Saturday, January 12, 2013

Burda Back Issue Benefits

I have a large collection of Burda World of Fashion pattern magazines. I started my subscription in the 1980's after I discovered a Spanish language issue on the newsstand in Cancun, Mexico. It was my favorite souvenir of that vacation trip. Yes, in the early days I was intimidated by the need to trace the patterns, and though I admired the garments featured in the magazines each month, many were beyond my skill level.  But now  I consider those old issues to be a wonderful extension  of my pattern collection. While I might not have been able to use them to their full extent back then, they have since proven to be a wonderful resource as my lifestyle, size, and sewing skills  changed.   Many of the garment styles are classics  and  look current when made in the latest fabrics. I can now trace a pattern in about 30 minutes and I appreciate the benefits of fitting and altering a pattern with no seam allowances. My sewing skills have improved. I don't need to rely on the magazine instructions which can sometimes be difficult to follow. My size has changed over the years, but whatever size I am is available in those magazines. When my sons came into my life, I searched  the  back issues for baby clothes and later pants and shirt patterns.  The Burda kids patterns always fit my sons better than those of the  big 4 pattern companies.  And as my sons grew, I just traced a bigger size of a favorite pattern.  When I read that someone is giving away old issues of Burda WOF magazines citing reasons like "no styles I like" or "too much work tracing the patterns and adding seam allowances", I shake my head and think to myself, "They don't realize the value of what they are giving away!" At least in the blog sphere, there is a good chance their discarded issues will find a loving, appreciative home.

  Where am I going with all this? Well, the last two additions to my wardrobe were inspired by recent fashion photos, but the patterns were from Burda WOF back issues. The first was a blouse. I loved this Jennifer Chun blouse, from her Fall Winter 2012 collection, in a silk foulard print with contrasting paisley print trim.

Finding the fabrics for a similar look was not an easy task. The main silk fabric came from Fashionista Fabrics, which unfortunately is shutting down its Internet site. And the contrast silk fabric was purchased from an Etsy shop. The pattern, a classic woman's blouse with bust darts, shoulder yoke and sewn on placket is from Burda 9-2009.
Burda 9-2009 105
I drafted the pattern pocket myself. I love the fabric combo and it really livens up a black suit.




The second item was a pair  of color blocked pants. Many designers showed color blocked pants for Fall 2011, and the same styles have  shown up in RTW this winter.

Derek Lam
The pattern  I used is from Burda 5-2006, pants pattern  112. They were shown made from one fabric, but the style lines matched those of the color blocked inspiration pants. I modified the curve of the pocket opening. Curved pocket openings are often found on jeans and casual clothing.  A slanted opening is more tailored and replicates the inspiration pants.To keep the color blocking somewhat subdued,  I used black and dark green worsted wool that has been in my stash for ages. 

Burda 5-2005 112

 
 
 

Colored blocked pants are showing up for spring.   But I will leave this particular fabric combination to tall, young girls like Taylor Swift, who is wearing them in the photo below .

29 comments:

  1. Both pieces are great ~ but I really love the blouse with the two complementary fabrics!

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  2. Color blocked pants are so cool, fits you well. I have started collecting sewing magazines now , mostly Japanese though, but would to lay my hands on Burda and also other child pattern magazines, do you have any suggestions for child pattern magazines which ships worldwide. I live Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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  3. Great new pieces! Thanks for showing your inspiration shots and the patterns used. I particularly love the blouse.

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  4. Yes, always worth keeping the old Burda's for sure. Your blouse is lovely. And your pants are right on trend.

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  5. I could not agree with you more. Burda back issues can be the best issues. You just never know what you want. I love both pieces. The pants are totally different and unique.

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  6. Lady, you are one classy fashionista! Always, always so stylish and ahead of the game. Kudos!

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  7. Lady, you are one classy fashionista! Always, always so stylish and ahead of the game. Kudos!

