Carolyn Williams

English 111

June 2000

The World of Sewing and Fashion

Searching through periodicals to find something that sparks your interest is not very difficult when it comes to sewing.� Just looking at clothing and the current styles can be found practically in any magazine, since in most of them, people are clothed.� I just enjoy picking out details on a shirt or suit that make each garment unique or different from the typical garment on the rack.���  That is why, from the many periodicals available, I find Burda and THREADS magazines to be very useful.

Verlag Aenne Burda & Company in Offenburg, Germany publishes Burda magazine monthly.� It is made available by subscription in the United States by GLP International in Englewood, New Jersey.� Annual subscriptions are $60 and $33 for half the year.� Like most fashion magazines, it has the fitness and beauty, recipes, crafts and horoscope sections, but Burda has features that are not found in other magazines.� There are little to no advertisements in this magazine.� This indicates that Burda is self-sustaining and does not rely on advertisers for its existence.�

Burda magazine includes the pattern pieces for all of the featured garments within its cover each month.� I thought this was great, especially when patterns can cost anywhere from $1.99 to $32 in price.� Each garment is coded with one to four dots, indicating the degree of difficulty; one dot is the easiest and four dots is more advanced.� There is a guide on how to duplicate these patterns at the front of the section entitled "Simple Sewing System."� Burda suggests tracing the pattern pieces in the size needed so the pieces maintain their integrity.� They also include how much should be added for hems and seam allowances and how to estimate how much fabric to buy.� This section also includes how to take measurements to ensure a proper fit.� Everything is metric, so it's important to either use this system or convert everything to inches (35-66).�

Burda also has its share of special stories.� A two-part series called the "Burda Design Story" was run in the May and June 1998 issues of Burda featuring the top ten German fashion designers.� The mini-articles briefly told how each designer got his or her start, a brief segment about the company and included one of their designs for the summer.� Articles such as this, I find most interesting.� Someday that could be me.

Threads magazine is published bi-monthly by Taunton Press, Inc. in Newtown, Connecticut.� It can be purchased in fabric and book stores for six dollars an issue, or for those who would like to subscribe, it can be purchased for $29.95, six issues.� This magazine is clearly "for people who love to sew."� Threads features sections on new detail techniques, fit and fabric, sewing techniques, designs and the typical departmental section containing letters, questions and tools of the trade.� The advertisements that are included clearly have the sewer in mind.� Sewing machines, irons, fabrics and any other tool that could make the job any easier have been advertised.� This magazine contains articles for the novice seamstress, but the bulk of their articles address the experienced sewer.� In the July 2000 issue, there were instructions on how to properly sew in a zipper (14), but there were also details on how to embellish or decorate a hand-sewn zipper (45).� On the back cover of every issue, Threads boosts some particular design detail.� Instructions are always included in the current issue.� On the back cover of the September 1997 issue, there is a shawl featured with long-stemmed, black feathers.� The feathers are attached with thread and glue to make them appear to be in constant motion in a gentle breeze (74).�� Tailoring techniques with step-by-step instructions can also be found.� Completing a sleeve cap, welt pockets and inserting a lining are typical of the types of articles described in Threads.

Both of these magazines offer an abundance of information.� I have found that the Burda magazine offers a broader spectrum of the fashion trends currently available in the United States.� Some of their fashions for this year may not be seen here until next year.� This magazine is not for the novice sewer.� Burda patterns do not normally include seam allowances and these have to be added; otherwise the garment will be too small.� Making one of these garments would be more time consuming than the traditional garment.� Threads has information on how to customize a garment for all levels of sewing experience.� It tends to focus more on details and embellishments to make a garment look more professional.��

I have subscribed to both of these magazines, and though I enjoy both of them, I would have to select Threads as my favorite.� Detail takes time to accomplish, but Threads takes the time to give you the information you need.� The idea behind this is to not only make a garment from a pattern but also make it the best and in the most unique way possible.� Nobody wants to make a garment that looks homemade.� Threads has enough techniques for that not to happen.

Works Cited

"Burda Design Story." Burda. May 1998: 75-80.

"Burda Design Story." Burda. June 1998: 65-71.

Khalije, Susan. "The Embellished Zipper." Threads. July 2000: 45-47.

Percy, Celeste. "Sewing in a Zipper." Threads. July 2000: 4-16.

"Simple Sewing System." Burda. June 1998: 35-66.

Timmons, Chris. "Details on 'In Detail'." Threads. Sep. 1997: 74.

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