Not much actual sewing had been done at the end of Part 1, but there’s been lots of frantic seaming action since.
This simple kimono-style dressing gown is very easy to make, but does have lots of very long seams. I decided to use French seams for the long side seam that carries on up and under the arm as well; this is a lovely neat seam that tucks the raw fabric edges away inside itself so no further overlocking or zig-zag stitching is needed to stop the fabric fraying. But it does mean joining the wrong sides of the fabric together first (above left), which always feels so very wrong! And then (phew) the right sides are turned to face each other and the final seam completed (above right) – that feels much more like it.
Once the main robe was finished, final touches were the tie belt and belt loops. Again, lots of long seams on the belt, leaving a small opening so that the belt can be turned right side out, which I managed with the use of my trusty long-handled wooden pasta spoon, as you can see in the picture below.
And the very last step was to make belt loops, a pretty fiddly job as they are so small. To complicate thing furhter my rather ancient and increasingly temperamental sewing machine kept eating these little scraps of fabric so I had to resort to hand stitching them. I don’t think I’d have got many points for neatness if it had been for the Great British Sewing Bee – see above – but they turned out kind of OK.
And here we are – the finished robe. Not the best photograph, I’m afraid, but I think you get the picture. The last robe I made, which was also in Liberty Print fabric, lasted over 10 years, and I hope this one will be around for just as long.
4 Comments
Hi Helen,
Love your project and the fabric….well done you! How do we get the pattern to make one?
Hi Glenys
Thank you! And sorry for the delay in replying, but I’ve been away from the computer for a few days …. As regards the pattern, the one I have is Burda pattern number 5223. As I mentioned in my posts, it’s over 10 years old, so am not sure if it’s still current. If so, then your local haberdashery shop would be your best bet. You could also scour the internet, there are lots of online shops selling paper patterns old and new. Failing that, I am sure there will be something similar in most current paper pattern collections, it really is the simplest kimono style dressing gown – a very classic style that will always be around, I’m sure.
Hi Helen,
Very inspiring – looking at my old sewing machine that had been relegated to the shed in a new light now!
Thank you Jo, and let’s get that old machine out of the shed and sewing again!