Yikes.

I promised an update after the fabric-and-pattern-shopping expedition on Thursday. Yes, we did buy some Vogue patterns, which were on super-sale. We did not buy any fabric -- too much polyester and too many chintzy prints in that store. We'll go up to St. Hubert and the fabric district sometime later on. But at the checkout counter, I noticed this copy of Burda Style Magazine, which was new to me, though I've used Burda patterns before. It's a monthly magazine, featuring Burda patterns (German, I think) but in French, and bound into the middle of the magazine was a sheaf of folded sheets of paper, on which are printed all the patterns for all the fashions in the magazine! All for $10! So we had to get one.

But, of course, there's a catch, or two or three.

1: The patterns, as you can see, are just a tiny bit confusing -- as in, almost incomprehensible. until you figure out the road map, by following teeny tiny directions in the magazine itself.

2: Once you've figured out which lines correspond to the pattern you want to make (red, for instance, on sheet A, pieces 21-24 and 26) you have to trace them onto tracing paper or tissue - because to cut them out would wreck all the other patterns on the front and back of that sheet.

3: The patterns don't include seam allowances, you have to add them.

4: The instructions are printed in about 6-point type and are, to say the least, terse.

5: They're also only in French. I just looked up "ourlet" - it means "hem." One down, about a hundred couture-specific terms to go...

If you think this sounds daunting, you're not alone. But I'm game. After all, I've used French knitting instructions before...and Vogue patterns were always bilingual...and there's a glossary of terms in the magazine. How badly could I screw it up? (I know the answer to that one!) Anyway, stay tuned!

Comments

[Eva]

You are brave! It seems Burda has patterns & other info online - might come in handy.

[Marja-Leena]

Yikes, indeed, that was my reaction seeing those kind of patterns some years ago. That reminds me... I have saved, but never gotten around to using, similar put simpler patterns in some Finnish magazines that were passed on to me. Good luck and let us know how your project goes, Beth.

[Beth]

Today I started with a different pattern - one I downloaded free from the Burda site, called the "coffee date dress." You print it on your own printer, as 24 tiled pages, then tape it together and cut out the pieces (it's a multisize pattern so there are multiple lines), add the seam allowances, and cut your fabric. It's a simple design but I'm going to have to make a muslin to check the fit on the bodice. Do I really want to do all this work? Not sure, but it's all intriguing and a challenge for good sewers. Nobody starting out should do it this way though - that way lie tears!

[Kim]

I have sewn clothing since I was a kid and I've got to say, Beth, the sound of that intimidates the heck out of me!

[Beth]

Yeah. It's more the look of it than anything else that freaks me out. But you know me - gotta try it!

I made the muslin bodice today and, sure enough, it doesn't fit - I've got to add width in the center back, an inch and a half in length to the waist, and adjust the darts. But it looks cute - very retro pattern. And I went to a fabric store near here that's decades old, I like it, bolts and bolts of cloth piled on top of each other and an elderly couple running the place. I bought cloth for two skirts, one a grey double knit and one a wool tweed. Distractions from the current project, but there was nothing in the store that felt perfect for the dress except a fancy dark brown jacquard that was too expensive to play around with. I had fun talking to the owners and looking at fabric, though, and feeling like I have some time for this again in my life.