Replies

1. 
   Betty_Kershner | Sep 19, 1999 11:07am | #1

   *
   I prefer sewing Vogue patterns, especially harder ones. The directions are much better then the other pattern co. But I also use the other major pattern co. I refuse to use the "easy" patterns. Not enough style.

1. 
   somiss | Sep 19, 1999 03:54pm | #2

   *I prefer butterick as they seem to fit my "seniors" figure.Also, I find they have less fitting problems for me.

1. 
   Julia_Fletcher | Sep 21, 1999 11:53am | #3

   *I nearly always seem to choose Butterick as the styles jump out at me from the catalogue. I can find patterns for myself and my children that are interesting and wearable (not too wacky). Having said that, I chose a Vogue jumper pattern this week because it had darts and waist shaping whereas the Butterick ones were more baggy and shapeless.I never buy Simplicity or Style (not enough style!)I also try to avoid "Easy" patterns whenever possible because I prefer a more fitted look.

1. 
   Dot | Sep 22, 1999 12:18am | #4

   *I have found that McCalls fit me better than any other because I have wide shoulders. I have never been able to wear Vogue because they are always too tight across the shoulders.Another brand, Burda, is becoming very special to me too as the pants have the best fit and the styles and fit is very true. Not everyone carried them though. JoAnn's is now selling them 50% off -- but the book is not the large full-size book that independent fabric shops carry.

1. 
   cathi_chambley-miller | Sep 22, 1999 07:04pm | #5

   *I, too, like the fit of McCalls. But, I'm finding that the styles are not usually forward enough for me, except in their NYNY line. Butterick don't fit me well, slanted shoulders, high back neck, tight shoulder fit, narrow hip, funny armscyes. Vogue don't fit great, but the styles are so fabulous that I have to buy them and alter them. I adore Style and New Look patterns for the fit. Burda pants are very nice, once you understand them, but the styles of most Burda stuff is yucky to me, bland, repetitive, and derivative. (yes, I recognize I'm in the minority, but there you go...) Plus, Burda shoulder slope is bizarre to me, very rounded and sloping. That said, I buy some of everything (even Simplicty now that they are doing Retro and Millenium lines) and alter them to fit. I do a combination of alterations, mostly slash and spread and Rasband's seam method (okay, mostly slash and spread) I don't do pivot and slide, it doesn't work for me. You have to learn to alter your patterns, but start small, such as alter for bust width and placement first. Then, also alter for square or sloping shoulders, and go on from there (just MHO.)-ccm

2. 
   cathi_chambley-miller | Sep 22, 1999 09:53pm | #6

   *I, too, like the fit of McCalls. But, I'm finding that the styles are not usually forward enough for me, except in their NYNY line. Butterick don't fit me well, slanted shoulders, high back neck, tight shoulder fit, narrow hip, funny armscyes. Vogue don't fit great, but the styles are so fabulous that I have to buy them and alter them. I adore Style and New Look patterns for the fit. Burda pants are very nice, once you understand them, but the styles of most Burda stuff is yucky to me, bland, repetitive, and derivative. (yes, I recognize I'm in the minority, but there you go...) Plus, Burda shoulder slope is bizarre to me, very rounded and sloping. That said, I buy some of everything (even Simplicty now that they are doing Retro and Millenium lines) and alter them to fit. I do a combination of alterations, mostly slash and spread and Rasband's seam method (okay, mostly slash and spread) I don't do pivot and slide, it doesn't work for me. You have to learn to alter your patterns, but start small, such as alter for bust width and placement first. Then, also alter for square or sloping shoulders, and go on from there (just MHO.)-ccm

3. 
   Kelley_Dean-Crowley | Oct 23, 1999 04:07am | #7

   *There is an even more value conscious way to buy patterns....Burda does a magazine each month...one year US$60 to your front door...that can also be found in better newstands. The magazine is like a pattern catalog with all of the latest...and I mean latest styles from a particular city of the world frankfurt, milan etc. They then include these patterns in the magazine on one large sheet. To use it, you trace the pattern onto paper, add seam allowances and cut. The directions are not as clear and pictorial as the other pattern companies, but may not be necessary for some. The bonus is that they also include clothes for babies, children and men, which I have gone back to for gifts. I would not normally purchase these patterns at all. Kind of nice to browse my own pattern catalogs for anything that I mihgt need. I also find that Burda does tend to fit better as it is a European company. Better cut to crotches and armscyes.

