Monday, July 28, 2008

No Habla Patrones

Guess what? My Spanish-speaking friends don't Habla Patrones' Spanish either!

I got my first translation back today from my Latino newspaper bathroom buddy, and it's not all that much more clear than what I got from the online translation sites. Apparently (and I knew this but probably didn't believe it) Spanish from Spain is very different from the Spanish spoken in Puerto Rico, Columbia, Guatemala and Mexico, the countries of origin of the women who work in that office. My translation turned into a group effort.

One word, tapetas, stumped them all. I eventually managed to track it down online - I'm pretty sure it's a button placket. And since none of these women sew, I'm sure they wouldn't have known "button placket" anyway. I know English-speaking non-sewists who wouldn't know what a button placket was if it bit them.

I don't feel like I'm all that much further ahead on this pattern than I was when I gave her the instructions, but I'm sure it will help in the end if I get hung up on something. If nothing else, it's confirmed to me that as far as Patrones goes, I'm better off just tracing the pieces, cutting the fabric, and winging it.

7 comments:

Lisa said...

Hi, One someone's blog I found a spanish to english translation. If you want I could email you the word perfect file.

Karen said...

Lisa, there are a couple of Spanish/English sewing glossaries out there, the best one from Paco Peralta. He covers most of the technical words, I was looking for help stringing them together. Not too successful, but I'm sure I'll figure it out in the end.

Thanks for your offer.

cidell said...

Lisette from La Cubinita Cose lives in Maryland, speaks fluent Spanish AND sews. She's an awesome resources. Plus, she confers with Paco if I've got her stumped. I also think it's the best blog name EVER.

What I've sorted out is that I kind of need to have specific construction questions for people. Like, 'what does piece #4 attach to?", etc. Otherwise, the sewing terms are kind of lost of them.

Lisette M said...

Hi Karen!
Well Cidell is making me blush....But really if you have a question email me (lmalbano@hotmail.com) I will gladly help you out.

-E said...

This Irish/Rican is cracking up! (especially since I failed a semester of Spanish...) That's ok- I'm still learning to read pattern directions in English :)

Tany said...

"Tapeta" may also mean flap as in "Bolsillo con tapeta" = "Pocket with flap" and also means the fly extension on a fly front zipper. It can mean different things according to the context in which it's used....

Kat said...

LOL! Pocono English is different from Pennsylvania English. We have a different kind of slang up here that is extremely local. It's kind of disappearing, though, with all the NY and NJ transplants.