Thursday 29 January 2009

Something for the Weekend

Have you been to THIS amazing website?? It's the Burda World of fashion website. There are free patterns, tips and projects galore, including how to cover glass cases, like this:


How to make stars and accessories like this:


how to make flowers like this:


And a whole host of other free 'how to's. There are more downloadable patterns than you can shake a needle at including this beauty which is copied from a 1954 original:

And there are free patterns too, including this delicious bag which also has a skirt and belt pattern included:


There are creative ideas for the home, and gift ideas, which even if you dont want to download (many of them are free anyway), you can glean shedloads of inspirational ideas from!


And as if that wasn't enough to keep you hogging the internet for good few hours, there are also pages on how to knit, how to crochet (I am probably the only person around here who doesn't know how to do either), how to lay a pattern and cut it, advice on fabric, sewing techniques, other essential tips and tricks, and fashion history and sizing guides!

Related is another, open source website, called BurdaStyle. Also brimming with tips, tricks, pictures, patterns and more. Here you can even learn how to convert your patterns into PDF files using Gimp or Photoshop!!

Happy surfing!


9 comments:

Veronica Darling... said...

I don't know how to crochet either! I forgot Burda would have instructions!

I wanna make little toys!

Kitty said...

Oh wow - that's a brilliant resource. Thanks for the tip off! x

Indigo Blue said...

My new Sew Hip mag has just arrived and it is reviewing some books, there are a couple of pattern cutting books there too.
I am going to look at the links as I am always looking for ideas for GCSE. I was just about to post this comment when Sophie got her finger well and truly stuck in a plastic tube on her toy vacumn cleaner!! Soap , warm water and trying to keep a straight face but it came off. Now I will post.

Kathi D said...

Wow, thank you! I will spend a good part of my weekend there!

I haven't knitted for a long time, and when I tried to start again last night, I couldn't remember a thing, so that's the first thing I'll look at.

Anonymous said...

Man! I love the internet. How on earth did I get by without it???

dottycookie said...

Oh my! Who needs Facebook when there's Ravelry for woolly loveliness and now this for fabric?

Thank you for the link - now I just have to make sure I actually stay off the computer for long enough to do some sewing!

Gina said...

Thanks for the link!

Twiggy said...

Fab site Julia. I can't crochet either, keep meaning to start AGAIN!! If I can learn how to do quadratic equations at the age of 36 surely I can learn to crochet :)
Twiggy x

Mrs Moog said...

I'm going to have to investigate that link - I didn't realise Burda had so much lovely stuff!

As for the crochet - my Mum tried many times to teach me and I never quite got it. It really is just a matter of plugging away at it. I decided that as I couldn't crochet properly I'd break my teeth on something small and simple.....and there was born my first ripple blanket!!!

xxx

p.s. word verification - 'disco' - yeah baby!!