Using Gertie's New Fashion Sketchbook

It's here! The sketchbook I mentioned in May, Gertie's New Fashion Sketchbook: Indispensible Figures for Body-Positive Design has been released. If you pre-ordered it, you should already have it in your little hands! The sketchbook provides croquis, or figure templates, that you can sketch your design ideas on top of. But what separates it from other books out there is that the figures have realistic height proportions (go feminism and body positivity!), and the light shaded figures are easy to customize according to your own body type.

First of all, the book is so pretty. When you take off the band, you'll see the metallic figures on the cover and a little spot where you can write in your name.

There's also text about sketching, how to represent your body type, and fashion through the decades. As always, brilliant illustrations by Sun Young Park!

When you'll get to the croquis, you might notice that they look really light. This is on purpose, as it helps you customize the figure more easily, and it also ensures that your sketching will stand out in the end, not the croquis. Make sure you have plenty of light. Use a regular or mechanical pencil, and begin to draw in the lines of your design. I decided on a dirndl, given my current obsession!

Continue the lines of the design, following the outer shaded areas of the croquis for larger proportions--and vice versa.

Draw in hair, if desired! I like to add a wavy bob (go figure). Lightly sketch in the lines of the arms, face, legs, etc. I don't really bother with facial features, I just sketch the lips and eyebrows usually.

Add trims (like rick rack at the neckline), and sketch in the print of your fabric if desired. (The prints here are from my fabric line. Wouldn't this rose sateen be cute for a dirndl?)

If you like your design, you can sketch the back too!

Here's a better example of customizing the figure. I drew a fitted dress, giving the model a high waistline and curvy hips. She also needed some Veronica Lake hair. (I started drawing in the cherries and got bored really quickly!)