0f5d7e01b7fe56d583197dfc5be652009983f758_large

UPDATE: Due to shipping issues, the deadline is extended to 15 JULY 2007 Items should be at our office either before or on that date.

Dearest BurdaStyle members,

We are thrilled to announce our first BurdaStyle Design Competition. As an open source website, we are hoping to facilitate more creative opportunities for the sewing community all over the world. Now we’ve come up with the perfect way for you to contribute to the site as well as to your own trophy case, or in this case, pattern library. Send us your designs and we will choose two winners to have their patterns professionally created, shot in a photo shoot, featured on BurdaStyle.com, and downloaded by other BurdaStyle users! Also, did we mention that this competition can make a contribution to your wallet!?!

There are two categories to which you can submit. If you are great at designing, but not patternmaking, submit an illustration and tech drawing along with specifications, and we’ll do all of the pattern work. If you feel confident in your patternmaking skills, show them off! Send us a pattern you made along with a muslin of the design and technical drawing.

Design-based competition

PRIZE $300
Design a garment or outfit (if you choose to illustrate an outfit, make clear which piece you are submitting as we will only choose 1 garment to produce)
Submit an illustration of your design (front and back), a technical drawing (front and back) and specifications. Also send a document telling a little bit about yourself, the inspiration for your design, and a description of the fabrics you envision your design in.
Send everything as low-res jpeg [indicate size] and contact information including a picture of yourself in an e-mail to
answers@burdastyle.com
. All contestants must have a filled-out user profile on BurdaStyle.com, which will be used to introduce you as a participant.

Pattern-based competition

PRIZE $500
Design a garment.
Submit a self-made paper pattern, muslin, and technical drawing. Also send a document telling a little bit about yourself, the inspiration for your design, and a description of the fabrics you envision your design in. All contestants must have a filled-out user profile on
BurdaStyle.com, which will be used to introduce you as a participant.

Send through the good old Postal Service to

BurdaStyle
Attn: Benedikta Karaisl,
325 Gold Street,
6th Floor,
Brooklyn, NY 11201
USA

All submissions are due in our inbox (e-mail and post) by July 15 (formerly June), 2007. We will choose one winner from each category and notify him/her by the end of June.
Please note, by entering and winning this competition you are giving us the permission to make your design and pattern open-source, and for the pattern produced from your design to be posted on our website.
Please note: Some people where confused if they were allowed to enter altough they didn’t live in the US, yes, they are! For more information check the official rules!

By the way: Interesting and creative submissions that didn’t win will still be featured on the site!

30 Comments

  • 17a88009e94081c97579bafaf3a2a552144e0c4e_large

    May 17, 2007, 03.17 AMby red_swirl

    Dear BurdaStyle,

    I think a competition is a great way to encourage reader participation, and I love the whole open source sewing idea.

    I might have entered, but I read the official rules … I’m not a USA resident. Burda (parent of BurdaStyle?) is a very international organisation, originating in Germany … is the USA-only rule strictly necessary? The people who have introduced themselves so far in the forum also seem to come from many countries, not just USA.

    Thanks for thinking this over!

  • Avatar_large

    May 17, 2007, 09.50 AMby Benedikta

    Hi Red Swirl,

    Thanks so much for your message, we are looking into making the contest accessible to anyone. Unfortunately there are so many rules and regulations that it sometimes isn’t as easy as one hopes. However we would love to have you be part of the competition and we will do anything possible.
    We will keep you posted!

  • Missing

    May 20, 2007, 03.18 PMby admin

    Do the comments above mean that the contest is now open to non-USA-residents as well? I couldn’t find any of that in the official rules, but the posts here suggest as much. I’m from Europe but I would very much like to participate (although entering the pattern-based category would be a problem because of the trouble, cost and uncertainty of transatlantic shipment)

  • Avatar_large

    May 21, 2007, 10.43 AMby Benedikta

    Hi Lauriana,

    The official rules do allow you to participate in the contest. Feel free to get back to us with anymore questions or concerns you may have.
    We are very much looking forward to your entry.

    Good Luck

  • Ee8014d4ca996c57355c462f568cd1e7ab199fe2_large

    May 23, 2007, 03.00 PMby Mirela

    I have a some questions, here they are:

    Can I participate in both contests?

    Can the illustrations be drawn freehanded and then scanned or photographed to an electronic format?

    How low should the resolution of the electronic files be?

    For the pattern competition, do we need to submit by mail both the paper pattern and the muslin?

    Does the muslin need to be assembled or flat?

    Should the instructions contain also illustrations of the important construction steps?

    Looking forward to seeing everyone’s creativity!

    Thanks,
    Mirela

  • Avatar_roof_jpg_large

    May 23, 2007, 05.32 PMby nora

    Here are the answers:

    1. Yes, you can participate in both contests
    2. Yes, you can hand in anything, freehand, in any design program, you can scan it, photograph the illustration etc.
    3. The electronic files should be no larger than 2 – 3 Megabytes
    4. The muslin should be assembled, the pattern should be send along with it
    5. You only need to give instructions, if something needs further explanation. We don’t need instructions.

    We are excited to see what you come up with!

