FINISHED! A Lounging Liberty Kimono

I have been wanting a kimono to lounge about in for ages.  I’m one of those people that loves nothing better than to change into pyjamas at the end of the day and then potter around in them for the rest of the evening.
I have had the Liberty Book of home Sewing for a while and have had the kimono book marked but haven't got around to it until now.

I've also had the Liberty Fabric Growing Fonder from the AW13 Liberty Art Fabrics collection,  in my stash for a little while as well.  My love of the fabrics by Mo Coppoletta is well documented, having sewn with Joy and Sorrow and Daydream.

Growing Fonder explores and re-interprets the famous Liberty peacock feather, it was the first design Mo created for Liberty, so he wanted to adapt a subject that defined Liberty at a glance. Mo feels Liberty epitomises English style, rooting itself in its turn of the century heritage.

Growing Fonder was also the first Mo designed fabric that I bought and it is an intricate and beautiful print that I couldn’t resist, but there was something about the colour scheme and the ombre effect that rendered it difficult for me to make into a garment.  Mrs Pomeranz had no such trouble and has made a gorgeous dress for sale on her website.

We are going on holidays in a couple of weeks so I decided that the time was right to make the kimono as I have a lot of lounging planned and decided that this would be a good use of the Growing Fonder fabric. I wanted a contrasting fabric for the binding, just as in the book.  I went to Addicted to Fabric as they have a good selection of Liberty there so I thought I’d be able to find something. It was hard though. Harder than I thought it would be to find something within their range of Liberty that also suited the aesthetic I was trying to create. I think I found it though with the Torsten B. A pattern from the SS14 Gallery of Prints collection by Liberty Art Fabrics.
Inspired by the unique structure of retro fabric and the optical shapes found within them, the Torsten fabric design represents Liberty’s eclectic Men’s Designer Collections Department. 

The Basement fabric story celebrates Liberty’s eclectic Men’s Floor. Each design pays homage to a different area or department, taking on the intrinsic mood of each individual space.


I looked at it when I was at Addicted to Fabric with my sewing friends a couple of weeks ago, but then went back to get it on Friday after turning it over in my mind for the whole week.

It is a masculine print, but I think it has a bit of an art deco feel when combined with Growing Fonder and works better than you would expect by just holding it up against the fabric.
The pattern is straight forward, although you have to draft it as the book doesn't come with patterns. I added side seam pockets and omitted the belt straps because I didn't need them.  I couldn't perfectly match on the sides because I only had 2 metres of fabric. In the end I don't mind as the peacocks match, just not perfectly on colour.

I machine attached one side of the 'binding' and then hand stitched it to the opposite side. My stitching in the ditch is always a bit rubbish and on the weekend we had a 6 hour drive to some family events so I utilised the time to hand stitch in the car.

Oh how I love this make. It is already getting nightly wear!
 

42 comments:

  1. That is GORGEOUS! You made a great choice with your contrasting fabric. Thanks for sharing a bit about the history of Liberty prints. I didn't even know they existed before I started reading blogs.

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  2. This is super lush! Epic work , K and the fabric looks great together!

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  3. What a cool make! Just by wearing it I would feel on holiday!

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  4. Really lovely. Those peacocks are dreamy! I think sometimes making a glorious robe is one of the best way to use up an amazing fabric - you'll wear it for years and love it every day. And I bet it looks amazing just hanging from the back of the door too!

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  5. Fabulous print. This peacocks are wonderfully woven into the print.
    This is luxury at it's best.

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  6. This is just gorgeous - so luxe! I think you did a perfect job of picking a complementary fabric. Now I wish I was going on vacation so I'd have an excuse to make up a robe.

