Review: Burda Magazine Feb 2014

And the second issue of Burda Magazine for 2014 is only alright. A few nice pieces, but not one of them (for me) is an outstanding, spectacular piece. But they are all nice.

Two nice dresses. I like the square neckline and flounce sleeves.

I like the button down back with the faux waist belt. But I don't think it would look great on me personally.

I don't like the wide pleats on dress #101 - extra material across the front doesn't sound great to me. Pockets on the hips for dress #102 wouldn''t work for my pear shape. Both these dresses has width where I wouldn't want it.

I personally dislike off the shoulder tops so I'd NEVER wear this top. The skirt looks fun but the length is a bit dumpy with the giant pleats.

I don't like crop tops so I wouldn't wear this, even if I lengthened it, the boxy shape wouldn't do me any favours. The extra material on the skirt hips wouldn't be great for me either.

 

The #127 vest is lovely. I like the shoulder details and think it would be great for colour blocking. The skirt is not my style and the top simply looks sloppy. 

Now, the collar detail on these items is really pretty. I like the shirt better than the dress but think it would look best in solid colours.

This jersey top I might wear. I like the spunk it adds to a simple work appropriate outfit. I DISPISE those pants though. Ew. They add hip girth and just remind me of pants I'd wear working outdoors (which I don't do).

Jackets and lots of them. I like all three but none of them enough to make me think about fabric choices or put them on my to-sew list. 

Now, There are more patterns with some faux punk additions of safety pens. Not my style. And the entire section for plus sized patterns are not all that flattering. Again Burda is putting bags on plus sized models. I wish they would just make the normal size dresses in plus sizes. Why bags Burda? Not flattering.

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Review: Burda Style Magazines Year 2011

So while I was perusing eBay the other day I came across a seller bulk selling Burda Style for the year 2011. I jumped on the chance to own them all. I went to own ALL the things. So I started bidding with my max bid at $60. For 12 Magazines, I figured that is reasonable. Well I won. And Priority mail got to work and the package was delivered 3 days later - to the USA/Canada Border. Cheaper than shipping into Canada. I jumped in my car cranked the Phantom of the Opera and took a little drive to the Border. Went to a coffee house, ripped open my box (more like struggled desperately with tape looking like an idiot in the process). FINALLY got into my box of glorious magazines and devoured them while sipping a Maple Mocha.

12 magazines later and I must say that I do love Burda Style patterns. But I realized that I only like a select few of them. I like those specific patterns crazy amounts, but only a few. So to summarize. I thought I'd create this post including photos of every pattern that I like out of each month of 2011. mmmm pretty photos.

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Review: Burda Style Mag Winter 2014

I bee-lined it straight for the craft section of the magazines to see if Barnes&Nobles in the USA had a wider selection than my small Canadian city bookstore store. The USA always has such variety - I love visiting! I get there and notice Burda Style had a different cover. Hmm? Is this new? It's quite thick and says Winter 2014. Hmm a seasonal Burda Style; not a monthly one? What Is This?

Turns out it is the very first issue of the new Burda Style USA! This issue has 40 repeat patterns from previous magazines within - 20 on the two paper insets and 20 available as free print-at-home downloads online. The paper patterns are printed on a thicker pattern than the monthly translated BurdaStyle which is incredible. AND the instructions are more indepth and and AND in PROPER ENGLISH! Written by an English speaker instead of translated? THANK YOU BURDA. I will no longer be left stumped and bubbling with laughter at the terrible translations and clothing descriptions.

In this issue they give you patterns from:

Plus Size - March 03/2013 (The Art of Great Style)
Woman's - December 2012 (Show Stopper & Vintage Dress
Woman's - October 2012 (Modern Sophisticate & Legends of the Fall)
Woman's - August 2012 (Candy Coated)
Woman's - June 2012 (Draped Dress Step-by-Step)

If you have a yearly subscription this issue would be a bust, but since my subscription started in Sept - this magazine more or less has every pattern I wanted out of previous issues. I've even searched eBay for a few of these back issues so I could have the patterns! But now I have them ALL from one $20 magazine. Totally Worth It!

