Last September, I discovered Knipmode, the popular Dutch pattern magazine. Marianne, of Foxgloves and Thimbles, wrote a blog post for us about the magazine’s then-recent restyling, which included a newly extended size range for ALL patterns. Unlike Burda, which puts out a small plus size collection each month, Knipmode moved to a model where every pattern comes in every size. Remarkable!
After reading Marianne’s piece, I was sold.
Sure, I didn’t speak Dutch and I had a pathological hatred of tracing patterns, but the designs overcame such quibbles. They were too gorgeous to resist, y’all. More modern and fashion-forward than most commercial patterns, Knipmode’s pages brimmed with interesting seam lines, luxe fabric suggestions, and glamorous silhouettes. After trying two tester issues (09/2015 and 10/2015), I was hooked. Flipping through pages, ogling pretty patterns that actually came in my size, was an addictive experience. Subscription followed soon after.
A year later, I have a stack of Knipmodes on my bookcase and plenty of thoughts about the magazine. Over this post and the next, I’ll examine my year of Knipmode and see how it stacked up. Was it worth the language barrier and subscription price? Is tracing actually as tedious as it seems? After a year of extended sizing, did the designs continue at a high level? Let’s find out!
Subscription Details
If you live outside the Netherlands, subscription is slightly more complicated than filling out Knipmode’s online form. Send an e-mail to their service desk, then someone will work out shipping to your country, additional fees, and set you up with a subscription. With shipping to the US, my subscription cost about $90, or $7.50/issue. That seemed super fair and in line with my budget, especially for 25+ patterns every month.
Once the magazine is sent out, delivery to the States takes an extra week. Typically, I get new issues of Knipmode and new issues of Burda UK on the same day, somewhere in the middle of each month. Three times this year, Knipmode has come wrapped with an additional special issue focusing on a specific theme. They each have a handful of coordinating patterns, with the same sizing as the regular magazine. In addition to a loungewear collection and a cozy autumnal collection, there was also an awesome mini-issue with patterns drafted for three heights: petite, average, and tall.
Select individual patterns can also be downloaded directly from Knipmode’s website in PDF formats, with the original Dutch copy. PDF patterns are not included in the subscription price, however, but can be a good way to try out Knipmode’s drafting and style, before committing to a full issue. They also eliminate the need to trace, though you still need to add seam allowances.
Update: Readers have also located online retailers for the German and French translations of Knipmode, which are titled Fashion Style. For the German version, the website Stoffnest carries the current individual issue. For the French version, you can order current issues and pre-order future issues from Journaux. Both of these websites ship internationally! We’ve also been informed that the Fashion Style versions of these magazines do not come with the special feature mini-issues.
Translation
Over the last year, I haven’t learned to speak Dutch. Surprise!
What I have learned are some handy techniques to make translation much, much easier. First off, if you’re going to order Knipmode and you don’t speak Dutch, download the Google Translate app on your phone. Not only does the app reasonably translate from Dutch to English*, but it also has a handy photo feature. Take a picture of the page you’re reading, highlight the text you want translated, and voila! Instant translation. It’s never perfect, but it’s reliable enough to put things together through context. When flipping through the magazine, this is my go-to translation technique, as it keeps the reading experience moving along.
For patterns instructions, I start with Google Translate, then supplement the results with a Dutch-t0-English sewing glossary. Knipmode has one of their own, but Marianne also directed me a more expansive one through SewingPatterns.eu. Like other pattern magazines, Knipmode’s instructions can be bare bones. This works in our favor, when it comes to translation, because there’s less text to work through! Bright side, kittens.
Honestly, more experienced sewers can also get by without directions, in many cases. After looking at the pattern pieces for two different skirts, I didn’t bother translating instructions for them. The process was fairly obvious, given how many skirts I’ve sewn, over the last ten years. Beginners may need to do more translation work, however.
*And Dutch to almost any language, of course. I also tried it in both French and Spanish, which seemed to have similar translation qualities as English, but I can’t vouch for other languages.
