Back when Burda revamped their website a few month ago, a bunch of their free pattern downloads disappeared from the German website (which had always had more free downloads than the English one). I read on a German sewing discussion board that Burda was planning on discontinuing free pattern downloads altogether. Sad!
Well, it looks like things have changed! Burda has been releasing a few free patterns for download from the magazine (appears to be at a rate of about once a month thus far) as a “Perwoll-Wohlfühl-Look,” which I’ll translate (perhaps incorrectly) as “Perwoll Comfort Look,” with Perwoll apparently being a detergent brand. Any detergent that sponsors free sewing pattern downloads is cool in my book. I bet it keeps your whites whiter and your colors brighter too.
Look at the gorgeous pattern that’s now available for download (this one is from the May 2009 issue):
I’ve seen this one made up a bunch of times and it’s gorgeous. And if you didn’t happen to buy the 5.2009 issue, well, it’s your lucky day! And yes, since you’re probably wondering, the instructions are in German. But surely with so many blog posts written about this pattern, you can piece it together, right? :)
There are a couple more cute freebies (not really my style, but could look great on you!):
You can find all of the downloads here. Have fun and here’s hoping for more great Burda freebies in the future!
The Selfish Seamstress 
20 comments
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March 25, 2010 at 5:26 pm
Rachel
Thanks for that link. Is the sizing on the Burda Coffee Date dress the same as BWOF sizing?
March 25, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Beth
thank you for the post. love your blog. I have been craving this pattern although I have never tried a Burda. It is sorta similar to Vogue 1117 Michael Kors dress which I already have in my ever growing pile of potential patterns. I clicked over to the Burda and the German scared me. Now if it was in Italian – then I would give it a whirl! Grazie.
March 25, 2010 at 6:12 pm
Angela
Thanks for the link! Another pattern to add to my ever-growing stash!
March 25, 2010 at 8:16 pm
spottedroo
I don’t know see how you were able to resist the free one-arm pirate costume.
March 25, 2010 at 8:17 pm
fangaroni
Thanks for the link! I’ve been pondering getting the May issue for that dress and others.. but now I don’t have to! If anyone wants to try getting the patterns – it is a bit tricky because you have have to register for burda’s german website (burdastyle.com username and password don’t work). And then there is a checkout process where you have to put in your address and they will send you a bill. So I kind of feel bad for putting a nonexistent address, but the bill is for $0, so I don’t feel that bad…
March 25, 2010 at 8:40 pm
fangaroni
Edit: Ackkk noo. Actually you can get the May 2009 dress by clicking on the “Technische Zeichnung” link, not “Download” so you don’t have to go through the checkout process. I think if you want the older 2 patterns, then you have to checkout.
March 26, 2010 at 12:30 am
Kate in Belgrade
Hey, I use Perwoll! It’s pretty lousy detergent, actually, but the only detergent in Serbia that is made for blacks, colors, and delicates. Well, at least they’re putting their ill-earned profits to good use!
March 26, 2010 at 1:11 am
juebejue
maybe translate google will help with the german:
http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http://www.burdastyle.de/schnittmuster/schnitte-aus-dem-heft/%3Fsortid%3D7&sl=auto&tl=en
March 26, 2010 at 4:45 am
elinoora
Am I the only one who can’t find the pattern? I think I’ve looked at all the patterns on the german website, especially the free ones, but I can’t find it *cries*
March 26, 2010 at 4:52 am
Jana
elinoora, try this: http://www.burdastyle.de/schnittmuster/schnitte-aus-dem-heft/burda-style-04-2010/der-perwoll-wohlfuehl-look_pid_102_4370.html
March 26, 2010 at 5:06 am
Becky
I’m glad that some people have been getting some use out of that black dress pattern–I muslined it as a possibility of a dress to wear to my brother’s wedding last fall, and it looked horrendous on me! The overall look of it made me look like I was dressing a decade older than I am, and trying to get the waist to fit made the pleats balloon out in a very bad way. (I don’t need my hips to look any bigger than they already are!) I may have to check that paisley dress out, though, and see if it’s in an issue I already have or not….
March 26, 2010 at 6:28 am
Dora
Oh muh guh, I love that dress. Thank you!!
March 26, 2010 at 7:02 am
melissa
AAAAAAAHHHH GOD, I’m so scarred by this dress, still! Being free doesn’t make it a good pattern! This is the only Burda pattern in my history of making Burda patterns to not fit. Not by just a little, but by about two whole sizes! Honestly, don’t make it, or if you do, make a muslin, because it’s TINY! I measured – and there’s a half inch of ease at the waist. Run! Save yourselves!
My horrible, anguished tale of woe is here (if it doesn’t allow links- http://www.fehrtrade.com/gallery/293/the-honest-tooth )
(ooh the other downloads, though…)
March 26, 2010 at 7:30 am
Stacey
Elinoora, if you look right above the picture, it says sortieren nach: Change the drop down box to say Aufsteigender Preis (last one on the list). It puts the free ones first.
Just what I didn’t need. More patterns that I absolutely MUST have!
March 26, 2010 at 7:42 am
LisaB
Thanks for letting us know about the downloads change.
I use Perwoll Black Magic and have been quite happy with it, so it’s nice to know some of the moola I spend for it is going towards the downloads.
March 26, 2010 at 8:32 am
Sally
For those in a hurry and/or slow with their German this morning…, click on Aufsteigender Preis and it will sort Price: Low to High, with the freebies listed first.
March 27, 2010 at 4:59 am
Linda L
Thanks for the update on the free patterns at Burda.
March 27, 2010 at 5:02 am
Sar's
ok. can’t read german. can’t read google “german” either. took me all evening to download after randomly clicking all over their website because of the german handicap. BUT i have one burning question – is it sized for a knit or a woven??? – ta
March 28, 2010 at 3:43 am
elinoora
@Jana: thanks! I tried that, and yet it somehow magically didn’t want to come up. It’s now downloaded and under review :) I think I’ll finish the Rooibos Colette pattern before this one, though.
July 8, 2012 at 5:32 pm
Nancy
coming really late to the party but would LOVE to have a copy of this pattern 117! Can’t navigate the German website. If anyone can help me out please email. thank you! It’s not on the English website.