I spent Friday afternoon looking at patterns on the internet and then discovering that I can't get my 3 sizes on one envelope, and as I was looking at dresses, this matters rather. It is infuriating. My sewing teacher [1] told us not to use Burda patterns because they didn't give seam allowances and we wouldn't be able to cope, but I probably don't need to obey this advice now that I am not 15 any more and should have a look.

[1] You had to do a practical O-level at my comprehensive and music wasn't considered practical so I ended up with sewing as the lesser of the evils of art and cookery. It turned out to be the most useful thing they taught me.