The other day, I wanted to do some sewing for myself. My stash of apparel patterns has been growing a bit obsolete over the 18 years I lived in Kenya, not to mention some slight (ahem) alteration to my figure’s dimensions which has rendered most of those patterns a wee bit small to fit me. A trained fashion designer, I can generally manage to cut any garment I want, but increasingly not without having to expend more energy on fitting than I want to contribute to the making of my simple wardrobe’s needs.
In Kenya, it is not possible to buy apparel patterns over the counter; no retailer stocks them. I have for many years relied on Burda magazines to provide me with up-to-date patterns. I have never subscribed to the magazine because it is a European publication, and 2/3 of the year it features clothing for cold weather, something I have little use for in Africa.
Anyway, I wanted some new, freshly styled trousers, skirts and tops, and I wanted them immediately. I could not wait to go to Nairobi to buy the latest issue of Burda. It suddenly occurred to me that perhaps Burda’s patterns would be available online. I checked, and, lo and behold! Burda DOES have patterns available as pattern downloads! And the best part is – some of them are available for FREE!
I quickly downloaded patterns for a very cute pair of trousers and a couple of pretty skirts. They came in as PDF files IN MY SIZE!; all I had to do was click and print! Wonderful! I immediately contacted the company to say “Thanks!” It is so exciting to think that in coming months not only Burda, but other pattern manufacturers will be increasingly turning to pattern downloads as the best way to market their products. My struggles to obtain fashionable apparel patterns in Africa will be over!!!
So, everyone, please – check out the patterns available at Burda for downloading, and if you like what you see, email them and encourage them to make more of their great patterns available to us this way:
BURDA PREMIUM PATTERN DOWNLOADS
Be sure to notice the options for technical illustrations, English instructions, and multi-size pattern downloads. Enjoy, and let me know what you think!
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That’s great, Monica! You should tell the Burda folks about it. I’m sure their pattern downloaders would appreciate knowing about your experience.
I have the pattern for the trousers waiting for me to find time to make them up. I’m still not entirely certain the pockets will be flattering for my hips!
I see you use Burda patterns. I never have and downloaded a pattern from Burda – only becuase I couldn’t find what I was looking for from any other company. I couldn’t download the instructions though because they wouldn’t fit on the page – need my son or a teck rep to help me. How are Burda patterns different from American patterns? Do they run big or is there anything I should know about them?
Thanks
Lindielee – California
Lindielee, I don’t find any major differences between Burda and any other kind of dressmaking patterns. However, I’m a very experienced seamstress. The only thing that might cause a problem is working with metric rather than imperial measurement systems. The cure for that is to have two different sets of appropriate measuring tools. Remember to add seam allowance if none is present in the patterns. Then, simply follow the directions and rely on your own common sense to put together a lovely garment. Good luck!
I tried downloading a pattern today after registering with the site, but it wouldn’t let me until I’d completed something called ‘My Profile’ which meant entering all sorts of info which I didn’t want to do.
Well, Jenny, that’s up to you. Few websites these days will give away free anything without at least wanting to know who they are giving it away to. That’s marketing, you know. The Burda people are trying to obtain information from visitors to their site, information that can help them better serve their customers – that’s you! I can only tell you I have never had a problem with the Burda site, and if you ever do have such a problem, you should take it straight to the site owner, not to anyone who referred you there. I hope you will return to the Burda free download site and find something there that will be of value to you. Good luck!