For those of you who don't know about Ottobre, I'll give a little run down on differences between it and BWOF.
- Both use pattern sheets you pull out of the center of the magazine. The Ottobre ones are smaller which means there are more things you have to piece together. The jumper I'm working on is a sheath dress. There were two pieces to the front that I had to line up and two for the back. Not really annoying but a little more work. There are two pattern sheets for Ottobre and two for BWOF (although you cut them in half and end up with four). BWOF uses that newsprint material and the Ottobre one is glossy magazine paper. The Ottobre pieces are easier to find because they print the numbers BIG.
- There are fewer patterns in Ottobre. The May 2008 issue has 19 styles. BWOF usually has 25-ish in my size range.
- There are only two Women's issues a year for Ottobre. They also produce four children's magazines per year. BWOF sends out a monthly magazine.
- Ottobre is what I would describe as more "real-life" patterns. They have a lot of casual patterns that you could really live in. It seems like the BWOF patterns are more "dream-land-party" styles. Sometimes when I look at BWOF I see really low necklines and high hemlines. Very cute but sometimes not totally practical for my teacher-mom lifestyle. Don't get me wrong. I heart BWOF but sometimes they are a bit too much for my life. Would I like to have a life like that? Sometimes. Is my life like that? Nope.
- The Ottobre magazine uses real women for their models. BWOF uses, well, you know, leggy, tall, thin models.
- Working on my first Ottobre I have found what I am sure is a drafting error. I am making the jumer pattern #7 and the two notches on the side don't line up. If you line them up, the bottom of the armhole doesn't line up. And there is no way to get 1.5" of fabric to ease in that amount of space. I also traced off #5 (cargo pants) and the tracing sheets were missing the pocket line and the buttonhole on the tracing sheets was different from the placement on the detailed diagram inside the book. Maybe it's just me and my inattention to detail. Maybe just beginner's un-luck at finding a couple of errors? Or, now that I'm calling attention to this, it will probably be my mistake. I did read through some Ottobre reviews and no one mentions drafting errors. We'll see. My jumper should be ready to try on tomorrow. It's on the duct-tape lady now.
Here's the pattern sheet.
14 comments:
I've sewn with Ottobre for children quite a bit and seam allowance drafting errors are my nemesis. They can mean the difference between a sleeve that fits in an armhole and a sleeve that has to be re-cut because it isn't going to fit no matter what. Drives me nuts.
I'm part of a sewing forum called "Sewing Mamas" and Otto use is pretty high there if you ever need some suggestions or whatever. www.sewingmamas.com. I've found a lot of helpful input from the ladies there.
I've made items from both Ottobre for Women and BWOF. I find Ottobre for Women just way too much trouble to trace. They should put less on each sheet and include a third sheet of patterns in the magazine IMHO.
Hmmm, that's so interesting about the errors you ran into. I sew with Ottobre a LOT for DD and myself and haven't ever run into anything that wasn't user error on my part, but I haven't tried the two patterns you mention. Now whenever I do something with HotPatterns on the other hand... :) I will vote with the previous commenter that it would be great if they could add a third sheet of patterns in the women's issues. The children's issues are so much easier to trace because they don't put as much on each sheet (there are 4 of them).
I don't find Ottobre particularly appealing. Maybe it is because they do use real life models or maybe the patterns are just a bit daggy (Def: Australian origin. adj. not stylish, out of fashion, not trendy, not cool, untidy, unclean, not neat. v. to have no style) or perhaps the styles are just too young for me. Probably the latter (sigh..) as it is aimed at young mothers with a casual lifestyle. And I tend to go blind trying to trace them out. I do subscribe but am thinking of cancelling as I haven't made anything except a tshirt and aline skirt.
I have to agree with Julia. On both counts. I haven't run into any drafting problems on any of the numerous patterns I've used. My kids' magazines have gotten much more use though than the woman's magazines so far. I hope to turn that around sometime soon though. I do find it harder to trace patterns from the woman's magazine. I just thought my eyes were going!
Thanks for the comparison. It is interesting. I have recently got my first issue of Ottobre and am keen to try a pattern from it. How did you find the instructions? Were they any better than the Burda wof?
Just your picture of the pattern alone made me convinced BWOF is more for me.
Wow, those pattern sheets make BWOF look like almost blank sheets. I shall never whinge about tracing agai!
I ran onto a drafting error last year for a shirt pattern (Debbie Cook did a famously good PR review on it!) That's the only one I think I've ever run across. I like the casual, no frills styles (they don't seem "daggy" to me!) and I agree with your comparison. Ottobre is "real life" and BWOF is "fantasy life". I love both, for different reasons.
I have sewn a TON from Ottobre and have never encountered a drafting error. One time I thought I did and emailed them. It turns out it was my fault in my tracing. They were quick to email me a reply - you should contact them to inquire. They have the best customer service - email Tuuala at tuula.hepola at ottobre.fi
Thanks for the comparison. I too feel like Ottobre is more my "real life" style than BWOF. I recently ordered issues of Ottobre and am eager to try out a few patterns.
OMG that Ottobre pattern sheet is the worst I've ever seen!! Even Patrones is more sane than that...
I've never sewn with Ottobre because, well, their designs just bore me to tears. There's just nothing stylish there at all as far as I can see. I look at the sketches and just see things I've already got in various patterns or magazines at home, and nothing unique to make me want to buy theirs.
And I definitely find BWOF to be my "real life"! The majority of my wardrobe is BWOF (and to a lesser extent, KnipMode), and I wouldn't say I leads a particularly racy or model-like existence. I think it's more about finding what's "you" in the designs and making it your own. I'm surprised that you said BWOF isn't your everyday sort of clothes because you seem to find an awful lot of everyday pieces to make! :)
Sue-
About the directions. They are short and concise and nowhere near as confusing as BWOF. Proof that you can say things in a few words and they can still be understood.
I can say I really cut my sewing teeth on Ottobre. When I started sewing their patterns about a year after I got my sewing machine, I would often refer to Reader's Digest to back up what they said. Now, I can figure out most of it on my own and they have some good techniques like their fly zipper -I've never had a problem with it.
Whoa! That pattern sheet makes my eyeballs vibrate. I have heard folks say good things about Ottobre, but I can't get past the sheet. I'll stick with BWOF.
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