Ease of Use
As Marianne mentioned in her initial post, Knipmode doesn’t include seam allowances and you do need to trace off patterns, before using them. Wait, wait! Don’t run away yet! It’s actually really lovely and nice over here!
Y’all, I am a tracing convert. Knipmode patterns sheets are well spaced out and easy to read, with no more than three colors per page. I don’t spend hours trying to figure out which lines to use or squinting to find my way. If anything, tracing is infinitely faster than printing and taping PDF patterns. Once you have your process down, it’s a cinch.
For me, efficiency takes top priority. I highlight my size on the pattern sheets, cover it with tracing paper, then trace out the pattern using two sharpies taped together. The distance between the two sharpie tips is exactly 1/2 inch, so a seam allowance is automatically added while tracing. Some people prefer a double-edged tracing wheel, or free-handing in seam allowances by sight, but I love a good shortcut. For a skirt or top, tracing and cutting out takes less than thirty minutes. More involved patterns, like jackets or dresses, may take longer.
There are a few things to pay attention to, when tracing out patterns. Like Burda, Knipmode can’t always fit a full pattern piece on their insert pages. Pay close attention to markings, watching out for symbols in the corner that correspond to another piece. This will tell you where to overlap pattern pieces, for the the full pattern. Additionally, Knipmode provides seam line labels. Mark these, so that piecing your final garment together is easier! When translating a pattern, it can be invaluable to know what goes where, ahead of time.
Instruction Quality
Like most pattern magazines, Knipmode’s instructions do not hold your hand. They’re meant for sewers with some experience and previous sewing knowledge. That being said, there is a great pattern technique glossary at the beginning of each instructional booklet, which explains everything from zip insertion to interfacing application. In each issue, there’s also one more complicated pattern that gets full, in-color instructions as one of the articles.
Compared with other pattern companies, I’d say Knipmode gives slightly more information than BurdaStyle, heaps more info than Style Arc, but less than a Big 4 pattern or Indie. If you need a lot of hand-holding, you might want a sewing manual nearby for reference.
The one actual quibble I have with Knipmode’s instructions comes down to fabric suggestions. Knipmode patterns have an index up front, with symbols by each pattern for things like stretch fabric and downloadable patterns. The stretch fabric symbol applies to heavy-stretch knits, light-stretch knits, and stretch wovens, however. Add that to patterns that usually suggest just one fabric (the one pictured on the model) and picking an appropriate fabric takes careful thought. As with everything, muslin with something of similar proprieties to your fashion fabric, so that you know you’ve picked the right substrate.
Sizing
Knipmode provides almost every pattern in sizes from 34 to 54, which covers measurements up to 51.5 – 44.5 – 54 in inches. Patterns are drafted for a height of 172 cm (a little over 5’6″) and a C-cup, for the larger sizes. The patterns have a modern amount of ease, fitting closer to the body than Big 4 patterns.
Based on my own measurements, I take a size 48, blending into a size 50 for styles that fit closely through the hips. The drafting has been true-to-size, with my usual adjustments needed for narrow shoulders and a full bust. I’m taller than average (5’8″) and don’t add any length to Knipmode patterns, which is such a fun change!
Now, you might notice that I said almost every pattern is available in every size. In the last year, there have been a few exceptions to that awesomely inclusive size range. There was a gorgeous lingerie collection, this spring, that was only available in limited cup sizes and measurements. There have also been a few designer collaborations that only went to size 46, cutting out plus sizes altogether. Honestly, though, those cases have been few and far between. For everything I’ve wanted to sew, except for the cute lingerie, the patterns have featured all advertised sizes.
Conclusions
Despite the language barrier and tracing required, I’ve really enjoyed my Knipmode subscription. It’s cost effective, especially considering that (almost) every pattern is available in my size, and really easy to use for a pattern magazine. Beginners may need more help with instructions, but experienced sewers should do well, especially with a sewing glossary or translation app on hand.
