5 MORE WEEKS! As excited as I am for this baby to come, and to gain back some comfort, I’ve been enjoying the quiet moments. With the hubby at school for most of the day and it just being me and Addie at home, life is rather simple and peaceful (most days anyway). We’re not your hustle and bustle kind of family. We really enjoy being at home and our down-time together. Really I’m just trying to soak it all in before our lives get thrown into the chaotic whirlwind of having a new baby. You guys I’m not going to lie, I honestly feel completely unprepared and a bit anxious about life with a new baby and a toddler all while my husband is in graduate school. For those of you who know me I may seem completely at ease, but inside I’m freaking out a little bit. However, with all that being said, there is just something so miraculous and wonderful about holding your baby for the first time and watching them grow that makes it all so worth it… even on the very worst days.
But back to the present, this increasingly warm weather and growing belly of mine has made getting dressed some days a challenge (that is the days I actually get dressed). At this stage in pregnancy, comfort also plays a huge role in what I wear. And my new favorite thing besides yoga pants and maxi dresses, are kimonos. They are the perfect layering piece for those warm summer days and oh so comfortable! Not only are they comfortable, but they are extremely easy to make… seriously, like 3 steps easy!
My original inspiration for this lace trim kimono came from a lace trim kimono from Novae Clothing. And, as with a lot of clothing I see, my first thought was, “Hey, I could make that!”. So, here is what you’ll need:
Materials:
- 1 3/4 – 2 yards of chiffon, silk, or any type of lightweight fabric (I got mine from Joann’s)
- 3 yards of lace trim
- coordinating thread
- measuring tape
- sewing machine
1. Fold your fabric in half hot dog style with right sides together. Before you cut out the kimono you’ll need to get a few quick measurements.
- Sleeve length: hold arms straight out and measure from one end of sleeve to the other (my measurement was 38″)
- Width of armhole: my measurement was 14″ in diameter
- Length of sleeve from body of kimono: I measured about 5-6″ from the end of each sleeve
- Length of kimono: measure from top of shoulder to desired length (I simply used the entire length of the fabric and didn’t cut any off of the bottom)
Once you have your measurements it is time to make some cuts. First cut out the shape of the sleeves, then cut the front opening. When cutting the front opening, make sure you are only cutting your top piece of fabric. DO NOT CUT ALONG THE FOLDED EDGE.
2. Pin side seams together and sew from the end of sleeve to the bottom hem on each side. I used my serger here to prevent fraying, but if you don’t have a serger you can zigzag stitch the edges or use some Fray Check.
3. Now, hem around all openings including the armholes, bottom hem, and front opening. I used a simple rolled hem by folding the edges over twice. At this point you can leave it as is or add some lace trim to the bottom of the kimono and sleeves. Simply measure around the bottom of sleeves and the bottom of the kimono to know how long to cut your lace, then pin the lace around the openings and sew on using a straight stitch.
I hope everyone enjoys the holiday weekend! Happy sewing!
Please feel free to email or post a comment with any questions.
XOXO,
Sara
What types of fabric can i use? Is there anything other than silk or chiffon?
Question: How did you measure for the neckline cut? It says nothing about it in the tutorial.
Not drastically. I find that the curve at the neckline helps the kimono lay nicer, but it’s not imperative. Hope this helps!
Do you think it would drastically alter the appearance if I cut the front open just straight up instead of curved at the neck?