Patrones!

This is the fabulous item I got in the mail yesterday! Tany sent it to me from Portugal, as they're hard to get in the US. She had posted some pictures from the current issue as potential future projects and got me interested. After some checking I found out that Patrones isn't available in the US at any reasonable price. At least not in my area. At any rate, Tany was gracious and kind enough to pack up a copy and send it to me.

The whole magazine is in Spanish, but I've been able to pick my way through some of it - enough to figure out how it all works. It is similar to Burda in that there is a section of large pattern sheets attached to the magazine and there's a section on how to construct each garment. I'm not sure how well the directions read, but I've sewn Marfy (with no instructions) so it shouldn't be a problem.

The sizing is interesting. The actual size numbers, such as "38" or "40" are different from Burda's. The measurement proportions, are roughly similar. For example, Burda's size 36 is for a 84cm bust, 66cm waist and 90cm hip. Patrones' similar size (a 38) is for a 84cm bust, 62cm waist, and 90cm hip. Notice the only difference is the waist, as far as the straight measurements. This is especially interesting to me as I have an hourglass figure and always take in the waists of everything I make. Even my Easter dress could have been 2" smaller in the waist, but I left it alone.

This particular magazine has only sizes 40, 44 and 48 printed as patterns. If I'm translating the instructions right, they indicate that you could make a size 42 by making a new line inbetween sizes 40 and 44. You could also make a size 38 or 50 by figuring out how much smaller or larger to make the pattern based on the spacing between the already printed sizes. It's a little more work than American patterns, but it is a good test of measuring, drafting and fitting skills.

Enough of the technical and on to my picks from the magazine's patterns. There are a lot of cute things in this issue, so I'll only post a few!

This suit jacket is cute - it's a smaller, closer shape which I prefer as a petite (there was a red suit on the facing page, but I just can't post *everything*, so maybe another time!)

I really like both of these suits - they both have a defined waist and pleated skirts:


This dress is a winner for me - it has a crossover top, but ties to define the waist:

These two tops caught my eye, the top picture was actually the first picture I saw when I opened the magazine. The color is fantastic and I like the halter style and sequins.

This jacket is my style - there's a lot of topstitching and details you can't see in this picture - I'd have to find just the right fabric, though:

I've saved the best for last, Patrones showed this style in red:


[You'll have to excuse the pictures - I was going to scan the pages in at work during my free hour and my laptop wouldn't even turn on today. We think there's a problem with the battery or AC adaptor/charger. It actually turned on this afternoon after I was already engrossed in another project. ]

Now, I promised a picture of the chainlink top, but I think I'll post about that tomorrow - the Patrones is a post all unto itself!

Parting Shot: This is what I was doing with some students when my laptop finally decided to work. I'm in charge of decorating the gymnasium for the graduation banquet. Every year there's a new theme (sort of like prom), and this year it's a tropical theme. We're cutting bamboo blinds and using the pieces to wrap around the hurricane lamps and putting a large candle inside for part of the center pieces. I was thinking of getting real bamboo to make candle holders, but my mom (a long time teacher) suggested cutting apart the blinds.

Tomorrow night is the fashion show, so I'll have pictures to post on Friday. The only bad thing is that we have 6 to 10 inches of snow (yes, you read it right: SNOW) predicted for tomorrow. The roads should be clear by tomorrow night. Tomorrow I'll be sewing for clients and might get to work on the chainlink dress, too.