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Sunday, January 20, 2013

A little more on Burda.

Here are three of the new patterns I picked up the other day.  These are from the "retro" line - man, I'm a sucker for these reproduction vintage patterns!  According to the catalog, these are all vintage 1960's.

First up, 7113:  A-line shift, short-sleeved jacket and cape.  The jacket buttons up the back!  Love!!


Here are the line drawings:


Next, 7114: relaxed A-line shift with French darts and optional welt pockets.  I could really see this in a summery printed silk twill.   On a patio.  With tiki torches.  And a Mai Tai.


And the line drawings:


And lastly (for now!), 7115:  gored A-line dress with double-breasted jacket.  Swooooon!  I love a dress and jacket combo.


The drawings:

Note that the dress has pockets!

While I had the camera and patterns out, I thought I'd take some extra pictures to show some of the ways Burda patterns differ from the other companies, since there seemed to be some interest yesterday in these patterns and I don't see them coming up on sewing blogs a whole lot.

The patterns themselves are multi-size like most other companies, and the envelope patterns do contain seam and hem allowances, unlike the magazine and download patterns from Burda.  But the information needed to sew the pattern is arranged differently from other brands I've used.

Let's start with the envelope.  First off - and I love this - the publication date is just above the logo on the envelope back.  There are also some fitting clues for the garment.


Yardages are given for two fabric widths for each size of each garment:


However, you have to know your European size to begin with for this information to be useful.  Don't know your size?  Where to find it?  Inside, on the pattern tissue:


I have to admit that although I do know my European size, I still find this kind of tedious.  Anyway, back to the envelope:

You will also find on the back recommended fabrics and notions needed, just above the line drawings.  On the drawings of the garments are some of the finished measurements, to help you figure out what size you need.


Inside, on the instruction sheet, each page has four columns:  to the left are the instructional drawings, followed by directions in English, French and Spanish.  I'm not really sure why German isn't included - perhaps they publish separate patterns in German only?

 


The first bit of information here is how many pattern pieces you need for each view:


But:  Curses!  Foiled again!  "See pattern sheet for cutting layouts!"  This one really irks me!  I don't know why, since I rarely follow the cutting layouts anyway!


On the pattern pieces themselves, you'll find the finished measurements for hip, bust, etc. like you would on any other commercial pattern.  They're even listed in both inches and centimeters!  OK, I'm not so irked any more.


One of the things I like about the Burda patterns I've used so far is that they seem to match my measurements a little better than most American patterns.  Must be my European heritage.

I'll be back with at least one more post about Burda patterns, because the other two I bought are things I'm thinking of starting on right away!

15 comments:

  1. Great choices! I especially like the sleeveless version of 7114.

    Can't wait to see which others you picked up.

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  2. The main difference to me is that the other companies have my size and Burda doesn't (except in their sucky plus-size clothes, and it's silly that I'm plus-sized in their line to begin with). I wouldn't be so bitter if it wasn't for the fact that most of their patterns seem to cut off *just* below my size. I'm a 48, and while some of them go that high, they never seem to be the ones I like and most cut off at 44 or 46. Ugh.

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    1. Believe it or not, I can empathize! It seems like every month when I get my Burda magazine, my favorite designs are the ones that don't come in my size range: either they're plus size, or tall sizes!

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    2. Hmm, that actually kind of makes sense. The plus-size designs always look too... old for me. Bear in mind that I'm a youngin'! They usually look like something that someone in their thirties would wear, because for some reason the fashion industry always equates plus-size with 30+ women. My 22 year old self gravitates to the straight-size designs, and it would make sense that someone in their thirties would gravitate toward the plus-size designs (I'm assuming you're in your thirties, based on your about me page and forgive me if I'm wrong).

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    3. Hehehe - I was going to say, "Are you calling me old?" But then you redeemed yourself by saying you think I'm in my 30s ;-)

      (49 next month . . .)

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  3. Love the retro reissue patterns, and can't wait to see your finished garments!

    Also, thanks for the overview on the quirks of working with Burda. I got the BurdaStyle book as a gift last year, but have yet to use any of the patterns in it yet, so this definitely helps me know what I'm dealing with before I begin. :)

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    1. I have the book too, but haven't even really looked at it! But I think the information I've given here might be specific to the envelope patterns. I do know that the patterns in the magazine are not formatted in this way.

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  4. These are going to be lovely made up - when are you starting?????

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    1. Hehehe - we'll see if I actually make any of these. SO many patterns, so little time!

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  5. i've never really gone for the 60s styles, i've always thought they're not so hip-friendly. these patterns are cute though! i especially love the jacket with 7115!

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  6. These are so cute! First off, YES to the summer porch and Mai Tai-- are we there yet?! Second, you NEED to make that dress/jacket combo! Too fab!

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  7. I love those styles! If I had my way I would have a 60's wardrobe. I am so excited to see which ones you decide to make and of course the fabrics you pick out.

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  8. oooooo me too! love them! My mum has gazillions of patterns like this - in New Zealand. One day I'll get my mitts on them!!!!

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  9. Terrific finds, Gail. I can hear your fabric jumping up and down on the shelves saying,"Pick me!"

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  10. I'm looking for Kim Burda, from the original family. Help?

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