Next week, I’ll be back with thoughts on design quality, a breakdown of garments offered, and my own Knipmode projects. In the meantime, let’s talk about magazine patterns! Do you subscribe to any pattern magazines or prefer one publication over another? I’ve noticed that Burda has upped their plus size game, in the last few issues, which will also be a topic of a forthcoming post.
Note: None of the links or products featured in this post are sponsored. My Knipmode subscription was a Christmas gift, courtesy of my lovely mother, and all opinions are my own.
Wow, Mary! How did I miss this post? I’m so happy you found a way to deal with the tracing hurdle. Practice will speed up the process even more. I recently set a timer while tracing a top from Knipmode: 4 minutes and 35 seconds. Not too bad, compared to downloading, printing and taping a pdf! Using the photo feature of the Google Translate app is a brilliant idea but I do wish Knipmode would stop navel gazing and make their website more welcoming for international customers. Or, even better, why not build an international community on Knipmode’s social media platforms!
Marianne, I think they really don’t understand the potential of the international readership…
Yay, I love seeing my beloved Knipmode get such praise here! I’ve only recently picked up shears and needle again, and have already made a few cool dresses! My measurements are way off any chart (5ft4 with 66 inch hips, 44 waist and 49 bust) but with Knip I manage with some grading up at waist and hip, a FBA and a good shortening of the top (have got a short waist as well).
One thing about the height of their block: 172 is actually close to 5ft8! Which is the average height of Dutch women…
Thanks for this – I do read a bit of Dutch and have been toying with the idea of subscribing to Knipmode for practice – you’ve convinced me to go for it!
Great post! That’s so much for work for the love of sewing! I can’t wait to see any finished garments you have made.
Just found this article because… KnipMode has posted a link to it on the Facebook feed 😉
(I’m Belgian, have a Knipmode collection of years up in my sewing room.)
It’s funny, because 1-2 years ago, therer were quite some rumors that KnipMode was in the danger zone of being cut. The publishing company group they belong to, was looking into ‘economizing’ and we all know what that means. Knip survived the cut, and then they restyled the look of the magazine, the instuctions, the feel,… The recent sewing hype helped as well, I suppose. And now this! Who now what will happen if they get an international following 🙂
One question: I always assumed that their patterns are designed for a B-cup? The page ‘Hoe te beginnen’/’How to start’ says (translating here): “You do not have a B-cup? Then adjust the pattern, Check the instructions in the ‘adjusting patterns’ chapter in our manual.”
Thanks so much for commenting, Sabine! I was quite excited to open Facebook, this morning, and see that Knipmode had linked to us. It’s also fascinating to get that bit of local insight into their publishing history. Selfishly, I’m glad that they opted for a redesign, rather than discontinuing the magazine altogether. We are lacking in quality sewing magazines in the States, especially those which include their own patterns, so Knipmode was such a find for me. Even Burda US folded, earlier this year. Hopefully, with more international interest, Knipmode’s sales numbers continue to improve.
As for cup sizes, it’s my understanding that the main block for straight sizes is drafted on a B cup, but for the larger size block, they use a larger cup size, as well. I’m not sure why that’s not in the magazine instructions, but our earlier poster sent them a question asking about the plus size block and was told about the cup size shift. I still perform an FBA every time, though, since even that change doesn’t quite cut it for me! 😉
I was wondering whether you had asked them – the information had to come from somewhere after all!
Vey odd indeed, that they do not mention this in their instructions. Perhaps another nudge is needed 😉
Last year I asked the editors about the cup size Knipmode patterns are drafted for. The initial answer was:”We don’t draft for cup sizes and neither does RTW.” Uhm, okay. Let me rephrase this to: what’s the standard cup size used when drafting the patterns? “B/C is the size of our fitting models.” At the time I assumed is was B for the size 34/44 block and C for the size 46/54 block but maybe it was meant as B/C-ish? Anyway, according to the most recent size charts all Knipmode patterns are drafted for a B cup!
Great post, really interesting!!!
Thank you, Lindsay! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I tracked down the French version of Knipmode. It is published in Switzerland. I emailed Dynapresse and they replied that they do not send to the United States.