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  8. Great food for thought... I am currently considering letting my Burda magazine subscription lapse because I haven't been using it much lately - but on the other hand are all the pluses that you've mentioned! And their patterns definitely do fit children better than the big 4 patterns...

    Your new blouse is stunning - I love that fabric combination you've chosen and it looks ultra fashionable. Your trousers also look really good on you - and very stylish!

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  9. These are both great pieces. I love my 'old' Burdas too, but my collection unfortunately doesn't go back as far as yours.

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  10. I agree wholeheartedly - I only have a few old issues but steadily keep on sewing from them and there are still lots of patterns I want to try . Love your interpretations of mixing different fabrics in your shirt and pants .

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  11. Love, love, LOVE your new blouse and pants! You look great in them! And many thanks for sharing your inspiration and thought process. I find it extremely helpful because I have trouble focusing and choosing what to sew next.

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  12. I agree with the benefits of those back issues. I regularly use older issues as well.
    Your blouse (which looks like a copy of the pattern I'm using right now, another Burda pattern from 2010) is lovely, nice combination of fabrics. And a good interpretation of the pants.

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  13. That blouse is lovely, with a suit or pants/skirt. I really like the contrasting band and pocket. Very stylish pants, too. It seems that pants are no longer taking a back seat (so to speak!)but making their own statement.

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  14. Your outfit is stunning. One of my goals this year it to sew more outfits instead of single pieces. Right now I am making Burda 11-2007-116 skirt. I was inspired by Snow's skirt on "Once Upon a Time" last week. Back issues are the best.

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  15. Your pieces are current, and beautiful and you have just reinforced an opinion I've held for years. One should never, ever get rid of Burda back issues. I will rearrange my closet to make more room rather than get rid of back issues.

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  16. WOW, both pieces are truly stunning!

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  17. I also find a lot of inspiration from my old Burdas -- although my collection only goes back to 2006. It is so fun to sit down and flip through those mags! I love the print combination you chose for the blouse -- very striking -- and the color-blocked pants are fantastic! Beautiful and creative work, as always!

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  18. what fantastic pieces, that blouse is gorgeous and the pants are a great interpretation of a current trend. I never throw my old patterns away - lots of useful variations in there and I can imagine the magazines are easier to store.

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  19. Love that silk blouse. What great ideas you come up with.

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  20. I have a good collection of Burda issues, not as far back as yours. I find myself looking through them quite often.

    I love your blouse. The fabric and contrast are perfect together.
    Your pants look great. Have not seen color blocked pants around my neck of the woods; you folks in Richmond are so fashion forward. Great job on both garments.

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  21. I am still very much a Burda novice in terms of the number of garments I have made from the magazines but I love each of them and it inspires me to make more.

    Love both your blouse and the colour-blocked pants - stunning.

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  22. Your creations are inspiring! I'd thought of getting rid of some Burdas because I find it hard to keep track of all the patterns I have - looking through them (although I have the pattern overviews copied and in a binder) is overwhelming. How do you do it? I'd love to know.

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  23. I have a lot of old Burda magazines and I find when I get into a sewing rut I can use them for inspiration; they really are brilliant. I have them going back to the nineties and they are still relevant today.
    Ingrid

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  24. I use old Burdas all the time. Sometimes I find that patterns I didn't like when the magazine was originally printed are now appealing to me. Like Ingrid said above, I often go back and find inspiration from old issues and it's surprising how relevant old patterns can be.

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  25. The blouse is great! Such lovely fabric choices. I like the boldness of the pants.

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  26. You are SO adorable! I just love that classic shirt done up with the contrasting prints. It works!
    And the pants? You are such the trendy mama!

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  27. Both very stylish garments.I love the shirt with the contrasting fabrics.

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  28. I just started collecting Burda in 2010, and actually trolled eBay forever searching for a 2007 issue that had a particular jacket that I saw made up on another sewing blog. I have enjoyed collecting and keeping certain Vogue Designer patterns since I learned to sew 30 years ago, and would never part with any of them just for the inspiration/education they provide!

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