The Sewing Place
The Emporia => In the wardrobe => Patterns Discussion => Topic started by: sewingj on February 06, 2018, 08:03:41 AM
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I haven`t sewn a Burda for years but have been looking at a couple recently. However reading the reviews has put me off as there are lots of negative comments - mainly about the sizing and the quality of the instructions. A typical review was "now I remember why I stopped sewing Burda"
Any thoughts?
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'Satan's own pattern' was a Burda. I had to recut some of the pieces and the instructions were not of the best. The whole thing was finally abandoned when I ended up with a shrunken collar. The envelope patterns include seam allowances, but the magazines' do not. The styles are good and a lot of people like the fit, but never again as far as I am concerned.
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I rarely buy Burda patterns, just because I have a massive stash of patterns but I've liked those that I have. I love the Burda magazine designs, in the main; they do come up with some off the wall designs now and again. However, I hate, hate, hate, hate the patterns. They condensed them several years ago and trying to trace one off is like trying to navigate spaghetti junction. I really have to brace myself if I want to make a Burda magazine pattern. However, once done, I do really like the finished article. Yes, I have to make certain changes, but then I have to with whichever company I use!
And that was a long-winded way of saying I'm sitting on the fence lol!
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A bit like Missie, I have used them, with no particular issues, but I'm getting too old, and my eyes are too bad lately to trace off the magazine patterns.
I do have a favourite T shirt pattern of theirs, but I bought it as a Pdf, which I thought rather expensive.
I tend to buy patterns by the style I like these days, and just make them work - or not!
Jessie
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For years I used nothing but Burda patterns, both the magazine versions and the paper envelopes. They just fit me better than any of the other companies. However since they rejigged the road maps in the magazines I stopped my subscription, just couldn't be bothered to try and fathom out all those lines (however Ottobre is even worse! at least Burda has different coloured lines for each size!).
I still use the envelope patterns as I prefer the fit although they seem to be producing fewer new ones each season. I haven't ever really had a problem with the instructions, you do need to read them through carefully and test them out on a scrap piece of fabric if they really seem inscrutable but they generally work out ok.
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The ones I am looking at are paper patterns. They are for my daughter who is very much plus-size and Burda seem to have more choice than others - but I can`t say your comments are filling me with confidence!
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TBH I don't think I have used Burda paper pattern for some years as I seem to like Butterick and Vogue patterns best. However when I have used Burdas they have been fine. I agree that they have some nice young plus styles. I would give it a go.
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It was a kids pattern but I made a burda paper pattern last week and it was fine. I would change a few of the instructions and did do those steps my own way but that was personal preference in my case.
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I like Burda patterns especially as they now have the seam allowance included. I've made up several ones, all with good results.
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I am a MASSIVE Burda fangirl #burda4life 0_0 I was raised on Burda, tracing patterns for my mother. Cousine Claire, the spinster seamstress of the family, Cousine Viviane, Tante Gisèle (who turned me onto Vogue patterns too!), Chantale, my mother's choir friend, so many women sewed Burda around me!
I love them the sharp styles. Burda told me overalls/jumpsuits/dungarees were back at least a couple of years ago. I should have listened!
I love them for the constancy: what you see is what you get. I go by my actual body measurements and, other than my standard alterations (Petite, Narrow Shoulders, size down waist), they fit.
I did a small survey back in 2009 that I had posted on Pattern Review at the time. Compared 4-5 Burda size charts from 1980 to 2009. Only two measurements had changed in that time span and by 0,5 cm only!
Now the downsides.
Like most EU pattern magazines, you have to trace them. I am used to figuring them out, I don't even pre-trace on the pattern sheet but I understand how others may not feel up to this chore.
If Burda says close-fitting, it is a tight dress! If they say loose, it's a muumuu. And they love plunging necklines.
The instructions are minimal and somethings poorly worded. Two nights ago, I helped someone on PR figure out the facing instructions on a backless top. They really need to improve this, IMO. To me, it feels as though the translator is not done by a sewing-savvy professional. It's more a sewing order than anything, though Style Arc does it better.
Obviously, I am in favor of Burda :D and do recommend them often.
Do note that the regular sizes 34-44 have a distinct block from the Plus 44-52. So those 44s are not equal! I've read some criticism of the Plus size designs on PR but that's not my range so I don't really know if that's a fair judgement.
On the DE and FR sites, at least, you can buy the envelope patterns as downloads. I really wish they would do this for the US site (which accepts my credit card!). Rarely, they will issue the same design as an envelope after it had appeared in the magazine.
I personally have never found a Burda where the pattern pieces did not match up in size at the seam. In fact, I was flabbergasted to learn that Big4/US patterns had this happen. How???