Thank you for hunting that down, Brel! It’s a pity about the lack of direct subscriptions to the States.
Thanks for sharing Mary! I spotted the Fashion in Style magazine here in France, and i’ll look out for the next issues! I recently discovered how well Burda Plus patterns fit me, and like most people, tracing is not my favourite thing so I came up with a trick!
I bought 10 sheets of A4 type writer carbon paper, taped them together to get a large sheet, and use it sandwiched between the pattern sheet and my blank pattern paper. I use a tracing wheel to go over my pattern lines, but anything blunt would do ( knitting needle or whatever). it makes the process a lot quicker and a lot easier on my eyes 🙂
Linda, that is such a genius tracing trick! Thank you for sharing! I am definitely going to try that out, as well.
Ahhhh can’t wait for your follow up post, I asked my folks for a subscription for my birthday and the first magazine came a few weeks ago, there were quite a few I loved. Just have to work out the details on tracing. Looking forward to it though!
That is so awesome, Alison! I hope you love your subscription as much as I’ve loved mine! There’s definitely a bit of a learning curve with the tracing and translating, but it’s a really user friendly magazine, once you get your process down. A new issue always makes me giddy!
Also, happy belated birthday!!
Hey Mary!
Just found this post in one of the dutch fb sewing groups i follow 🙂
I can give you an more easy way of pattern tracing. Did not tryed out myself but seen a lot of enthousastic revieuws.
Instead of tracing paper they use someting called “puinzakken” in dutch. It basicly is a very very big ( 65 l) clear see throug plastic bag. Its designed for collecting building debris …..
Its made from thick clear see through plastic, and cheap. It can be found in the hard ware section.
You simpy cut of the bottem off, cut open 1 side and you got a big plastic sheat of tracing paper.
It doesnt tear easely so the patern can easely used multiple times.
Just put it over the patern, take a marker and go!
http://blacklovesgold.nl/naaipatronen-overnemen-snel-en-makkelijk/
What a fantastic idea, Veerle! Thank you so much for sharing! I’ve never heard of someone using plastic as a tracing material, but that’s brilliant. I’m definitely going to the hardware store, this week, it seems!
I’ve barely sewed since 4H club 50 years ago, so I’ve never done anything but cut out the pattern.
When you trace and add seam allowances, what are you tracing with? I tried some of that waxed transfer paper and hated it. I’m still messing with trying to get a sleeve muslin, so I just bought art supply carbon paper, but this is not going to work on nice fabric.
I use medical examination paper, it comes in rolls, is reasonably sturdy and inexpensive. The downside is the width, for bigger pattern pieces you have to do some piecing.
thanks. I’m still confused though. I guess my question is,
how do I transfer the stitch lines to the fabric?
If I understand your question correctly, the same way you would do it with any paper pattern. By your preferred method, tracing paper and a wheel. is mine. The extra step here is creating a paper pattern by tracing the correct lines on the Knipmode sheet. Once you have the pattern traced you’ve created a paper pattern like any other and it’s business as usual.
Thanks so much for the helpful advice, Lynn! I was away this weekend and am just catching up on comments.
Maureen, the tracing in this post that I was referencing was tracing from a magazine pattern sheet. In magazines, the patterns are all on multiple sheets, overlaid on one another, so you have to trace them off first, before even moving to fabric. Once you have the pattern, you have many options. The two most popular are: either place the pattern on your fabric and trace around it with dressmaker’s chalk, cutting out the chalk outlines, or use patterns weights and a rotary cutter to just cut your fabric straight away, with the pattern laying on top. I usually opt for the rotary cutter, unless I’m using really fancy silks or wools.
Thanks for this great review and tips re translating etc – have just downloaded a couple of PDF patterns. One is easy to make without needing the instructions but the other is quite complex with crossover/gathered sections so will be keen to translate. Am just downloading the Google Translate app to my ipad as this will be easier to manage for translating the instructions than my phone. I don’t mind adding the seam allowances as I can customise them to my personal preferences. I was very happy with the cost of the PDF patterns – I think that will be my preferred option rather than a subscription.
