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A couple years ago Miss Lulu nicely gifted me half a vintage silk sari. That was about 3+ yards! What to do with such a lovely lightweight, semi-sheer silk? Why not make a kimono?
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This fabric was perfect for a kimono as it’s so light that it easily catches the wind while you walk, making for a breezy, bohemian look.
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Kimonos are certainly having a moment and there are numerous patterns and tutorials to be found from quick and simple, to fitted and sleek, to cozy and rounded. None of these “fashion kimonos” really resemble actual Japanese kimonos but that’s ok, these are more like fancy bathrobes. Image may be NSFW.
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This kimono is super easy because it has cut on sleeves, minimizing the amount of sewing.
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Because the silk is so fine I French seamed the two sleeve/side seams and hand rolled the hem all around the sleeves, hem and neckline. That was a lot of hand rolling! But the result is so nice.
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My fabric was 50in wide and long that I was able to avoid having a shoulder seam. I simply folded the fabric at the shoulder, but this tutorial is going to assume you’ll need two layers of fabric and a shoulder seam.
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Kimono DIY Tutorial
First, you’ll need to take some measurements.
1. Length from back of the neck to where you want your hem to be.
2. Length from back of the neck to about mid-forearm x 2.
3. Circumference on the widest part of your bicep.
4. Waist measurement.
Cut two rectangles the length of Measurement 1 and the width of Measurement 2.
On both fabric pieces, measure the body of the kimono like the image below. Mark the center front/back.
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On both pieces, curve the underarm seams slightly.
On the back piece, curve the center back at the neckline about 8in wide.
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On the front piece, draw a sloping line from the side of the neck to the center front at the hem.
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Cut the fabric along the pink lines.
Right sides together, stitch the kimono at the shoulder seams and the underarm/side seams. (If using a fine, lightweight fabric, consider using French seams.)
Hem the sleeves, bottom edge, neckline, and center front with a narrow hem/rolled hem.