4. 
   silkscape_ | Nov 11, 1999 06:58am | #8

   *I am also a greaet fan of burda patterns and subscribe to the monthly pattern magazine. The fit is superior. Directions can be hard to understand until you have the cut pieces in your hand to manipulate, but the directions are also more modern, incorporating industry techniques that domestic pattern companies don't. I also like Vogue for unbeatable style. I find McCalls often baggy through the neck and upperarmscyes.I've also had good experiences with smaller companies like Kwik-Sew.I don't usually like the "easy" patterns. They are often shapeless, and I do doubt there are many of us who could obtain decent results in the time stated.

5. 
   Solveig_ | Nov 16, 1999 11:18pm | #9

   *Glad to hear someone else found McCalls patterns baggy in the neck and upper armcy. I recently made an evening gown using a McCall pattern. Fortunately I cut out a test garment first. The upper-back piece was extremly baggy. I had to reduce the width 2" to get a proper fit!My favourit patterns are Burda and Vogue. Burda for the great fit and Vogue for the style (and good fit). For years living in Sweden I used almost exclusively Burda. But I got a bit bored with the style. Vogue patterns were too expensive for my budget patterns are never on sale in Sweden. I have found a few New Look patterns I really like too.

6. 
   PatR_ | May 16, 2000 05:57pm | #10

   * subscribed a year or two ago to Burda magazine. it comes with patterns included. it is a real project as the patterns are printed 4 to a sheet in 4 colors and you must trace off the one you want. also the method text is brief so you end up doing some experi-menting . but the patterns work terrifically for me. i sew mainly for a daughter in business and she was known as the best dressed hoteliere in the islands. since she returned to the mainland, fitting is easier; the text is translated from german so sometimes it's a bit stilted, but the patterns are great and look 'runway'.

7. 
   Erin_Mosher | Jul 28, 2000 05:47am | #11

   *Honestly, most all of these pattern companies irritate me in one way or another. They all have their good and bad points, I will say I do think that simplicity is the worst. I would like to see a pattern company that outlawed those cheesy neck and armhole facings, they look so home sewn and unprofessional. I am always changing the necks and arms on my patterns, because of this problem. I sew alot for my husband, he absolutely loves it and I am realizing the pattern industry is shaped mainly around women and little girls. I wish one of these pattern companies would grab a hold of the idea that many of us women sew for men, and we need top industry patterns to clothes these hunks. That would save me alot of time, I really don't like prototyping patterns and it seems I always have to, to make the cool things my husband wants.

8. 
   Kristin_M | Sep 26, 2000 11:37pm | #12

   *I have almost switched entirely to on-mainstream pattern companies like Purrfection and Design and Sew. The designs are different from RAW clothes and have interesting lines. As a person with a full-figure, the patterns are multisized and the sizes mean what they say. The patterns also have good directions and generally give ideas on other ways to use their patterns. I buy them in an independent fabric store or right off the web. They are more expensive (about $12 per pattern), but I tend to use them over and over. When I buy a pattern from JoAnn's or Haycock, I reach for Vogue or Butte rick first. McCalls is my third choice and Simplicity is my absolute last choice. I don't like their directions. I now base a lot of my pattern buying off of the pattern review in Threads. I have had luck with many of their suggestions.

9. 
   Sally_Askew | Nov 26, 2000 01:41am | #13

   *I prefer the Butterick patterns because they sew up quick and easy and are shaped to fit me instead of my refrigerator!!! Vogue patterns are good too but only if you select a style that has no waistline hugging....vogue waistlines are as unreal for real women as Malibu Barbie's!

10. 
    Joanne_Burnett | Dec 31, 2000 12:48am | #14

    *Each pattern company has an ideal' body shape that they design for and it varies. Buy your patterns to fit your neck and shoulders. The rest can be altered. I am partial to Vogue patterns. Their directions are more inclusive, and they are the only major pattern company to date who have made any attempt to address the changes to the 50+ body. Sandra Betzina's patterns are a step in the right direction. There are an increasing number of independent companies that offer interesting designs and fit real bodies. I like Dane Eric son's Revisions designs. Part of the fun and creativity of sewing is being the designer.