I’m so glad to hear this post was helpful, Louise! In my experience, the quality of their PDF patterns is really high, so you should be in good hands. My only complaint is they don’t always offer my favorite designs from the magazine as PDFs. Hopefully, they’re moving to a model with more digital offerings, though. I think they’re a hit for us international sewers, especially!
Happy sewing! Let me know how you like your experience with them.
Thanks Mary, I have jumped straight in and made up KM1606-12-3 dress over the weekend for an upcoming wedding. I found the translation for the instructions a bit off in some sections and relied on experience and intuition to get the shoulder/front twist assembly completed. It did not help that one of the diagrams for the shoulder yoke was incorrectly labelled. Well drafted pattern and my chosen multisize according to their measurement pattern and my knit sloper overlay resulted in a wellfitting jersey dress. I did find this link to dutch sewing glossary after I had finished my garment – will come in handy for future Knipmode patterns. http://www.sewingpatterns.eu/glossary
Ohhh, super interesting. I cannot wait to see your future posts. I’m on the look out for a magazine subscription for my holiday wish list!
This would be such a great holiday gift, Jessica! It’s been a really fun year getting one of these every month. Knipmode always comes in with innovative, modern designs that I’ve rarely seen elsewhere, which makes it a joy to flip through, even in months that haven’t been my style.
I’ve been a Burda sewer for 25+ years and keen to try Knipmode. Lately Burda’s monthly offerings are very repetitive, basically versions of the same pattern if you look closely. They do publish two plus-size collection magazines per year, priced the same as monthly mags ($12 CDN where I live). These offer better value as they are a compilation of what is in the monthly magazines. Not every pattern, but a good selection.
I would say from experience it really pays to note the recommended seam allowances on pieces you cut by measurement or diagram. I’ve run into issues with waistband alignment, cuffs, fly facings. and zipper placements.
I think lack of hand holding instructions makes you a better sewer. I rarely follow instruction unless I run into difficulty and take a more logical approach to garment construction. And I have found some horribly over constructed patterns from the big 4 that just make no sense.
Looking forward to the next installment!
Thank you so much for the insightful comment, Lynn! You’re absolutely right–paying attention to recommended seam allowances is a good practice to employ. I usually skim the directions for any special indication of seam allowances, then go from there, using 1/2 inch if not specified.
If you’re already a Burda user and used to forging your own way with instructions, Knipmode would be a fantastic option for you! The patterns vary in design so much more than Burda’s plus size offerings, in my limited experience. While I still subscribe to Burda and have been happy with some recent collections, you’re spot on. There is a ton of repetition. It’s infuriating, when they have just the one collection per issue, to start with!
I love knipmode. I found out about it after your initial post and I subscribed and I am really happy each month with the new patterns. there is always something i want to sew and usually many more patterns i would like to sew if i had enough time 🙂
i also like ottobre. but knipmode is actually better (as much as i love ottobre!).
I’ve found a German website for the German version of this magazine!
http://www.stoffnest.de/fashion-Style-Mode-zum-Selbernaehen-08-2016-Zeitschrift
Yay! That is so helpful. Thank you, Cary! I’ll add this in an edit to this post, so people can find it easily.
You can also subscribe to the German version here:
http://www.shop.oz-verlag.de/113/?cid=1742
They currently offer three issues for 22.50 Euros and a whole year (12 issues) for 90 Euros (both overseas rates).
The only caveat – as with many magazine subscriptions in Germany – is that they automatically renew unless you give them advanced notice in case you don’t want to resubscribe.
Thanks so, so much for the link and information! I’ll add that to our subscription resources, as well, for German speakers.
I live in the USA, Southern New Jersey near to Philadelphia, PA to be exact. Where might I find this magazine?
Hi Linda! For now, it’s not available in the US, so we have to source it from European websites. Many of the patterns are available as PDF downloads, on Knipmode’s actual website, which can be good if you want to try out their grading and styles, but not commit to a whole issue. You can also buy individual back issues through SewingPatterns.eu. In order to fully subscribe, you must send an e-mail to Knipmode’s customer service department telling them you’d like an international subscription and they’ll get you set up.
