I have a *thing* where if I don’t take pictures for the blog – then I can’t wear my completed garment. It’s silly, but it’s supposed to be my motivation to take final pictures of my makes. Sadly, I made this kimono robe at the beginning of the summer and it has yet to be worn – since no blog updates yet. Me and my silly rules. heh
I looove this kimono styled robe.
I started with the Kimono Robe by AtelierJoy via craftsy then via etsy. This is a one size fits most pattern so I then just hacked it a lot to make my current version.
Before I get ahead of myself talking about the robe…
I was on a sewing hiatus from like November 2013 to April/May ish in 2014 while I did all sorts of house stuff. I didn’t anticipate not sewing (silly me.) As a result, I felt like my sewing prowess had gotten a bit rusty. I wanted to make an easy pattern with minimal fitting as I got my feet wet (and back into the deep end of sewing). This pattern was perfect for that as it was a bunch of squares, typical of a kimono-like robe.
So… Pears and kimono robes don’t really go hand in hand, not in my opinion anyway. I need extra width at the hem to balance out my hippy hips. I hacked the pattern to make it much wider at the hem, curve at the waist and more petite on the upper half. As a result – it still looks like a kimono styled robe. LOL
Apparently, I needed to add even more width at the hem (ie more flare) to make it more swishy. Ahh well, I still love it.
I didn’t really follow the instructions fully, but I did make all of the seams french seams. When it came to the facings, I prefer to have them finished on the insides rather than on the outsides – so I hacked that part too. (This will make sense if you go to make this pattern for yourself.)
Let’s talk fabric.
This is my very first time sewing up a garment from a synthetic material, in this case it was polyester. You see, I really do prefer wool, cottons, silks, and any blends of these three. (Rayon is not included in this since it’s technically a natural fiber. But I even sew minimally with rayon – more now so as I’m delving into knits.) This does lead to an expensive fabric habit – but I’d rather have 1 yard of lovely silk crepe than 3 yards of well… anything else. heh
I say all of this because that is how much I love this fabric. I loved it so much I didn’t care it was a poly. It’s a light aqua color, with digital looking squares of white all over, combined with this slightly pixelated looking floral pattern.
I found that sewing with 100% poly is very different than sewing with a natural fiber. There was no stretch whatsoever and any small blips during sewing couldn’t be pressed or steamed out at the iron. Everything had to be very precise as I came to learn while sewing up this robe. Good thing there wasn’t too many curves to sew beyond the waist.
Sewing a robe has always been on my to-do list, ever since I started sewing (pajamas too). But it always took a backseat to other projects – namely those that will be worn out of the house and seen by others. I think there’s nothing better than walking out of the house in a handmade project and frolicking out and about in it. But as we bought our house, I’ve come to sing a different tune. I now can’t think of anything better than swishing about my (completed) house in silk charmeuse like Phryne Fisher does. This feminine kimono robe gets me one step closer to that reality even if my house won’t be completed for some years to come.
I now want to dig out my 1950’s bathrobe pattern and make that up. It has the 100% full skirted swish factor that is lacing in this kimono robe.
*Hint of what’s to come*
While it’s been months since I finished this kimono robe, guess who is now in the midst of sewing up her very own set of 1940’s silk pajamas in the most loud, geometric print?! I can’t wait to sew them up and swish some more. (As of today, the muslin work is all done and I’m now cutting out my silk charmesue.)
In: Sewing
Liz, this is gorgeous! I want one in the exact same polyester – I am a natural fiber girl too. My goodness, you could go out to dinner in this, it is so beautiful . . . on second thought, maybe you shouldn’t do that – but you certainly can enjoy some tea or coffee on the porch unashamed at anyone who may see that you haven’t gotten dressed yet.
Heh Teeeechnically, I did wear it out. (To my mom’s porch). LoL
I went back to see if there was more of this so I could make matching pajama’s but it was all gone. Ahh well. Such is life with fabric shopping.
I love it! The print is amazing, half traditional, half modern. I admire your sticking to that rule, but goodness, if I did that I would never wear any handmades!
It’s silly isn’t it. Guess who has 2 tops and 1 skirt and 1 dress sitting in her closet waiting to be worn?! It’s so silly, but it’s my reward for getting this up here. :)
This is so pretty! What a great robe!
Thanks Ginger, I really love it.
What a beautiful robe! Phryne would be envious!
Awww thanks so much Sarah. But with Phryne’s income I bet she could whistle and get 10 of them on the double. :D She has such an lovely wardrobe.
I am a big fan of robes and have been meaning to make myself a nice one for awhile too. yours is really beautiful and looks great on you. congrats on buying a house too!
Thanks so much, Kelli. The house has been an adventure. :D I actually need to add a hook in my (ahem) living room so I can hang my bathrobe up at night. (Yes… I’m sleeping in my living room right now.) Quite the adventure.
Oh so pretty! It looks lovely :)
I’ve always wanted to sew a robe/housecoat with matching pajama pants. Never got around to it. Your robe is very inspirational!
Thanks so much Siri.
So pretty! And Phryne would for SURE swish in that. I do love Phryne. ;) I have a short silky robe that I bought several years ago before I started sewing but I do need a long one, too! And some silky pjs…
This looks so beautiful! I adore the fabric – it’s the sort that needs carrying around the fabric store so no-one else gets it!
Thanks so much, yeah this fabric was such a deal too at like 2.99 a yard. I wish there were more….
Love the robe and love the location! Oh, to have a beautiful historic house with the perfect porch. You’ve reminded me that I still want to tackle Vogue 8888. I’m like you though and other projects I can wear out and about always come first! There is a nice feeling of wearing handmade around the house though, especially if you’re a homebody like me.
I wish that were my porch! This is my mom’s house aka the house I grew up in. It’s from the early 1900’s and is so lovely plus she’s a master gardener. Can’t wait to tackle the exterior of my house as it’s so drab right now. But I’m learning to be patient. :)
Vogue 8888 looks lovely; seems to have a fuller skirt which I would have loved on mine. Perfect in silk charmeuse or a crepe de chine.
Wow, this is so beautiful, I desperately have to make a robe for myself, too.
If only to have a cup of tea on the patio like you (well, balcony, still better than nothing^^).
And I tend to behave like you with finished clothes, hesitating to wear them before they have been photographed. I assume I do this because I fear they will never look as good as they did before having been worn and washed for the first time.
Hope fall won’t come too quickly and you can wear it a lot after waiting so long for it :-)
love, ette
I LOVE the robe. I can see why you were drawn to the fabric. The colors and that print are a dream!! I still have robe plans on the back burner. I will eventually get around to sewing one… along with everything else on my list.
Robes/Pajamas was always on my backburner too. Somehow they’re coming to the front of my queue, perhaps its because I’m spending so much more time at home these days.
[…] of these projects was a kimono robe that I already shared with you in September. The second of these projects was pajama set – […]
Where did you get your fabric? it is beautiful!
I bought it at my local fabric store called Vogue Fabrics. You can hunt online for it – but I did buy this about 2 years ago. Hopefully in time you can find something similar.