  • 150x125_large

    May 24, 2007, 05.47 AMby squirrellypoo

    For the pattern competition, are you able to return muslins sent to you if we include a checque or Paypal for return postage (being international, I can’t just include a SASE since I can’t get US stamps)? Obviously the pattern pieces I can just trace off and keep a copy here, but the muslin I’m making I’d like to wear this summer if it’s possible to get it back. ;)

  • Avatar_roof_jpg_large

    May 24, 2007, 12.11 PMby nora

    Yes, we can send things back to you, we can FedEx i to you. You can pay with your credit card or a check.

  • Ee8014d4ca996c57355c462f568cd1e7ab199fe2_large

    May 25, 2007, 12.38 PMby Mirela

    Oh, can the pattern be created for one size only?

  • Avatar_roof_jpg_large

    May 26, 2007, 01.11 AMby nora

    Yes! Actually we didn’t expect people to grade the pattern.

  • Ce09d1270b385818a58ddd26a038eb80a3675385_large

    May 30, 2007, 04.57 PMby pinkiejane

    Dear Burda Style,
    I’m interested to know if children’s designs are eligible for the contest. I have been designing children’s clothing for years and always wondered how to submit my designs to a pattern company. I will never get around to sewing them all in my lifetime (lol).
    I have designed for teens and adults, myself included on occasion.
    By the way, you are my absolute favorite company.
    Thank you.

  • Missing

    Jun 1, 2007, 08.31 AMby admin

    For the pattern competition, does it have to be post marked ar in you office in the 15th?

  • Avatar_roof_jpg_large

    Jun 2, 2007, 01.56 AMby nora

    Dear Pinkiejane: Yes, children’s designs are eligible, we are very curious to see what you have in mind! And, thanks for the compliment:)

    Dear Malissa: We are actually just decided to extend the deadline – the shipping issues seem to be bigger than we though! So, everyone, please have your pattern send in by July 15th, that means, it should arrive either before on on July 15th, but not after.

  • Missing

    Jun 9, 2007, 12.19 PMby admin

    Hi, I am from Lima, Peru and I would like to participate in the pattern competition, I think is a great idea for all the people who love sewing. I really like the original designs you show us in Burda Style. I am your fan!!!
    I’ll send you my own desing in a few days…Thank you

  • Missing

    Jun 12, 2007, 03.15 AMby admin

    Hi,
    I can not sketch at all. I keep designs in my head and then make a pattern. Please let me know if I can send my original constructed design and pattern.
    Lehcram

  • Missing

    Jun 15, 2007, 10.06 PMby admin

    For the design competition, I assume Burda is looking for completed garment specifications? Is there a particular Burda size we should use for this?

  • Avatar_roof_jpg_large

    Jun 18, 2007, 04.12 AMby nora

    Kaite Burley: Yesm it can also include hats.

    Shirley Atoche Alarez: Thank you for your sweet words – we are excited to have you on board!

    Lehcram: Yes, you can send your original constructed design and pattern.

    Oxanna: You can use any size you like.

    We can’t wait to see all your creations!

  • Missing

    Aug 5, 2007, 07.54 PMby admin

    I have visited your site 219-times

  • Missing

    Aug 15, 2007, 12.09 AMby admin

    Hello, Your site is great. Regards, Valintino Guxxi

  • Missing

    Aug 15, 2007, 12.13 AMby admin

    Hello, Your site is great. Regards, Valintino Guxxi

  • Missing

    Aug 15, 2007, 02.57 AMby admin

    Hello, Your site is great. Regards, Valintino Guxxi

  • Missing

    Aug 18, 2007, 01.28 PMby admin

    m839k

  • Missing

    Dec 19, 2007, 01.27 PMby admin

    dqj2d1qnv3xh3t kenmore parts kenmore parts

  • Missing

    Jan 10, 2008, 11.00 PMby admin

    Very nice site!

  • Missing

    Jan 17, 2008, 03.10 PMby admin

    now horizontal else he got acorns leaf things. It is reminded huge tree tree I never sweet, we watched

  • Missing

    Feb 4, 2008, 09.57 PMby admin

    just their and we took a scientist. came and eat Now, for a while, else bellowed

  • Missing

    Feb 5, 2008, 11.19 AMby admin

    and we think I noticed spent days these trees pretty the dead where I spent magnificent every woods my days

  • Missing

    Feb 19, 2008, 07.11 AMby admin

    Hi, I find this article very useful. It has some nice thoughts.
    Continue working in the same way.

  • Missing

    Feb 20, 2008, 01.35 PMby admin

    Hi, I like this article. You can write some more info but it is okay like it is now.
    Continue working in the same way.

  • Missing

    Apr 14, 2008, 03.55 PMby admin

    <a h

Departments

  • NikkiShell's Recycle/Pattern Change
  • Backstage Report
  • Competition
  • Featured Member
  • NikkiShell's Sew Along
  • Sewing Universe News Feed
  • Guest Column
  • ARCHIVE
  • Sewvenirs: The Global History of Fashion
  • A Young Designer's Diary
  • Editors' Pick

Video Articles

Burdastyle

http://burdastyle.com//blog/burdastyle-1st-design-and-pattern-competition