I was given this Japanese silk blend fabric by one of my lovely work colleagues. It was a massive 16 metres long, but only 72cms (28″) wide. It was given to me to use to make bags for charity, but, given how many bags it would make, I thought I might take some for a glamorous robe, which I’ve called a peignoir as bathrobe or dressing gown doesn’t seem to do it justice.
Doris is modelling for me as the fabric is remarkably diaphanous and I couldn’t find anything appropriate to wear under it. I think the fabric has been stored for a while as there was quite a lot of foxing. I consulted various textile museum sites to see how to address this, but in the end simply washed the fabric. I did get rid of some of it, but not all. There were also wear lines where the fabric had been folded so I cut around these.
The pattern is quite elegant. I really like the way that the ties are grafted into the back pattern pieces.
In order to fit the wide pattern pieces on to very narrow fabric, I joined the fabric together, so every pattern piece consists of two lengths of fabric and there is a centre back seam which is not in the original pattern.
I am pleased with the final product, and suspect that it will get a lot of use. The colours are exquisite, really delicate and quite pretty.
I have begun cutting the remaining 3 metres into linings for Japanese bags, and I think there’s a nice symmetry in making Japanese bags from Japanese fabric!
In a nutshell: Pattern is Vogue 8888, made from Japanese silk blend donated to my stash. Model is Doris the dummy.
It actually looks really good !! mexx
From: fadanista <comment-reply@wordpress.com> Reply-To: fadanista <comment+_jqchn67v51abnlhozqs3ku@comment.wordpress.com> Date: Monday, 23 February 2015 2:01 PM To: ITSC <m.stoney@ecu.edu.au> Subject: [New post] Peignoir in Japanese silk
Fadanista posted: “I was given this Japanese silk blend fabric by one of my lovely work colleagues. It was a massive 16 metres long, but only 72cms (28″) wide. It was given to me to use to make bags for charity, but, given how many bags it would make, I thought I might take”
Ooh La La! Love it!!!
Sue it looks absolutely stunning! The pattern is so delicate. Perfect for your trip at Christmas, I can just see you walking into a bath house!
Very luxurious! I love the colour too
Lovely piece Fad, I have a big stash of 30cm wide Japanese fabric from unpicked kimonos – you might like to have a look through and select some for the next Peignoir!! I must confess, that I did have a pang of guilt when I unpicked all those beautiful, delicate and precise stitches that kept each strip together – silk thread and all. Enjoy your day!
Beautiful!
Beautiful peignoir. Very fitting name for such a glamorous robe and that print is so delicate and pretty. Don’t think it will look too good with your flannelette pj’s though 🙂 You might have to make something a little more suitable to match.
Looks like your no1 fan – Mark – loves this as much as I do.
Looks so fine and delicate, enjoy wearing it.
Any problem sewing such a light fabric? I’m thinking of the last episode of The Great British Sewing Bee where they’re all having trouble with sheer fabrics. Your new peignoir is a beauty and Doris is wearing it gracefully! A suggestion for using more of this beautiful silk : the shorties included in the Carolyn pj pattern + a camisole cut on the biais.
It was quite easy to sew, it wasn’t chiffon, but silk blend so it had a bit more body. I think your suggestion is terrific, but I promised the donor that I would make some bags for charity with the leftovers, so I had better do that 🙂
That’s lovely! I’ve never heard of the term “foxing”. Is it the wrinkles it gets from being folded up?
Foxing is the brown marks that appear on fabrics (and mirrors!) when they haven’t been stored properly. It’s where the fabric absorbs moisture quickly but desorbs it slowly resulting in brown spores. Here is a good website on the matter http://www.si.edu/mci/english/learn_more/taking_care/mnm.html.
The creases from folding are another matter as they actually create holes in the fabric.
Very glamorous! Between this beautiful peignoir and your cozy new pjs, you are all set for loungewear.
Except not together – not a good look!
Perfect fabric for a peignor!
Very Lovely !!!!!!!!!