Gretchen "Gertie" Hirsch is a celebrated sewing expert, pattern designer, and author dedicated to making vintage-inspired fashion accessible to the modern sewist. She is the founder of Charm Patterns and the creator of the Charm Patterns Patreon, a premier subscription service known as the Charm Institute of Style.
With over 135,000 subscribers to her YouTube channel, Gertie's World, Hirsch has built a global community centered on glamour and inclusive design. A frequent collaborator with industry giants such as Butterick, Joann Fabrics, Spotlight Stores, and Michael Miller, she teaches through best-selling books, international workshops, and her innovative digital pattern programming. Her work is renowned for its unique blend of historical fashion research, couture-style instruction, and commitment to inclusive fit for all bodies. She lives and sews in New York's Hudson Valley.