Dressing gowns are big news around here. I’ve made several in cotton or silk for myself and to give as presents. The luxury of having a really lovely piece to wear every day cannot be underestimated. My go to everyday one has been a printed cotton with a tiny stretch of spandex in it that I think I’ve been wearing for like 18 years? I got the fabric in China Town in Sydney before meeting friend for lunch, we caught the ferry to Manly. It was so cold we wrapped the fabric over us like a blanket as we ate hot chips on the boardwalk in front of the beach.
Since being used as a blanket I did that thing they always tell us not to do in fashion college. I lay down on the fabric, chalked a line around me, measured out from the line and cut into the fabric. No real pattern, no proper measurements. Despite BREAKING ALL THE RULES it was quite simply perfect. It fit it was comfortable, kept me covered, kept me warm, was perfect for wearing before I left the house so my dresses didn’t get covered in cat fur. Perfect..until last year when after dinner one night I had the cat on my lap, drinking tea and the front ripped. Years of wear (and sharp cat claws) meant it was at the end.
Taking a look in the stash I found some floral fabric, lay the old one on top of it and cut around it to make a new one (hey it worked once surely it’s going to work again?). I did fix a few things
- added extra internal ties so it doesn’t gape at the top
- made the hem and turn back slightly bigger then pinned and pressed it all in place before using my coverstitch to hem the entire thing
- reinforce the ties where they joined to the garment as I did have to reattach them at various points previously
It’s wonderful, I love it and I’m hoping it lasts another 20 years!
Pattern – made from old dressing gown
Fabric – from stash, originally from Cabramatta and I want to say was about $12 a metre?
Alterations – just the added extras from last time