Hey there. Just a quick post today to ask you guys for some suggestions of fabric.
Before I get ahead of myself here’s the backstory:
My mom has always wanted a beautiful chenille bathrobe – but she is very picky. Over the summer she purchased a lovely french blue & white, vintage chenille bedspread. Now she’s a great seamstress too… but she has somehow commissioned me to turn the fabric into her bathrobe. It’s becoming her Christmas present so it’s a win-win.
My labor and time are precious to me – but I’m happy to make her something she’s always dreamed of & can’t find in the store.
This is the pattern she settled on:
We’re I’m modifying a few aspects of it in order to turn it into the bathrobe of her dreams.
This is where I get to the crux – With all of this bathrobe scheming for my mom, I went and bought the very same bathrobe pattern for my very own! I couldn’t help it. heh
I’m intending on making a bathrobe for myself during the same time I’m making my mom’s bathrobe. I figured why not?! Plus it will keep me motivated to finish.
But…. I have no fabric for it. I’m planning on making the full-length version and will also be lengthening the sleeves. As far as fabric goes I’m really open to any suggestions you have.
I just want something feminine but also warm for the winter. And I also don’t really feel like adding a lining to it. But that’s the only criteria I have. (Just NO fleece please!!!)
Thoughts anyone?? I’m pretty open to suggestions & could use some help on this one. Just don’t know where to start.
In: Sewing
How about a heavy silk shangtung/duponi? Nice structure while still giving drape and depth and perfect for the winter. Silk is warm in winter and cool in summer :) Mood has some beautiful pieces.
Thanks for the suggestion Staci, I’ll take a look over on Mood. :D
What a neat idea! I’m wondering if a flannel-backed satin would be nice enough? I know I’ve heard about it for linings but not actually used it yet, and I’m sure there are a variety in the quality. But seems like you’d get the lovely look of a fancy robe on the outside but a bit of warmth on the inside.
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with… I admit, I’m a cheesy fleece robe wearer all the way (but I obviously wouldn’t go to all that effort to sew with it for a lovely vintage pattern like that). ;P
Thanks Tasha & Sharon – I just was poking around for flannel backed satin – and well… it left a bit to be desired. It a bit blah looking since there’s not a lot of fun, pretty colors to be had in it.
Maybe I need to just suck it up and have a flannel lining of some sort with the fancy outer layer of something. :|
Have you seen any lovely floral quilted fabrics lately??
Flannel backed satin
What about a pre-quilted fabric. You get the reversibility and a bit of extra warmth from the batting.
I was thinking about that – have you seen any good pre-quilted fabric anywhere recently Erin?
I have no fabric suggestions (though I, myself, would probably go for a chenille), but I want to say that is a gorgeous bathrobe! I can’t wait to see your versions!
I made a very similar pattern for my sister and underlined a very soft polyester satin with flannel so it was all washable. By underlining it, the full skirted flannel doesn’t get stuck to her legs and provides warmth. I was surprised how quick it went together too!
Thanks Lisa! I like the idea of underlining instead of lining for that very reason- static. Winters here in Chicago are very dry and it would be a static nightmare. heh
French Terry
Oooh French Terry is a lovely fabric suggestion Betsy, thanks.
So fun!!! I really hope you post pictures of you and your mom wearing them!!! I would suggest a sweatshirt fabric? Not sure if that’s too much like fleece though. Girl Charlee had some fun ones last time I looked.
What about a boiled wool ?
The only boiled wools I’ve seen Laura are usually pretty thick. Do you know if there are ones that are lighter weight and drapey?
That pattern is gorgeous! As far as fabric goes, I think everyone’s hit my suggestions already: pre-quilted fabric, french terry, flannel backed satin… I’m actually getting ready to make a floor length housecoat for myself, and while I definitely feel you not wanting to mess with a lining, I wound up with a really lovely rayon suiting fashion fabric and a wonderful herringbone flannel to line it with. It’s extra work, but I’ve got something I’m happy with, which I don’t think I could have found if I’d skipped a lining.
Thanks so much Evie. I’ve appreciated everyone’s thoughts & fabric suggestions for my bathrobe.
Knowing how hard you work, the great care you give your garments, and how brutally cold midwest winter nights can be, I suggest that you consider investing in a really good quality cashmere. Why? Because the exquisite pattern you chose is timeless so will be wonderfully comforting your whole life long. Also, a characteristic of high-quality cashmere. is that it is cuddly warm if even if unlined. Nevertheless, I recommend that you line both your robe and your mother’s: yours for added elegance under the cashmere, and your mother’s because the inside of her chenille bedspread fabric is likely to be somewhat uncomfortable (french terry lining would be a lovely complement to the chenile :) Just sayin’ – Whatever you decide, BOTH robes.will be treasures for years to come.
OMG Cashmere would be heavenly – I’m just not sure I want to splurge quite that much, but I love your rationale.
I have to underline my mom’s chenille in something. I just don’t trust the vintage chenille not to rip with wear since it’s so old. But my mom being my mom – she’s in that time of her life where she does overheat easily so I want to keep her bathrobe warm yet breathable. So she won’t be getting any flannels or wools in hers. I do like your idea of french terry if I can find a light weight one.
I’ll be hunting around my local fabric store for my mom’s lining/underlining since I have to color match hers on site.
That could be very pretty, love the pattern! :) I actually saw a male bathrobe which was flanel and a soft fabric (perhaps chenile?) which accentuated the shawl collar it had. I liked that combination of fabric. My husband always jokes he wants one, so I’ve been looking for fabric, but never seem to find something good… So he waits. Plus, I doubt he’d really wear it… :>
Looking forward to see your versions! :)
Thanks Jolien. I just keep waiting to see that one magical fabric that shouts “make me into your bathrobe” but I haven’t really come across it yet. :| I’m not sure why I’m finding purchasing bathrobe fabric challenging – I generally never have a problem finding fabrics I love.
Nani Iro has a pre-quilted fabric now… https://www.etsy.com/listing/250865182/japanese-fabric-nani-iro-fuccra-rakuen?ref=shop_home_active_15
it is a bit pricy, but it is so lovely…
I’ve been drooling over those Nani Iro quilted prints but yikes – so expensive. I’m not sure I want to splurge quite that much on my bathrobe.
i get you – i got enough to make a little jacket-y thing, but i’m sweating just thinking about cutting into it…
First of all thank you & keep the suggestions coming.
I went and ordered a few swatches yesterday after going through your comments.
I ordered this scuba-knit swatch from Emma One Sock.
I ordered this rayon-silk velvet and this floral quilted fabric from Mood, on a whim.
But honestly, I may just take a quick trip to my local fabric store to check out what they have readily available. Sometimes I just like seeing all of my options in person and then making a decision.