As a Dutch girl it’s fun to read a foreigners opinion on the Knip. It’s a real Dutch staple, and along with Burda you can get them in every supermarket. I lend them for free at the library, copy the picture of the item i like and trace the pattern and bring it back. A real cheap way to get a pattern!
The one you mentioned in your post, the one issue with the lingerie, is on my sewing table right now to trace some patterns and bring it back to the library. And i am so bummed that the lingerie is only up to a size 46!! Luckily there are lots more patterns.
Fun fact; Knip means cut/snip. The word “knippen” means cutting (with scissors).
Thanks so much for the lovely perspective and fun language facts, Alieke! I’m over here, green with envy, thinking of your Knipmode-stocked grocery stores and libraries. It’s such a wonderful magazine and well deserving of being a staple publication. Now that they’ve started translating into other languages, I’m secretly hoping English won’t be far behind and we’ll get them in stores, as well.
Also, isn’t it such a shame about those lingerie patterns? After looking at the preview, I had grand plans for those slip sets, but was super disappointed. Luckily, you’re right. They still have heaps of awesome patterns!
I was brought up to always mark the stitching line and to cut a ‘suitable’ seam allowance, to ensure accurate replication of alterations. Hence tracing was a minor extra step when I discovered Burda magazine in the mid 1960s (only in German back then, from specialist foreign language newsagents , which always seemed to be in dodgy parts of town, and peopled largely by sleazy men in dirty raincoats …).
I think I’ve tried most of the European pattern magazines over the years, both as a slender, petite young woman and now as a short fat old one.
My current favourite magazine is La Mia Boutique Taglie Forti from Italy, which only comes out a few times a year (seasonally). Although each garment only comes in a limited range of sizes, and the largest size is not as big as the ‘Taglie Forti’ label might seem to offer, I find the draft is far better suited to my short, stout build, and easy to grade up if necessary. Although I do like Knipmode’s offerings, its drafts, together with those of Ottobre Woman, are ill=proportioned for my short frame.
But I am only 150cm ‘tall’, and the Netherlands has the second-tallest women in the world so it’s scarcely surprising that Knipmode’s draft is unsuited to me … LoL!!!
I must admit to a certain amount of envy of your upbringing, FL! Instead of marking stitching lines and using more careful methods, I was brought up with the cut out paper patterns and quickly sew up something, hoping it fits, method. A lot of my adult sewing has been spent introducing better methods, from not sewing over pins to actually fitting patterns, before sewing them. It seems I’m destined to keep adding steps, like tracing, to my initially short process!
Also, it sounds like we have opposite problems with drafting! I haven’t tried a La Mia Boutique patterns yet, because I read on Paunnet’s blog that they drafted for smaller builds. There’s nothing that makes me feel like a lumbering giant more than trying to redraft a petite pattern! 😀 Would you, perhaps, want to do a La Mia Boutique Taglia Forti review, at some point? Sewing magazines, other than Burda, don’t get reviewed nearly often enough, considering what great resources they are.
Awesone! Followed one of the links and my smart phone translated for me. Definitely would like thus
So glad to hear it! I’ve found that it translates really well, through browser plug-ins and phones. Enjoy!
I’m going to have to look into Knipmode. I already subscribe to Ottobre, and I agree that tracing that patterns isn’t that bad once you get used to it and develop a system. I would also say that, even as a beginner, working with magazine pattern instructions is a really great way to learn. Hand-holding instructions are nice and sometimes necessary when you are a true beginner, but there’s something nice about have spare instructions that force you to seek out other resources and weigh possibilities for how to approach a step. I feel like the things I’ve learned from projects like these are really what have stuck with me and helped me become a more confident and flexible in my sewing.
That is such a great point, Anna! I think everyone is a little different, when it comes to learning styles, but if you’re willing to track down other sources and find support for more complicated steps, using sparser instructions can accelerate the learning curve for beginners and be such a great experience. If you like Ottobre, I think you’d probably enjoy Knipmode, as well. I’ve really loved the designs they’ve put out, over the last year!
