Patrones 289 (February 2010)

[Melissa (kaitui_kiwi)]

I thought I’d write a bit of a blog here (I don’t have my own, but I am toying with the idea of starting one) about

something that I got very excited about this week, my Patrones magazine arrived. It’s the second in my first ever 1 year subscription but since the first issue was children’s clothes and I do not have children this magazine
feels like the first all of my own. There seems to be very little information available for Patrones and also La Mia Boutique magazines (which I have also subscribed to), especially for us sewers outside of Europe. So I thought I’d write a little about this issue here to inspire anyone else and help those thinking of subscribing.
Let me know if you are interested, I’ll be happy to post info on future issues as I get them.

(Click on any images to see full-sized)

There is a lot to like in this issue but considering we have just been through a heat wave where our weekend
temperatures barely dropped below 42 degrees Celsius (and my air-con was broken) it’s no wonder I am drawn first off to 4 amazing summer dresses.

I am currently sewing the Butterick 5454 wrap dress, my first wrap dress ever so I love this sophisticated version
and I hope I can find some similar amazing fabric to make my own version of this dress (#10) on page 12.

I also love this shift style dress (#11) on page 13, I’ve seen some lovely light linen that is perfect for it.
Even though I am not sure about the style suiting my figure I can also see it as a dress to pull over the bikini at the beach or beside the pool.

This fabric is haunting me. I first saw it at my local Spotlight and hummed and hawed over buying it. It’s aprinted satin with insects all over, from butterflies to locusts, in the end Iworried it was a bit weird for me and left it behind. Since then I have seem iton a curiously similar dress on Gok’s Fashion Fix and now in this Patronesmagazine! Needless to say it’s no longer at Spotlight so guess I’ll have tohope it comes back in next season. I’ve been after a cute halter maxi dresspattern for a while to make up in a printed cotton I got when I visited home(Wellington, NZ - fabric is the best souviner) last year so this dress (#12) on page 15 is on my list too,although it looks like I’ll need to get hold of one of those fantastic “U” brasfirst, phew, that bust line is seriously low!

I love this dress’ bodice (#15) on page 20, the pleating looks wonderful and I love the empire cut, and it’s the kind of dress that could be in a casual summery fabric like it is shown here or made up in something a bit sparkly with some wonderful heels to become an evening
dress.

As with Burda the Patrones magazine has a Plus sized section also, I really like this dress (#67) on page 50, thecute wrap style belt and pleated front looks very flattering and has meconsidering trying to grade it down to my size.
Overall I am super pleased with this magazine issue and I am also looking forward tonext month, it is a Joven issue ("Young") and the last one I saw at a club meet wasfull of patterns that I liked also. They give us a little peak of the cover inthe back, the blouse looks sweet and it looks like the beach in the background

so perhaps some more fun summer styles? We'll see...

Hope you enjoyed reading my post,

Mel xx

[Gergana Slavcheva]

Hi, you are right about the Patrones magazine, it a great one! In Bulgaria it is easier to find it but we still get in a bit late. That issue is is wonderful. I was very pleased to see the the new one is on the market already from your next blog! You've done a very good job!

[Melissa (kaitui_kiwi)]

Hi Melissa, it was actually your blog that got put me on the trail of the Patrones magazine, so thank you. It was a desperate internet search to find a good price to Australia, I got a 1 year subscription direct with the publisher because there is only one newsagent in all of Perth who gets it in, but they only get in 2 magazines and they are 3 months behind. It is very hard to find even the Burda mag here in Australia, and they are so over priced. I enjoyed reading your review too, it's interesting to see which different patterns we chose. Since writing I've picked out a few more to add to my mental list. I just got the next issue and you are right, a bit more skimpy, lots of short shorts but here in WA that is perfect for us, not sure if my legs are ready though! :)

[Melissa Fehr]

oh what a coincidence! I just did a rundown of this same Patrones issue on FehrTrade.com yesterday. I also really liked that purple dress, but I scanned a bunch of other photos, too. I usually stop buying Patrones during the summer because the clothes get SO skimpy for their hot climate that I could never ever wear them in English summers...

[ShereeSews]

Mel - That was nice coverage of the magazine. Good luck with your startup group. My new club has met once in Feb and 3 people attended. I was very pleased. Our second meeting is late April. I hope we grow by doubling in size!