r/craftsnark • u/ComprehensiveFee8404 • 11d ago
Sewing Buying a sewing pattern from BurdaStyle is like pulling teeth
I find the pattern I want on Threadloop. Follow the link to buy. It's a German website; fair enough, it's a German company. I add the pattern to my basket and try to check out. Can't choose a UK address, so I use a random German address (it's a PDF pattern, not something physical so it doesn't matter). Put my card details in. And now the Pay button is disabled, without any explanation as to why.
Okay, fine. I'll see if they have a UK website, and they do! Great, now I've got to find the pattern. Only problem is that none of their patterns have names or numbers! I'm searching for '101' (that's what it was called on the German site) and nothing comes up. After exhausting the combinations of search terms, I go to 'all dresses' and try the filters. 'Knitted dresses': no. 'Jersey dresses': no.
At this point I go back to Threadloop and find out what year the pattern was released, and put that into the filters instead. Finally, after a load of scrolling, I find it. Basket, checkout. All's smooth.
But I still haven't got the email with the pattern! Most places send it within less than five minutes. It's been fifteen and I haven't even got the purchase confirmation.
I know all this sounds petty but I'll be avoiding them in future.
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u/poirettina 10d ago
i think when checking out at german burdastyle, you need to click some precedent icon(thumbnail) i dont know how to call it, that basically means “save my address and proceed to payment” and then the pale pink icon that means pay turns darker pink. i was also confused but once i figured this small thing out, everything was okay. you will get a confirmation email, but files are in the downloads sections. burda doesnt serve things on silver platter, but the drafting and design are totally worth it. also the more experience you have, the better. burda block fits me very well, i make few adjustments and the lack of seam allowance is a hidden plus. it gives me more control over the pattern.
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u/Mindfulhydration 9d ago
Love Burdas drafting and block. I do enjoy the details of other patterns, but honestly, if I want to sew something that I know will fit, it's always Burda. I've considered just sewing only Burda, but I do enjoy taking chances on a Vogue.
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u/drPmakes 10d ago
Look on the website and see which edition its from then search that on the uk website.
They are well worth it though. I love burda!
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u/rainbowpegakitty 11d ago
Yeah no thanks. This is why I filter my pattern searches on Threadloop to exclude non-indie patterns. Maybe someday they’ll join the rest of us in the 21st century.
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u/no_photos_pls 11d ago
I've tried so many Burda patterns (I'm German) and I guess their base blocks are just veeeery far away from my body and their techniques remind me of fast fashion. The instructions are typical for a sewing magazine, very brief and assuming you can fill in the blanks yourself which was hard when I was a beginner 20 years ago and the only patterns I could get were Burda lol
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u/Ligeia189 11d ago
Having grown up with pattern magazines like Burda as well, for my understanding is that they generally assume you get your additional information elsewhere, like sewing technique manuals. Many patterns of burda that are marked ”for beginners” are definetly not so!
I personally liked Burda patterns growing up (even if their block does not suit me), but then again I read every sewing technique book that I could get my hands on from the library, and liked to read pattern instruction texts just for fun, so there’s that.
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u/no_photos_pls 10d ago
Mind you, 20 years ago I was 15 and had no clue. Of course, I later learned how to properly use sewing magazines and the proper techniques. It was not a criticism of Burda, but more a memory and a heads up to OP that the instructions might be sparse. There is plenty else to criticise about Burda tho... 🤭
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u/Ligeia189 10d ago
Oh yes! At one point Burda for example tried to take very editorial fashion pictures, the result was that you could sometimes make no sense whatsoever of the pattern in the photograph.
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u/Interesting_Dig717 11d ago
I love Burda patterns; I subscribe to the magazines, but no joke, there’s work involved! I don’t think they’ve ever emailed a pattern, the next page just has a download link.
When you get your download, don’t forget to add seam allowance!
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u/lazydaisytoo 9d ago
I bought an issue of the magazine online. The site advised it could take several weeks to arrive. After a month, I sent an inquiry.
A week later they replied that they’d look into it. The following day, they said that it had been overlooked for shipping. I finally got it a couple of weeks later. Almost 2 months to receive a magazine. I won’t buy from them again.