One last thing. They shortened the size chart back in Fall 2015? so to get the full set of measurements, it's best to download a chart online. I really love this about EU pattern magazines in general. Now that I am better at fitting, I really cannot be satisfied with the meager 3 measurements of Big4 and most Indies.
ETA that the main difference btw size ranges Petite, Regular and Tall is length throughout the pattern. At least in two places for bodice, bottom and sleeve!
Also, the usual size range is 36-42 for 1,68m and 44-52 for Plus but the Junior/Easy patterns can be start at 32 or 34.
Apologies for the crimes against Shakespeare. I have excuses: bad cold, difficult morning.
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there are lots of negative comments - mainly about the sizing
Where are you reading this? I would like to take a look!
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@lakaribane: the main criticism is the poor instructions. 0_0
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I don't find Burda patterns any better or any worse than any of the big four in regards to sizing and instructions. I do like to flick through the magazine in WHS and if there are 3 patterns I think I might make then I buy it. I also bought a Burda paper patten last year (dungarees) I had trouble working out what size I should use and it came up a bit large but apart from that all good.
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I personally don't like Burda patterns they don't seem to be sized in proper proportion compared to Vogue patterns.
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I like them, I've had a couple of envelope ones and they fitted me well. You don't get as many balance marks as on some others, but in my limited experience the notches all matched perfectly & they went together well. I've traced a few off from magazines, I didn't find it too bad once I worked out how to find the lines I wanted. They also went together very well but the lack of seam allowances caught me out the first time. The novice who I helped yesterday had 2 Burda children's dress patterns. One had s/a included, the other didn't. The instructions were poorly worded and needed more diagrammes. Not good for a novice but not a problem for me as I rarely follow the construction order given in a pattern.
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I like Burda, I like their consistency of sizing. The magazine has a full body measurements chart so you can see at a glance if you are going to need a short nape to waist or shoulder to bust point adjustment, for example. I trace directly from the sheets using Burda tracing paper and a fine point pencil and as long as the light is good enough have no problem, I also refer to the pattern layout in the magazine when tracing as this helps with adding balance notches and seam numbers which are the things that can get a bit lost amongst all the lines. The instructions can be brief to the point of incomprehension but that is very rare, I have only once been completely stumped - that was with a fly front opening skirt that had no waistband, I just could not figure out how to neaten the top of the zip. Personally I would rather have to think about the instructions and construction a bit more and maybe refer to a sewing manual than to have to deal with the sizing vagaries of the Big 4.
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The ones I am looking at are paper patterns. They are for my daughter who is very much plus-size and Burda seem to have more choice than others - but I can`t say your comments are filling me with confidence!
The only Burda pattern I’ve sewn was a Burda Plus tunic, it turned out nicely, but I did find it very roomy in terms of fit, so do examine the size carefully.
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The instructions can be brief to the point of incomprehension but that is very rare, I have only once been completely stumped - that was with a fly front opening skirt that had no waistband, I just could not figure out how to neaten the top of the zip.
Me too! OMG I hope it's not the same skirt, LOL! But one of my most frustrating UFOs was *precisely* a no-waistband fly-front skirt from Burda in natural linen!!! I really need to figure it out and finally make my mother that skirt!
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Ha ha! I wonder if it was the same one! For me that skirt was a long time ago, I probably still have it in the UFO pile in case I want to use the fabric for something else. I think I remember seeing an explanation from someone somewhere though on how to do it but I didn't bother as I'd used unsuitable fabric anyway - a crisp cotton poplin for a skirt with pleats.
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I'm firmly in the pro Burda camp. I like the fit as well as the style, the instructions are another story though. They are fine (not brilliant) in the German version of the magazine, but I have the sneaky suspicion that they are translated either directly from German into English or by some intern....
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Are they any better in the native German? 0_0 0_0
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" a no-waistband fly-front skirt from Burda"
Did it have a lining? I would use something like a waist stay inside the top of the skirt and button the top of the fly facing onto the other side. (I've probably imagined the whole skirt wrong, but that should work.)
I like Burda because the fit is more 'me', but only used the paper patterns so far.
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I only like Burda for trousers as they seem to fit better than any of the Big 4 but I haven't tried any of the indie trousers patterns.
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Yes I like Burda for trousers too, I have a couple of patterns. I have also got a Burda dress pattern to cut out; I was going to make it to wear over Christmas so I might leave it for now and start thinking about clothes for the warmer weather.
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I would use something like a waist stay inside the top of the skirt and button the top of the fly facing onto the other side.
Well, that one ended as a UFO that died in the earthquake :[
Since then, my mother purchased a pair of trousers with the same, no-waistband, fly-front style that I plan to study before I try this skirt again. IIRC, Burda also came out with another similar trouser pattern so I might study that one too. With age and wisdom, maybe it will make more sense.
Totally with you on the inside-button device, though...