Welcome to Charm School! (Patreon)

Charm School is a private and exclusive dressmaking academy where your fantasies are stitched into reality. Class is in session!

As the headmistress of Charm School, I am delighted to invite you to enroll as a member of our Class of 2024. I was inspired by an elevated academia aesthetic and collegiate fashion to create the sewing academy of my dreams: a place where like-minded students can strive for beauty and kinship through the art of fine stitchery.

Don your smart tweed jumper and matching necktie and join me in the academy atelier, where we will spend a year devoted to bettering ourselves through skill building. As you walk through these hallowed halls, remember our four tenets: Education, Community, Glamour, and Mastery. And never forget the motto that generations before us have pledged: Sentire Phantasia. Feel the fantasy!

You have been handpicked to join a diverse group of creatives to immerse yourself in the world of bespoke dressmaking, vintage-inspired fashion, and impeccable sewing craftsmanship. With instruction tailor-made for all levels, attendance at this boutique institution will support your love of vintage fashion while growing your sewing confidence.

Our skill-building curriculum includes lessons and lab projects (with patterns provided) that reads like a couture lover's dream. Envision yourself crafting garments with the precision of a seasoned designer, as you learn the art of French seams, practice vintage pattern drafting, and perfect the fit on your custom-made garments.

At least once per month, you will receive a new, structured homework assignment (always optional!), and you’ll be able to attend exclusive video lessons with members of our faculty and a coterie of friends.

Together with the mutual support of smart and stylish classmates, you will challenge yourself to master the techniques of traditional pattern drafting, machine sewing methods, fine hand finishing, and other high-quality dressmaking skills. Charm slopers will be provided for top-tier students to learn how to perfect advanced fit techniques.

Prepare to be swept away by an abundant array of sewing patterns, live demonstrations, virtual studio sessions, and in-home masterclasses that transport you to a bygone era. Whether you're a sewing novice or a seasoned pro, our instructors are dedicated to helping you unlock your full potential, ensuring that you not only master sewing vintage techniques but also make them your own.

But Charm School isn’t just techniques and training! We also offer a wide variety of after-school social clubs where you can hang out with friends new and old. Our private clubhouse and study halls provide an opportunity to gather and network with a community of like-minded sewing enthusiasts. Join together with your peers to engage in lively discussions, exchange tips and tricks, and forge connections that go beyond the virtual sewing room.

In addition to the scheduled classes and assignments, we've planned virtual meet-ups, sewing projects, and even a digital runway showcase (on Discord) where you can flaunt your creations and applaud the talent of your classmates. The sense of community at our academy is designed to make your online learning experience as dynamic and engaging as an in-person workshop.

Your exclusive spot at Charm school awaits, and I am looking forward to seeing the incredible designs you'll bring to life and the friendships you'll cultivate along the way. Confirm your attendance, ready your supplies, and let the excitement of a new school year begin!

Tier Changes for 2024

There will be only slight changes to your tier benefits this year. Please read the tier descriptions carefully if you wish to upgrade or change your tier.

The Sewing Circle

There will be no change to this tier’s benefits. Sewing Circle members receive the monthly sewing project, companion tutorial video, monthly live event, access to Discord, first access to Charm merchandise, and the annual free Charm Patterns PDF sewing pattern (Gertie’s choice).

The Glamour Circle

In addition to the content listed in the Sewing Circle tier, the 2024 Glamour Circle content will include:

• 4 issues of our popular digital magazine, Vintage by Gertie. Print copies may be purchased by Glamour Circle+ members.
• 8 sewing projects or digital content goodies—these could be pattern expansions, accessories patterns, advanced fit clinics, pattern hacks, guest artist designs, or other fun things that we feel inspired to create & share

We will not be continuing the Society Salon events in 2024.

The Princess Circle

Princesses will receive all of the Sewing Circle and Glamour Circle benefits, as well as the benefits from 2023, like the 40% off coupon for one Charm Pattern (3 times a year), the annual physical gift, and the Charm Patterns sneak peaks.

While we will continue to offer pattern hacks of existing Charm or Patreon patterns throughout the year, we’ll keep the number and delivery a surprise! We’ve also got some other Charm School-related surprises for our Princess+ members in 2024, too. Whatever could they be?

The Inner Circle

This tier is designed for Charm’s biggest supporters who want to be a part of guiding what happens behind-the-scenes at Charm. We’re moving the behind-the-scenes content to our Vintage by Gertie magazine, so the BTS videos will not be happening in 2024.

Inner Circle members get everything in the other tiers as well as:

• 100% off each new PDF Charm Pattern when they are released
• NEW! A PDF Charm sloper pattern based off of our Charm bodice block (not released to the public and only available to Inner Circle members). This sloper will be released in 2024 via Patreon direct message and you must be an Inner Circle member the day of release to receive it.
• 5% off and first dibs on signing up for Gertie's 2024 in-person Charm School Sewing Retreats
• two exclusive live events on Zoom or Crowdcast as our Inner Circle Board of Advisors
• your name will be listed as an Inner Circle member in Vintage by Gertie magazine
• 20% off coupon for Charm Merchandise (2 times a year) PLUS access to previous annual gifts as merchandise (according to availability)

Overall, we’re trying to be a bit more reasonable in what we deliver to our patrons and keep our focus on creating amazing patterns and continuing our pattern size expansions. This means slightly fewer live events, more focused video content, and a closer adherence to our theme in 2024. We love to spoil our patrons, so you can continue to expect an overwhelming amount of vintage-inspired sewing patterns, tutorials, and other goodies throughout the year.

I hope you love our new theme as much as we do. It's going to be a great year!

xoxo,

Gertie