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  • šŸ‘–The Manipulator Is LIVE: Sew It Like Laura—Change the Rules Like Mary

šŸ‘–The Manipulator Is LIVE: Sew It Like Laura—Change the Rules Like Mary

šŸ‘ šŸ’ƒ From censored capris to couture darts—Module 5 lets you sew the silhouette that changed TV (and women's closets forever).

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Design Secrets News!!

Let’s not tiptoe around it: this month, we’re not just sewing patterns—we’re rewriting the dress code. Again.

It’s 1961.
Suburbia. Black cigarette pants slip past the censors. Sponsors panic. Procter & Gamble pulls their ad dollars. CBS starts sweating. But you know who doesn’t blink?

Mary Tyler Moore.

She fights for the pants. Carl Reiner backs her up. Costume designer Harald Johnson cuts the silhouette. And American women never dress the same again.

Now you get to channel that fight, that silhouette, that elegance-with-backbone—right inside Module 5: The Dart Manipulator

šŸŽ¬ Your Cast of Characters (Yes, They're All In This Lesson):

  • Mary Tyler Moore: A dancer in disguise—insists real women wear pants.

  • Carl Reiner: The showrunner who told CBS to chill.

  • Harald Johnson: Costume genius behind 150 episodes of mid-century magic.

  • P&G: The villain (temporarily).

  • You: The designer who’s about to manipulate darts like a boss.

🧵 WHAT YOU’RE LEARNING (And Why It’s a Big Freakin’ Deal)

You’re going from ā€œhome sewistā€ to silhouette sculptor.
You’ll manipulate darts, shape seams, and create garments that move with the body. Here’s how we get there:

Dart Redirection 101

  • Bust to Armhole – Perfect for knits

  • Bust to Princess – For that glide-over-the-body elegance

  • Bust to Waist – The OG shaping move

Fine Sewing: Next-Level Techniques

  • Welt Pockets – You’ve avoided them. No more.

  • Mitered Vents – That hem deserves more than a turn and topstitch.

🧷 WHAT YOU’RE MAKING: THE ā€œSEW-IT-LIKE-LAURAā€ COLLECTION

1) MTM Cigarette Pants
Yes, those pants. Black, high-waisted, cropped at the ankle. No front fly to break the line. Fit like a glove.
šŸ’” Pro tip: They must flash ankle. That’s the visual trick that made them scandalous... and irresistible.

2) Pointelle Mock Turtleneck
The knit that looks polished but feels like pajamas. Streamlined, feminine. A face-framing neckline that doesn’t bulk or boss you around.

šŸŽÆ HOW IT ALL UNLOCKS

  1. Take the lesson

  2. Pass the quiz

  3. Boom—pattern unlocked

Everything’s on a drip. You just show up, learn, and create.

Design Secrets Paid Members: Log in Here

šŸ”„ BOTTOM LINE
This month is about power. The quiet kind. The kind that sneaks past gatekeepers with a dancer’s grace and a housewife’s backbone.

The kind of power you can stitch into every seam.

Get into Module 5. Sew it like Laura. Change the game like Mary.

šŸ–¤
—Sewing Pattern Secrets Team

šŸ‘– The MTM Cigarette Capri Pants


These aren’t cuffed. They’re clean. Tailored. Classic. The kind of pants that say, ā€œI’ve got this,ā€ without raising their voice.

✨ What to expect:

• Slim-leg, ankle-skimming silhouette—perfect for flats or low heels
• Crease front pattern lines—polish and professional look
• Invisible side zip + clean waistband finish for a streamlined front
• Subtle shaping with expertly placed darts
• Lined pocket bags for comfort + longevity
• Professional polish without the bulk

🧵 Construction Notes:

• Medium-weight woven twill fabric (5oz–6oz) with up to 5% elastane
• Think cotton blends, viscose-linen, or polyester-rayon twills
• Lightweight lining in silk blends, acetate, or cotton voile
• Finished with an invisible zipper, a hook & eye, and iron-on stretch fusible for that crisp front
• Stitch with 40wt or 50wt polyester thread and a sharp 80/12 needle for best results

šŸ“ Yardage:

• Sizes 6–14: 1 ā…“ yards (60ā€ wide)
• Sizes 14X–24X: 2 ¼ yards (60ā€ wide)
• Pocket Lining: 10ā€ total, all sizes
• Fusible: 10ā€, all sizes

šŸ› ļø Pro-Level: A clapper and press cloth for seam setting like a designer.

