Asaka Kimono, Named Patterns
So I am somewhat smug and self-satisfied to add a silk dressing gown to my ‘lounge wear’ wardrobe. I shall no longer lounge, I shall slink about in my silk Asaka – sometimes.
The pattern was a surprise, and very welcome gift, from the lovely Vicki Kate Makes. Some people just know the perfect thing to do to make you smile 🙂
PATTERN
The Asaka Kimono from Named Patterns features:-
- Open-front kimono with wide-cut sleeves
- Two-piece sleeve with a deep vent
- Relaxed fit
- Long belt wraps twice around the waist
- Longline hem (seems rather long to me but perhaps I’m conservative!)
The paper pattern does not include seam allowances. The Named PDF patterns do. I know there is probably some logic to that. I’m guessing some sort of European sewing ‘norm’? If you know, please enlighten me.
Asaka Kimono, Named Patterns, back view
Gorgeous pattern.
Sleeve Splits: I love them. glamorous and practical. Doesn’t get much better! I turned my raw edges under twice and then stitched them down along the length of the entire seam on the outer fold. I couldn’t see how they would have stayed neat otherwise – and hand stitching on this fabric just looked awful. At least the stitching lines running neatly down the sleeve look a more like a deliberate design feature than the pucker of somewhat irregular and slightly puckered hand stitches.
Asaka Kimono, Named Patterns, sleeves. Sewn by Sew Busy Lizzy
Seams: I used French seams at the shoulders and changed the constructions slightly to set the sleeves n flat and then French seam the body and sleeves in one long seam.
Gown hem: I chose to finish the hem with a narrow rolled hem. I wish I hadn’t. It’s OK but could have been better.
Sleeve hems: I did these twice. First time felt messy. The second I decided to run a row of basting stitches 1/4 inch and then another 1/2 inch in from the first row. I used these stitches to turn the hems up neatly and then slid the basting rows out before stitching down the hems. This was fussy but achieved a lovely neat result.
Asaka Kimono, Named Patterns, front view.
SEWING WITH SILK
Some silks are perfectly agreeable and some absolutely not. This one fell somewhere in the middle ground, somewhat compliant, somewhat slippery and somewhat precious – but loved my iron.
I’ve had this silk stashed for a few years. It’s nothing terribly expensive or from somewhere exotic (Spotlight in fact, when they had a blood rush and stocked some nice fabric for a week or so) however I continued to stash it in the hope I might one day be capable of sewing something half decent from something so pretty. Like Jen from Grainline says – practice, practice, practice – it’s excellent advice. And I would also say challenge yourself and be ok with the odd hiccup (I think I’ve got compulsive hiccups some weeks). I’ve got a long way to go. I’m OK with that.
While my Asaka is far from perfect, it’s certainly better than I might have achieved a few years ago. So the stash wallowing was worth the wait.
Asaka Kimono, Named Patterns
THANK YOU
Thank you to wonderful sewing friends like Vicki Kate Makes and the gorgeous girls of SewPort2016 who made me smile and laugh a lot this weekend (and eat lots of food!) – you can read about it here, thanks Rachel for writing a post up so quickly. Or here by Maria! A fun weekend of sewing, laughs and food with the lovely Maria, Jenny, Victoria, Jenny, Pam, Wendy, Christine, Anna, Alison, Emma and Ruth!
Pattern: Named Asaka Kimono.
Fabric: Silk, from Spotlight a few years ago (vague – sorry!)
Also see: Bimble & Pimble | Closet Case Files | What Would Maude Wear | Design by Lindsay | Domestic Coquinette
Location: deserted corner of Town Beach, Port Macquarie on a late autumn afternoon – also photographed three other garments, including my Relax jumper.
And… it’s also Everyone Deserves Pretty Lingerie Week over at Measure Twice Cut Once with Susan. So indulge yourself with something pretty.
Sew Busy Lizzy 
Ooh, that is so pretty! I’m glad you like it, it seemed perfect for you as it was a little bit luxe with a bit of interesting design thrown in!
This is beautiful.
Looks gloriously decadent. How suitable for gifting do you think? In terms of sizing?
I would say yes, a great gift. I know a few people who have gifted it.
I find the Named sizing quite accurate (they just draft for much taller than me).
It feels much more than ‘just a dressing gown’, I guess it’s the wide split sleeves that feel rather decadent
I just love your version! Thank you for the tip on installing the sleeves in the flat and doing a continuous french seam. I will try this next time. You are right, the silk version feels so luxurious! Now I just need equally luxurious pjs to match mine…
Wow that is very pretty! So glamorous. It is indeed pretty normal not to include seam allowances with patterns in Europe. All the sewing magazines with traceable patterns are without seam allowances. I think it is done that way because you can choose yourself how large you want your seam allowance to be.
They had silk at spotlight?! Well scored you – perfect for this design. Lovely pics as usual ;o)
It was a few years ago. They just had a couple of bolts and I got this when it became ‘clearance’.
I was sure how to take photos of this as I feel weird about photographing the inside of my house & a brick wall or garage door just looked like I was putting out the rubbish. Beach was deserted so seemed the best option at the time!
How luxe! This is so beautiful, I hope you enjoy swishing about in it! Also – the scenery is stunning!
GORGEOUS – fabric & pattern made for each other – have to add same comment as Colesworth – SPOTLIGHT having fabric as beautiful as this – you were very lucky. 😀
Very pretty. The sleeves are so interesting. I’m glad to see the retreat went well too.
I’ve had so many daggy dressing gowns I’ve got a bit of a crush on this. Shame it’s winter.
We had a fun weekend despite the horrendous weather!
This certainly is a kimono dressing gown with a stylish difference…those sleeves are lovely and your fabric choice is gorgeous. I want one!
Indulge yourself – I think everyone needs one. Plus I found I could do the washing up with those sleeve splits! Yes, I might like silk but I’m practical!
Very pretty, just right for the current UK weather – yes, summer has arrived. I’m sure you will enjoy wearing such a gorgeous garment.
Funnily enough this was taken on our last warm weekend & our first winter weekend involved a terrible storm which has torn the east coast apart from Sydney to Brisbane. A huge mess.
Oh dear. Hope your winter isn’t too bad.
So pretty!
Oh that is lovely! And that fabric! *drool*
gorgeous!
This is so lovely! This pattern was on my sewing list already, now I have to look out for the right fabric! However, I don’t know wether it will be silk, sadly this is clinging at me sometimes. Did you insert the sleeves with french seams, too? You look so beautiful in this gown!
Gorgeous! It must wear like a dream, or a cloud.
Ooo, this is gorgeous!! I’ve recently made the Gather Buchanan dressing gown, and love it. You win with this beautiful silk fabric, I made do with viscose!!
Love the fabric – it was just waiting for the right pattern (that’s what I tell myself about the stash fabric that’s been sitting around for a few years…).
Wowza! This is so glamorous! I should really make one. I recently threw out my 15 year-old flannel robe and am left with a 5 year-old oversized terrycloth one… sexy stuff! I don’t know why it’s never on my mind to sew loungewear, but bravo to you for doing it!
Pingback: Top 5 of 2016 – an abbreviated version | Sew Busy Lizzy
Do you remember what size you cut? I’m about to make this and I’m trying to figure out what size I should cut.
Size 34, it’s very generously sized.
Pingback: Named Asaka Robe No.5 | Sew Busy Lizzy