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Yikes! I can’t believe I am actually doing this! After my 2020 Sewing Goal #1 post declaring publicly my goal to sew with vintage Burda magazines – I had the incredible task of deciding where to start.

Burda July 1969 Magazine Cover

Many questions abound. Do I start with the oldest chronologically and work through the decades? Or do I start with the 1999 ones and work backward? The patterns sheets on the nineties issues are similar in format to what I am already used to.

Burda 1969 vs Burda 2020
My oldest Burda magazine with my latest – Burda 7/1969 & 2/2020

But then if I start off with the easy ones, will my activation energy still be present by the time I get to the oldest ones? The pattern sheets on the sixties, seventies, and eighties magazines are scary!

I can almost hear you thinking – “Start with the familiar ones!”. And that would make sense but here’s the problem – I tend to have the most energy to put into something when I embark on it i.e. my activation energy.

Whenever I am stuck in loop of thinking – I call in the Hila expert – my husband. We discussed the dilemma and he clearly pointed out that my best chance of success was to start with the hardest thing as I tend to be the most obstinate at the initiation of a project (his words not mine). I deferred to him.

Hence, here we are with the oldest Burda sewing magazine in my collection – July 1969! Proudly won on an eBay auction! Scroll on for more pictures.

Burda July 1969 Browsethrough Video

#sewvintageburda2020

1969 Vintage Burda Pictures

A few observations worthy of note –

  1. Burda used to be a much bigger magazine! Just look at one of the pictures where my Burdastyle 2/2020 is sitting on top of the 1969 one.
  2. Burda used to be a full-on womens interest magazine along with home decorating, hair care articles and recipe cards.
  3. Burda used to have A LOT of patterns in each issue. I am staggered by the number of sewing patterns. Seriously impressive.
  4. They didn’t do ‘line drawings’ as I know them to be. They were more like fashion sketches but still provided the required detail to make an informed decision.
  5. The styles in there look incredibly well sewn and elegant.
Burda 1969 vs 2020
Vintage Burda pattern sheets vs modern patterns sheets. Which looks easier?
Burda 1969 Pattern SHeet
Burda 1969. I think I need some Dutch courage to trace from this!
Burda 1969 - The Size guide
I will do a separate post after looking at the size guides.
Burda 1969 - The Sewing instructions booklet #sewvintageburda2020
Burda 7/1969 – The patterns you can trace from pattern sheet A.
Burda 7/1969 - Sewing Instructions
Burda 7/69 If you think Burda instructions are scant these days well you haven’t seen these ones from 1969!
Burda 7/1969 8100 in SIze 36, 38/40, 42
Burda 7/1969  Sewing Magazine
There is even a bikini pattern!
Burda 7/1969  Sewing Magazine - SOme lovely sixties styles.
Burda 7/1969  Sewing Magazine - Iconic sixties style
Burda 7/1969  Sewing Magazine - Sixties fabrics are so cool. #sewvintageburda2020
Burda 7/1969 – I’d still buy these fabrics.
Burda 7/1969  Sewing Magazine - cute sixties style shirtdress - for my sewing with vintage Burda goal
Love the shoes here!
Burda 7/1969  Sewing Magazine
Burda 7/1969  Sewing Magazine
Burda 7/1969  Sewing Magazine
How gorgeous is this dress and the styling?
Burda 7/1969  Sewing Magazine
Sixties mode style.
Burda 7/1969  Sewing Magazine
Simple classic lines
Burda 7/1969  Sewing Magazine
Burda 7/1969  Sewing Magazine
Burda 7/1969  Sewing Magazine
Burda 7/1969  Sewing Magazine
Burda 7/1969  Sewing Magazine
I love how elegant these designs are!
Burda 7/1969  Sewing Magazine - BUrda kids patterns
Burda 7/1969 – Even the kids’ sewing patterns are awesome!
Burda 7/1969 – Boys patterns and teens dresses.
Burda 7/1969  Sewing Magazine - Older magazines included food sections with recipe cards.
Burda 7/1969 – Recipe cards!
Burda 7/1969  Sewing Magazine - A look at vintage Burdastyle magazine is fascinating.
Burda 7/1969 – WHats your star sign?

2020 Sewing Goal #1

Hashtags are a necessary form of digital communities – its a way for us to find each other. If anyone wants to join along then please feel free to use this tag as a meeting point.

I’d love to do round-up posts and would love guest posts around sewing with vintage Burda – get in touch if that is something you might be interested in doing.

If you do share something that you make from vintage Burda, i.e. pre-2000 I’d love to be inspired by your make. Drop a link to your post so I can include it in a round-up post.

A sewing challenge with a difference - Sew Vintage Burda 2020.
2020 Sewing Goal Number 1 is to sew using vintage BURDA sewing pattern magazines. Saturday Night Stitch Burda.