Results of the 2023 Charm Survey
The results of our annual Charm Survey are in, and they surprised us!
Over 2,000 patrons and email subscribers responded to the survey, and we learned so much from your answers.
Click here for the public blog post that shares the basics, including info about who our audience is and what Charm will be focusing on in 2024 as a result of the survey.
We asked our favorite question, "What's your fantasy, if you got to play designer for a month?" and received over 2,000 great ideas.
Many people also recommended pattern ideas to the question, “If there was ONE thing that would knock your socks off next year, it would be…” so we combined all of the ideas and put them into one enormous list, with over 3,200 pattern desires. You can see every single pattern wishlist response here.
The team and I have gone through that list and can tell you that we’re already working on a few of the ideas! (And we’ve just released the Rosie Jumpsuit, so whoever wished for a “Rosie Boilersuit. Pleasepleasepleasepleaaaaaaase!????” - you’re welcome! 😘)
There were some other interesting results. Behind the scenes in the studio, we are usually “production sewists” who need to create garments fast. Because of this, there’s been some discussion about teaching more modern and quick sewing techniques, so we asked, “What types of sewing techniques are you most interested in?”
Approximately 36% of patrons prefer the modern sewing techniques that emphasize speed and limit hand sewing, but 64% of you prefer most time-consuming vintage and couture techniques. Next year will be a fun mix of both styles of techniques in our instructions and videos, so we should have something to please everyone!
We were also super curious about the common fit adjustments that you make when you sew using Charm and Patreon patterns. Approximately 15% of patrons say they make no fit adjustments or the only adjustment is grading between sizes. The most common adjustments were shortening the bodice or lower body, doing swayback adjustments, or changing the shoulder or upper back area. We’ll keep these in mind as we plan future fit clinics or pattern hacking tutorials!
About 135 Inner Circle members are interested in attending the 2024 sewing retreats in Newburgh, NY. We only have 30 spots available, so please mark your calendars for February 9, 2024 when tickets will go on sale at 12 noon ET. Because there are so few spots available, I know we’ll be disappointing many of you, so we are working on ways of expanding our in-person events for future years.
Other great ideas from our patrons...
We have about three pages worth of notes about tiny tweaks & fixes we can do to improve your experience. Here’s just a few that we'll work on in 2024…
Include lengthen/shorten lines on all patterns above & below the waist, if it’s not obvious. To quote one response, “body positivity and inclusivity is not only about width.” Since more than 50% of you either lengthen or shorten the bodice or lower body pattern pieces, these lines should help!
Give alternatives for more details, like tucks, color blocking, alternative necklines, pleat options, etc. Whoever recommended this is going to LOVE our Patreon theme next year!
Include the charmpatterns.com/patreon index on each Patreon release post. Great idea! There’s so many patterns, it’s hard to find them all. We’re going to do a better job of organizing everything for you.
Create a 5-piece capsule wardrobe collection in a future issue of Vintage by Gertie magazine. How fun! I can’t wait to play around with this idea, and we are so excited to be continuing the magazine in 2024.
Charm Love
We asked a few questions on the survey that we knew would bring in the love: "What's the best part about being a Charm patron?" and ”What do you love most about Charm?”
You overwhelmed us with your kind words, and more than one team member teared up reading your responses. We actually created a Binder of Love, so we'll always have your support and kinds words at hand at all times!
You love the patterns, of course, especially the quality, the fit, and the cup sizes. Everyone on the team works very hard to make the patterns as perfect as possible, so it was wonderful to hear!
You also love the videos, and many of you credit the videos with helping you learn how to sew or improve your skills.
But more than anything else, you love the community, the inclusivity, and Charm's values. And you love being part of something that connects people of similar interests and values around the world. We do, too. Thank you. We just can't say thank you enough for being a part of such an amazing community.
What This Means for Your 2024 Patreon Benefits
Now here's the real question...What's going to change to your Patreon benefits in 2024 as a result of this survey?
The answer is…pretty much nothing.
Nothing will be changing to the core benefits on Patreon next year, and there will only be minor changes to the “secondary” benefits, like live events, hacks, and behind-the-scenes videos. All prices will stay the same.
As a team, we’ve always been crazy ambitious, and I committed us to doing more than we could accomplish in 2023. Everyone on the team hates the idea of letting you down, and we worked so hard to reach some very lofty goals. It was painful to come to the end of the year, trying to get patterns, hacks, videos, and releases done to satisfy our commitments to you, knowing it was pushing everyone to their limits. We did it, but we exhausted ourselves and our creativity a bit in the process.