Suggested fabrics include:

  • Woven Twills with 3-5% Spandex

šŸ‘š Pair It With: The Pointelle Knit Mock Turtleneck


Also dropping in Module 5, this Laura Petrie-approved top is your graceful, slim-cut counterpoint to the tailored pants.

šŸŽÆ This pattern set is about taking your skills further—with real techniques that elevate fit, finish, and confidence.

If you're already in Design Secrets, make sure you've cleared space in your calendar. These aren't throwaway quick-sews. They’re wardrobe builders.

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šŸ”— See the Offer / Access Details

šŸ“Œ When can I Access the Pattern?

VIP Priority Launch Members—Heads Up.

If you’re a VIP Priority Launch Member from March, you’ll be among the first to access it.

Inside this next release, you’ll get:

šŸ‘‰ The MTM Capri Pants—a sharp, era-defining silhouette
šŸ‘‰ The Pointelle Knit Mock Turtleneck—subtle, stylish, and unforgettable
šŸ‘‰ Dart Manipulation Lessons—where your flat patterns start obeying your rules
šŸ‘‰ And a deep dive into the Style Lines of the Era—because looking iconic is never an accident

This is part of your Year Long Drip Access.

When it does, you’ll be at the front of the line—where the real insiders belong.


šŸš€ If you haven’t joined yet, now’s your chance to jump in at the Beta price—while lifetime access is still available.

🌟 A Heads-Up About Upcoming Pricing Changes šŸŒŸ

As we continue expanding the Design Secrets Course and Community — with new patterns, advanced lessons, and better support tools — we’re updating our pricing to reflect the value we’ve built.

Here’s what’s coming:

🧵 Right now: $87 gets you full lifetime access to the entire 12-month course, drip schedule, downloadable patterns, and all future updates.
This is our original ā€œfounding memberā€ price, and we’re so grateful to everyone who’s jumped in early.

šŸ“… Starting sometime in August, the price will increase to $97.
This is a small step up as we prep for some bigger changes.

šŸ“… Later this fall (as soon as development is complete), we’ll move to a tiered pricing structure.
This will include options based on access level, additional support, or payment flexibility — but the current one-time price for full access will no longer be available.

šŸ‘‰ If you’ve been thinking about joining, now’s the time to lock in the $87 price before it goes away.

And yes — once you’re in, you’re in. No hidden fees. No subscription surprises. You’ll keep your access, no matter how we structure things going forward.

Thank you for being part of this creative journey. So much more is coming — and we’d love to have you with us from the inside.

Inside, you'll get:

  • 24 designer pattern drops in iconic inspired designs

  • Over 129 Fine sewing lessons and flat pattern adjustment training, PDFS and charts

  • Community support (M-F 10-4 and some Saturdays and Sundays we check-in)

  • And early access to the complete Design Secrets collection!


šŸ“Œ Design Secrets ā€” 24 exclusive designer women’s patterns Sizes 6-24X, 129+ lessons including + monthly fine sewing and pattern adjustment lessons on a year long drip. One time price of $87.

P.S. This is for sewists sewing for real people—sizes 6 to 24X. DS is still in beta pricing for a reason: we want feedback in return for lifetime access. Join now before the next price jump again later this year.

šŸ“Œ Sewing Pattern Secrets Database

Unlock the Hidden Vault of Curated Sewing Patterns.

āœ… If you’re a Sewing Pattern Secrets Database member, log in and start sewing! This one is already waiting for you inside the database.

šŸš€ If you haven’t grabbed the database yet, now’s the time.

Right now, you can still get lifetime access to 156+ curated patterns, video tutorials, ebooks, and planners for just $87.

Warmly,

Margie Vaudreuil
Founder, Sewing Pattern Secrets LLC

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