So I'm wondering if Each season will be the same - repeat patterns from past magazines? Or if there will be new products? Hmmmmm. To subscribe or not to subscribe?

Great Job Burda Style USA!

Ps. My favourite patterns are the photos you see here! But More or less ALL of these patterns are GREAT.

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Book Review: Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing

Look what I bought! I've followed Gertie's blog for awhile and love everything she creates! Although I'm not one for vintage patterns and styles myself to the full extent I do really appreciate hints and details that pay homage to another fashion age. So Gertie's book was something I was thrilled to get my hands on.

First off, I bought it to help myself learn more sewing tricks. I'm a newbie seamstress and many sewing skills are beyond my capacity at this point. I was Hoping to improve my skill set through the use of Gertie's book. 

And did I ever improve. Gertie's has made sewing drastically easier for me. Many of the things I struggle with previously have been clearly explained and illustrated for a beginner. It was easy to follow along, even when I had to read an instruction over 3 times to comprehend, I knew it was my lack of basic understanding that was the hindrance not the explanations themselves. Now I read back through and laugh at what I was stumped over previously. Horrah for learning. 

Why love Gertie's book?

The vintage drawn photos 

The truth about vintage

Start to Finish sewing by chapters

The skill set illustrations

The Patterns

And Gertie modelling each design herself!

Simply put: I adore this book and I would highly recommend it to any beginner seamstress or any advanced seamstress who wants some amazing paper patterns! 

Great job Gertie! Thank you for being and inspiration!

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Review: Ottobre Design A/W 2009

While I was browsing the internets for patterns I came across OTTOBRE Design Pattern magazine. It is designed and printed in Finland by Studio Tuumat Oy.

They have a monthly children's pattern magazine but the woman's magazine only comes out bi-annually. I don't mind this twice a year because the majority of the patterns are winners. Also, a great aspect of the magazine is that they use normal people to showcase their clothing. Normal people with normal proportions. So you can see the patterns on all statues - short, tall, slim, and wide.

The magazine includes the patterns and written instructions. It does not include a cutting layout or illustrations. The patterns are 8.5 Euros each.

So lets see these patterns!

The Patterns I Love:

Not only do I love this pleated bubble skirt but I LOVE the colour of the fabric! It just screams Christmas cheer to me! I also really like the simple black tank (including the fabric choice) and the jacket is a definite win. Look at that adorable back pleat detail!

I'm a fan of casual knit dresses. I also prefer patterns that have sleeves included. They always work better than trying to set in my own sleeves. The jacket is a simple A-line that would be a quick make. I probably wouldn't make the pants  or the scarf though.

Underwear? LOVE IT. Look at those hot shorts! Those are high on my to make list. I wish I had a serger! That would make life quick and easy! The tank top is cute with the ruching but it isn't something I'd likely make.

Now, I really like the styling on these photos. I like the brown tones and the cute wooly hat. The Jacket, shirt, and tshirt are all simple items. Everybody loves a quick sew. I might make the pants, I like the crop wide leg on them.

Now, this pattern set is a love/hate. I love the skirt and I like that it is done in a plaid. Lots of thick pleats. I could make a schoolgirl kilt for myself! The t-shirt is nice is you hack off those sleeves. I like the neck detail. The jacket is something I would never make, the wavey bottom hem looks sloppy not like a design feature.

Patterns I am Not a Fan of:

It isn't a bad pattern, it is just something I'd never wear. A simple sheath dress with pockets would just make me look pregnant (NEVER DESIRABLE), and the sweater/jacket is too long and too short all at the same time. They include a basic button-up which would be nice though.

Let me start by saying there is nothing wrong with this tracksuit jacket. I just would never sew it. I prefer to purchase my sportswear because I can never find appropriate material for it. And the pants aren't anything special.

Again, not a bad pattern, I just don't wear wrap dresses. And again with those sleeves, they just look so outdated to me. 

So what do YOU make of this OTTOBRE Magazine? Would you purchase it?

Watch for another two OTTOBRE Design magazine reviews from me in the next weeks.

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