I love you all, but I also love my team, and I want to make Charm as much fun for them as it is for you. In 2024, Charm will be publicly committing to doing less, so that we can focus on delivering the patterns and videos you love, while also having fun ourselves.
This means we will re-dedicate ourselves to the core of what we do at Charm (creating top-tier vintage-inspired patterns in inclusive sizes and educational sewing content), while eliminating some of the extras that seem to get lost in the shuffle of endless digital content. Of course, we still have a few ambitious surprises up our sleeves, so you can expect incredible things in 2024 - but I’ll keep those a secret until they are released!
Thank you for your support of Charm, and thank you to everyone who filled out the survey. We appreciate each and every one of you!
xoxo,
Gertie
Comments (41)
I gifted myself a patreon subscription this year after long wanting to join - it already has been wonderful with great answers from other members to a question I was struggling to get answers to on my own!
I’m excited. I have sat silent as an inner circle member now for 2?years and I’ve only been able to sew the artist apron both in duck canvas and it was hard and fun. I’m excited to learned new techniques this year and find the courage to learn to sew vintage clothing for myself.
Me too. I received one of your books as a Christmas present from my kids. I didn’t have the heart to tell them Mom doesn’t fit in a size 16 for many years now 🥴 But I love the book
I forgot to put this in my survey but someone else put it in theirs and I want to echo it - extended sizes for the patterns in your books! I love all the techniques and patterns but am bummed that they only go up to 16.
I have actually noticed, that the patterns in the books are slowly getting updates and some changes to them as standalone patterns, either on patreon or Charm Pattarns ;) So they are slowly adding them, but as a new version :)
I should have put this as my response to dream pattern though I am not sure of the correct phrase: a built in wire bra for any dress or top so I can wear low cut or strapless dresses. I think I have seen it somewhere but no idea where!
Woohoo!! Exciting news. When would the sewing retreat happen? A rough date frame/idea that is. I’d love to see if it’s even a possibility, better to know before February 9th.
Is the Rosie jumpsuit only available on Charm patterns? Not on Patreon for members? Looks like an amazing pattern, didn't want to pay if on Patreon. I cannot see it yet. I'm in the glamour circle.
All the charm patterns are separate releases from the patreon patterns. Patreon patterns can sometimes be mixed with charm patterns, but all the charm patterns have to be purchased separately
My only regret is that I cannot give the entire team individual hugs. You have no idea what you all have meant to me this year alone. Was I able to sew - no. Because I went through hell and back this year. But I’ve met the wonderful Gertie, and I know what an amazing team she has behind her. I still laugh that Gertie’s cat and my youngest son share a name (Henry). It was not on purpose, just a coincidence (I named my son after Henry “Indiana” Jones. My oldest was named after Maxwell Smart. Yes I am that tv nerd. My kids also know “eye of the tiger” the theme song from Labyrinth, and all the greatest from the 80’s. I’m just sad that I wasn’t able to contribute. This year has been the year of hell for me. But I adore this community and am so grateful for it’s existence. I will get back there but right now it’s not on the cards. There are so so so So many dresses etc I want to make. It’s just that my headspace is so poor. To just summarise and burden anyone, I grew up in a cult, got out at 19 with my last year of actual education at the age of 11. I put myself through school at 27 and got a degree in acoustic engineering (Ie I specialise in the physics of sound) i did all of this on my own with no support. One of the happiest days of my life was winning a spot on Gertie’s dressmaking course through Spotlight. It made me beyond happy. But I said some things I will never be proud of. I grew up in a whyte supremacist home. I tried to change. My first husband was as bad, if not worse. I have so many regrets. I feel so bad for all of it. I am a loving, caring acceptful mother who just wants everyone to feel loved and happy. Sadly this isn’t what I, myself, experienced. I won’t go into detail, because it’s traumatic, but I want to say I am here, willing to listen and provide love and support for those that need it. I’m always here. You are never a bother, and if you need a surrogate mum… count me in 1000%
So excited about 2024. And the lengthen/shorten lines will be a great help to me - as someone that has to shorten everything it will be wonderful to have guidance! I'm also so glad to hear you'll be taking care of yourselves. I love the extra content, but not at the cost of others. 💜
I'm pleased you're going to be producing less content, as strange as that sounds to say! The content this year has been great but I've often thought that such a small team could easily be burnt out by all that extra work. Take care of yourselves 😊
So pleased with your choice to do less and take better care of yourselves. I applaud this choice.
