern idea because it wasn't working?

It looks like we’ll soon be moving into a new house where I’ll have a dedicated room for sewing, for the first time ever! Do you have any advice for setting up a new sewing room from scratch? Also, thank you for putting a name to a weird fear I also have - partially submerged shipwrecks are SO creepy! But I’ve never known anyone else who felt this!

Please talk about the croque. I’ve heard you talk about the body croque and the line drawings working together. Is this a photo copy and color or digital thing? Please elaborate. Thanks

do you wait to decide what patterns to release after the annual theme is determined? What is that process like? How long do most patterns for patreon take to develope? I always wonder how much time goes to each since we get a lot in a single year. Also, after so many years, do you find it difficult to continue making patterns seem different? For the record I think charm does a great job at maintaining variety.

I forgot: I love the Podcast already ❤️

I really do not know how do you prioritize all you inspiration. It looks to me this is the most difficult part: having all your skills and knowledge, how do you decide what it is going next to become a Patreon/charm pattern?

What’s a holy grail pattern you would love either for yourself or to design for others?