11. 
    Crish_Hart | Jan 08, 2001 02:22am | #15

    *I tend to use Vogue most often because of styling and instructions. However I use all standard commercial American and European and independents if they have a design I admire.One comment re fit of the various companies: Too many of us use the wrong pattern size. RTW sizing and pattern sizing are not the same. RTW hangs on vanity sizing, patterns deal with reality. Check your real measurements against the pattern size guide. Then refer to the ease charts (printed in the back of Vogue and Butterick counter books. Finally, check the finished garment measurements printed on the actual pattern pieces. The first line of the garment description on the pattern envelope includes a line describing the fit - close fitting/semi fitted/fitted/loose fitting/very loose fitting. Use that information to compare your real measurements + fitting ease from the chart against the finished measurement on the pattern piece. To get the look as illustrated on the pattern envelope, cut the size that matches your real + ease. It's only a number and we don't print that number on our chest. No one will know that you cut a 16 pattern but buy a 12 in RTW unless you tell. It's amazing how well things fit/hang/drape when the right size is chosen.

12. 
    Karla_Kizer | Jan 18, 2001 04:41am | #16

    *Have any of you used KwikSew patterns? Although the styles are not "cutting edge", the lines are simple, the construction techniques are very straight-forward, and the possibilities for embellishing and/or altering the designs are endless. I have quite a few KS patterns that I bought because my 18-year-old and I both liked the style, making them quite a bargain. Best of all: the fit is great. There's no excessive ease, the shoulder width (my personal fitting problem)is reasonable, and the mufti-size lines provide opportunity to fine-tune the fit even more while you're tracing the pattern. I usually trace precisely between 2 sizes to get the fit I like. The patterns are so well-drafted that I still wind up with all the pieces fitting together perfectly. KS men's and kids patterns are great, too. Once again: they FIT.

13. 
    Lynn_Gendron | Feb 04, 2001 05:21am | #17

    *A great site for mens patterns in Vogue, Butterick, Simplicity and McCalls, New Look and Style patterns is at http://www.monsterpatterns.com. Hope this helps.

14. 
    Colleen_Writt | Jul 17, 2001 01:26am | #18

    *My current favorite patterns are New Look, the sizing is very true tothe body measurements. I have some very tried and true SimplicityPatterns, and have never for some reason been happy with McCalls.They just seem to come out too large, and I always go carefully by the body measurements when choosing size. Vogue seems to always add somefussy touch or technique I don't need, and are sized for the tall and wiillowy. I really dont buy many new patterns, but I do look in the pattern books for style ideas. I know enough to change and restylepatterns, once I have a nice fit.

15. 
    Marie_Hoge | Aug 25, 2001 01:14am | #19

    *I like Vogue patterns above others, because:1) their designs are so much nicer than the other patterns2)they have a grading for their patterns based on difficulty3)they pre-determine what body shapes the pattern most suitsMy next favourite is New Look, the designs are fun and they are cheap!Marie

16. 
    Judith_DeZalia | Nov 13, 2001 06:13pm | #20

    *This was a great discussion! I'm an experienced novice at sewing meaning I've been sewing for years with all kinds of patterns but never gotten into the finer points of sewing until recently. For me the narrow shoulders of Butterick are fine; in all companies at one time or another directions have made me confused and disoriented and ultimately unhappy. (There's a half-finished dress in my closet that I started for my daughter's wedding made from a Vogue pattern that just wouldn't fit right!) I've come to rely on the advice of Sandra Betzina referring to one of her books before starting or during a project. Fitting and measuring before cutting is SO important. You're right--no one sees the size we made! It's only a number anyway!

17. 
    Wendy_M | Nov 13, 2001 09:52pm | #21

    *Really, other than style, there is no way to tell another sewer which pattern company will fit them better. We are all so different in body shapes. I am tall, broad in the shoulders, slim in the hips, with a straight waist and a protruding tummy. The patterns that work for me would require an awful lot of alterations for someone who was 5 ft. tall, small on top and round in the hips. Therefore, I think the best thing to do is to know your figure and its needs (I like Gale Hazen's croquis method). Then you can use patterns from any company without fear.

18. 
    Jacinta_Cullen | Dec 03, 2001 04:46am | #22

    *http://www.purrfection.com/links/patterns.htm. The jackpot of non-mainstream.

19. 
    Lee_A. | Dec 04, 2001 05:24pm | #23

    *I used to love burda patterns when they were made without the seam allowances. I liked them because the styles were a little different from the Big Four American patterns. The fit was better for my plus size figure (especially pants) and they were easy to alter. The construction methods in the instructions were a little more detailed, but gave great results. Since the seam allowances have been added, the patterns seem to be "watered down". I still like burda enough to wish they were more readily available.