My gr-aunt was one of the ladies building plans at Boeing during WWII. It was always fun hearing her stories. She always talked about how they called her Rosie the Riveter, so this jumpsuit reminds me of her. ❤️
Thrilled you are all planning to take care of yourselves! I love the comments about wovens feeling special too...I can buy knits but woven RTW never fits. I LOVE the idea of staying true to the core style and producing fewer high quality patterns so that you all can take care of yourselves... I can buy basic generic simple patterns anywhere but I trust and love Charm to use vintage techniques and create really quality garments. Love shortening lines on complex garments. Love interesting details that mixand match. Thank you for all the Charm Magic!!!
So so happy about giving a little more guidance on lengthening and shortening on patterns. I am petite and need to alter pretty much anything and any help to take some of the guess work out is very welcomed
The patterns you did in 2023 were stunning and I loved everyone. But exhausting yourselves to make them is not what we want. Happy pattern makers make happy sewists, I am so glad for you you will be dialling back a bit to recuperate yourselves and enjoy what you do. Thank you for all you do and for the fact you keep on making things enclusive 💕
Thank you for looking after yourselves so we can have Charm fun for many more years to come. Lots of love!
I agree with the patron who said that “Woven fabrics feel more special”. Finding woven almost anything that fits in ready to wear is nearly impossible.
Love the idea of less but high quality content-that’s kind of what has always set charm apart to be honest is the dedication to detail and high quality!
Another exciting year coming up!
2023 was an up and down year for a lot of people, we can only do and be our best and hope for the best. I love the community and the patterns and this Canadian will be keeping my membership!!!!
Thank you for sharing. And please please keep on taking care of yourself on team Charm 🩷.
I scrolled through the wishlist and found my answer between all those awesome ideas...and thanks to that person who worked on that list...what a great way of sharing this with us...I am so excited about next year and can't wait to see what you all have planned for us...I just sorted my fabric stash...so I'm ready for the next years theme...🤩🥳🥰
I'm so excited as "Give alternatives for more details, like tucks, color blocking, alternative necklines, pleat options, etc." Was one of my responses. I'm terrible at pattern hacking so receiving instruction for these options is so exciting
Love seeing all the data! I’m also glad y’all are cutting back! Which may be a weird thing to say but I’d rather have fewer high quality things (and happy inspired team members!) than just stuff to fill up space. Y’all need room to breathe and be creative so I think it’s such a smart move. 🩷
I just had an idea for the next survey. Can you add a place where we can upload pictures of the patterns we would like? I know if you search the pattern I would like to make (butterick 5529) you cannot find it on the internet as it’s that rare. I also just searched through all of the responses and found mine and unfortunately the pattern number is incorrect (not sure if that was my mistake or a transcribing one). It would make it easier for us to share with you a picture of exactly what we are hoping for. Thank you for all of your lovely patterns and very hard work!
I'm glad I'm not the only one to say Steampunk :-)
You asked "We’ve noticed that slightly more of our upper tier patrons (Princesses & Inner Circle members) sew in the 18-34 range than the average, but we didn’t collect any info on why that might be. Do you have any ideas?" That's easy, it's hard finding patterns in that range, so when Charm makes patterns we hardly need to alter, we're willing to pay a little more to make sure Charm stays around for a long time to come. At least it is for me.
100% agree, and I also kinda hoped that if we were willing to pay a bit more some of the original patterns might also get extended - there was a fairly large amount of responses on the survey for extending the princess coat in particular!
Thank you to you and your team! I'll be honest, I was a bit on the fence about if I was going to sign up again next year, but seeing some of the plans for 2024, I'm definitely sticking around to see what's in store. Can't wait!
I'm pretty sure that was my response, asking for the Rosie Boilersuit - and I am BEYOND thrilled with the jumpsuit pattern!! It's going to be my first make of 2024, starting as soon as I shove the kids out the door to catch the train to school next Monday morning. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
I enjoyed the behind the scenes extras, but I'm ok with your giving your team a break! I love the magazine. On live events, I so endear the Crowdcast each month, but the Zooms not as much.
Whomever suggested the Capsule Wardrobe, I love you. Would be a great way to get friends into vintage.
Love love love that Rosie jumpsuit!
Love it! So looking forward to 2024! Cheers to committing to being our best!
We love you Gertie and everyone at Charm! Thank you for everything you do and I can't wait for 2024 ❤️
CharmCon 2025 for a bigger in-person event? 💖😝😂
And lets make it Europe 😁
Thank you for all of your hard work and cheers to a new year.
Lovely post. Can't wait to see what next year brings!