Heh, as someone who’s born and raised in the “trace and add seam allowances”-culture this made me smile. I’m so use to tracing my patterns that it’s just one part of the process. Welcome to my world! 🙂
Ha! Thanks for the great perspective, Elina. Not to be a traitor to US patterns, but I think the trace and add seam allowances way is infinitely better than the cutting out a pattern method. It’s nice to keep the original intact and have more flexibility about what size seam allowances to add. I’m (slowly) becoming a convert! 😀
Thank you for sharing your experiences and tips on Knipmode – nice to know there’s another option.
now to overcome my lack of tracing enthusiasm.
You’re so welcome, Wai! I should say, Knipmode also puts some of their patterns for sale online as individual PDFs. They still don’t have seam allowances, but at least you don’t have to trace!
Wonderful review Mary, thank you! Most of the monthly sewing magazines in the UK seem to go no further than an occasional 18-20 UK size with a B cup and to be honest most patterns stop at a 16. I’ve not tried Burda UK yet as I would want to try a single issue first but I’ve never found it (probably snapped up before I or my minions get there!) With the monthlys it’s a mix of garments, kids stuff and home decor, if you’re getting only 3 or 4 garment patterns to have only one of in your size and it needs grading or adjustment is annoying, I don’t have kids and only make for them if gifting or if I’m asked to help make something. “Love Sewing” and “Sew home and style” are the two biggest here and they both follow this format. Love Sewing caters for up to a 20 with at least one pattern each issue, the rest to a 14 or 16, Sew offers a smaller size range (to a 16 usually but I’ve not had an issue for a few months) and both have one paper pattern plus various downloads each issue with Sew having a plus size section on their website. There are newer publications and they spring up all the time it seems and if like me you can’t get to the big newsagent branches is hard to keep up! I’ve heard of Knipmode but didn’t realise a subscription was possible. The cost stacks up darn well compared to other UK magazines and handily I’m very familiar with the Dutch language even though I do not speak much of it. This really sounds like an option for me. Will definitely have a look on a magazine reader app and at their website and I look forward to your conclusion on the patterns.
You can order single Burda Issues, at least from the German website. You can also order their standalone patterns (more instructions) or download their magazines patterns as PDF (don’t know if they come with better instructions than the magazine for the price) if you want to get a feel for the fit.
I am so, so envious of your experience with Dutch, WheelyBad! Knipmode would be a wonderful option for you, given your background, especially. Let me know what you think of it, once you’ve explored a bit more. I’ve looked into Love Sewing, in the past year, and was disappointed to see that their size range was still so limited. One pattern in a size 20 is nice, but all patterns in every size would be infinitely better. Surely, such inclusivity also improves a magazine’s reach and subscriptions numbers.
Also, Dalia’s point about Burda’s digital patterns is a great one. Before I subscribed to them, that’s how I tried their designs out. Taping is a pain, but they’re really well drafted patterns otherwise.
Mary I honestly admire your patience. I am not a fan of PDF to be brutally honest – and annoyingly this means I pass up loads of truly lovely patterns! But tracing AND translating instructions that are skimpy to start with is for sure over my grade of experience and patience. Yet another post by you that truly inspires RESPECT 🙂
You are way too kind, Kathleen! My patience in one area just means that I’m entirely too impatient in another. Paper patterns actually drive me mad, because I’m terrible a cutting the delicate tissue paper correctly. I also feel like not wanting to do all these steps, before sewing, makes so much sense. Every extra hurdle means time you’re doing something else, instead of creating. That can be such a mojo killer, whatever your level of expertise!
Knipmode looks interesting. Do you think you will resubscribe for the next year?
I do, Kate! Next time I’ll go over all the issues/patterns from the last year, but the short story is that I’ve been really pleased with them. It’s always a joy to get a new issues and there hasn’t been one yet that didn’t have at least a few intriguing patterns. Getting Knipmode is actually causing me to rethink my Burda subscription altogether.