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  7. Ooh I love it. You really did well finding the contrast fabric as it works perfectly. Maybe if I had something lovely to lounge in like this, my hubby wouldn't complain that I was simply dagging around and making no effort ;)

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  8. it's luscious! I never put that much thought or effort into lounge clothes, but how brilliant to do it - it's like the definition of everyday luxury! Gorgeous use of the different prints too, you really pulled it off perfectly. If I ever decide to do a big Liberty project, I think it might be a copycat kimono!

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  9. I love it, gorgeous and luxurious. I've used Growing Fonder to make Gerties portrait blouse, it gets quite a bit of wear. Would love to make a liberty kimono, you've inspired me.

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  10. Maider.... MasustakApril 1, 2014 at 7:30 PM

    WOW Kirsty! It turned out soooo luxurious! Your amount of liberty fabrics make me feel envy! Ha, ha, ha!

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  11. Gosh! This is too lovely!! : You beat me to the bomber jacket...now you beat me to this one too! I´ve been thinking about a shorter kimono-like thing for the past week, see if it looks as worderful as yours. We are definitely thinking in the same wave-lenght lately!

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  12. Thanks Morgan. Seeing your kimono inspired me to actually get on and make this.

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  13. Thanks so much. I really love the contrasting fabric now. I can't believe I doubted myself.

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  14. Thanks Amanda! If you need me I'll just be lounging around!

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  15. Thanks Inna. Yes! It does make me feel just a little bit special.

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  16. Thanks Sarah! It's great to make something that gets so much wear and yes, it gets draped over my mannequin every day :)

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  17. Thanks Maria! We should all have a little bit of luxury :)

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  18. Ha! It's worth a try...! Lounging in luxury. If only I had someone to do all the chores..

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  19. Jo, you defnitely need a liberty kimono! Especially now it's springtime for you!

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  20. What a great use of the fabric. I bet it gets lots of compliments! I highly recommend a Liberty kimono.

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  21. Merche, I might beat you but your makes are unbelievable! I can't even imagine how fantastic your kimono is going to be... but you must make one. I'm loving pottering around the house in mine!

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  22. I love it! The colours and prints go so well together. I've also got this book and have been pondering using this pattern as I need something suitable for the warmer weather here. This has just jumped onto my to make pile. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  23. This is beautiful Kristy! So elegant. I like to use my time in the car for stitching as well!

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  24. So beautiful - I really love the combo of fabrics! A lovely match but not matchy-matchy, in the best possible way. Time to enjoy some lounging!

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  25. I am with you when it comes to stitching in the ditch - it is much easier to slip stitch it by hand. I am making a top at the moment and I have got to the top stitch part - and am dreading it!

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  26. This combination of fabrics is so perfect - you're definitely a Liberty expert & I love seeing how you use their fabrics! This looks almost too stylish for lounging about in!

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  27. Do you realise that there are women all over the world who want a kimono just like this!

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  28. You really should make this. I have worn it every single night since I made it. I love it!

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  29. Thanks Margo...sewing is so nice in the car.. except on bumpy roads.

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  30. I hope you nailed that topstitching. I'm sure you did!!

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  31. Thanks Kathryn! I can tell you know a week later.. that it is perfect for lounging!! It is getting constant wear.

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  32. There is nothing nicer than getting home from work, having a bath and lounging around in your jammies (and gorgeous kimono) for the rest of the evening. I'm sad that it's 5.30 on a Sunday and I'm still wearing daytime clothes.

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  33. Hi! This is beautiful!! I love your fabric combination.

    I am planning to make the same one. Was it quite quick to make (hand sewing aside) and also, how did you finish your edges inside? Do you think French seams would work on the curves on the kimono sleeves? It feels like it should be pretty on the inside too!

    Thanks! X

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  34. Thanks Helen,
    I overlocked my edges inside but I think you could french seam them as long as you clip enough on the bends. This is an easy make - the longest part is probably drafting the pattern as the book doesn't come with a paper pattern, but even then that doesn't take too muc time.

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  35. Thanks for the quick response! Pattern drafted and fabric purchased and prewashed today! Will let you know how I get on!

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