Have you found out about Burdastyle yet? So many American sewists have complained about Burda patterns because they weren't in inches and at one point in time didn't add seam allowances for you (I'm told that now they do). I can see how some might not want to try it, because I also avoided those patterns in my younger years. But now, I'm okay with it, in fact I see the wisdom in it. Metric IS easier, and changing design lines or seam lines, and measuring the pattern for fit are so much easier when you don't have a seam allowance to contend with. And European style is so much more interesting to me now. Since I don't sew much but my own patterns these days, I can't really comment on Burda patterns themselves, but I do like their pattern styles, and they have a great website: http://www.burdastyle.com/
It's like one big sewing party where everyone is invited to comment, add their own patterns (many are free), write sewing tutorials, or have a discussion about anything at all. Of course, use good judgement when gleaning information because not all is worth your trouble, but I've found some good instructions on constructing your own basic block pattern, and I link to it from my website on the tips and techniques page. All in all, Burda has done a great great job with their website giving creative people a place to get together and share. I'd be willing to bet their patterns are of the same quality.
Poor Burda has such a bad name, and for the life of me, I don't know why, as they are the only patterns I'll use. However, something to note - sometime in the 1990s, the Burda patterns that are sold in fabric stores started being sold with seam allaowances - it's marked on the envelopes now. In addition, the majority of the patterns at burdastyle.com have seam and hem allowances included as well. The only Burda patterns that most people in North America will encounter without seam allowances are the ones from the Burda World of Fashion magazine (now renamed burda style magazine).
ReplyDeleteLovely blog, I saw your post on Sew Retro :-)
Thanks for the update Andrea! I guess I'm WAY behind in the news about the seam and hem allowances. As I say, I don't sew up anything but my own patterns anymore, but I would put my dollar on Burda if I had to place a bet...have you ever made up a Marfy pattern? I'd be curious to try one of those.
ReplyDeleteI do find that Burda fits really well, with a minimum of alteration. I haven't tried Marfy, but I've heard good things about them, and they're on my list of patterns to try. Unfortunately, that list is really long!
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