The new Sew a Seasonal Wardrobe is to sew six pieces of sleepwear. My heart did sink a bit as sleepwear doesn’t do a lot for me, but I wanted to participate, so I thought about what was needed in the household.
I need a light summer something to duck out and pick up the paper on warm summer mornings, so I thought I’d have a go at the Ralph Pink Satchi Kimono. This is a free pattern, and comes in one size with no instructions, but I figured it couldn’t be that hard, could it?
I used a couple of scarves that Gabi from Heaven Wrapped donated to my stash last year. I decided that this would be a perfect use for them. I like the border print and the colours are nice.
The fabric, though, is very gauzy, which means that it is quite diaphanous and loosely woven, making it impossible to unpick and not terribly pleasant to sew as it frayed like a beast. To preserve my modesty when collecting said paper, I decided to line it with lemon coloured cotton lawn from Spotlight, which has been in my stash for a goodly while.
This did complicate things slightly as the scarves stretched a bit making the outer bigger than the lining. However, I think I got away with it – just! I really should have underlined it all, it would have been much simpler. I added the pockets as I like to carry my phone around with me in the morning, but I don’t think they are the most attractive addition – sorry Ralph!
It’s not the most flattering garment, but I think it’s the way I made it. For a free pattern it’s pretty good, and I may have another go, although I have seen lots of other lovely kimonos, especially the Named Asaka Kimono, which I may just use the next time I have the urge for a kimono.
Mark also needed a warm dressing gown, so I burrowed around in my stash and found just enough fleece to squeak this one out for him.
It is Vogue 8155, which is a unisex pattern from the 1980s, but sadly it is sized for me, so I had to do some dodgy grading up. It did work a treat though and Mark wears this every morning, so that’s a win. This one also fits the unselfish sewing theme of this month’s Stashbusting Sewalong Facebook group, which I happen to be hosting.
A last shot of the kimono; I prefer the back view, although I think I’ve managed to catch the hem up somehow – what was the stylist doing?? If you think my hair looks a bit strange, it’s because I had the hairdresser give me a 1930s style as an experiment for a 1930s thing that I’m doing in July. I think I’ll resume normal hair styling for it though.
The last Sew a Seasonal Wardrobe ended very well for me. I was Member’s Choice winner, which means that I won a Craftsy class, and patterns from Named Clothing, Pauline Alice, Decades of Style and Thread Theory. Isn’t that the most amazing prize? It is nice to note that Ralph Pink is also a prize sponsor for the Sewalongs and Sewing Contests Facebook group, and was included in the prize for the random draw. I am beyond thrilled with winning this and can’t wait to show you the things I make from the patterns I’ve chosen.