How to Sew a Chinese Robe

A Chinese robe also known as a kimono.

As early as 300 A.D., the Chinese robe was the traditional Chinese dress, with silk being the textile of choice. Robes have taken large roles throughout the course of history and are worn in religious ceremonies, as clothing for judges and lawyers, and used as part of academic graduations. Chinese robes are ever popular and are worn for beauty and comfort. An unlined informal kimono may be worn in various lengths as a dress, coat or robe. With the growing interest of Chinese clothing among Westerners, female sewing patterns for authentic and simplified versions of the Chinese robe are readily available today.

Things You'll Need

• Cardboard cutting board
• Paper scissors
• Butterick IJ887 Klassic Kimono pattern
• Fabric
• Pins
• Dressmaker shears
• Tailor's chalk
• Thread
• Sewing machine
• Pressing cloth
• Iron
• Needle
• Hem tape

Instructions

1. Spread the cutting board on the surface used to make the robe. The corrugated cardboard style is lightweight, durable, and features precise measurements. These cutting boards are useful for sewing projects, protecting furniture and other surfaces from pins and marking tools.

2. Open the pattern and cut apart the pattern pieces with paper scissors. Spread the fabric onto the cutting board with selvages, the ends of the fabric, with the right side of the fabric touching together. The wrong side of the fabric should be showing. Place the pattern pieces onto the fabric per pattern instructions. Pin the pattern pieces to the fabric.

3. 

   Sharpened shears prevent jagged edges.

   Cut each pattern piece with dressmaker shears. With long strokes use the entire blade of the shears when cutting pattern pieces. Do not lift the fabric up from the cutting board as you cut the fabric.

4. 

   Tailor's chalk is easily removed from fabric with a damp cloth.

   Mark where the fabric needs to be cut or altered with tailor's chalk on all pattern pieces. Tailor's chalk is also used to mark placement for darts and pleats in the fabric.

5. 

   Typical seams are 5/8-inch wide.

   Thread the sewing machine and sew the garment pieces together in the order specified by the pattern. After each seam is sewn, place a pressing cloth on the seam. Open and press the seam flat. The pressing cloth protects delicate fabric from scorching.

6. Sew hem tape to the bottom of the garment. Turn up hem to the desired depth. Whip stitch the hem into place by hand with a needle and thread. Place the pressing cloth onto the hem and press to finish the garment.

Tips & Warnings

• For authenticity, use silk fabric such as oriental silk or silk brocade.

• Embellish the robe with motifs such as lions, dragons and masks of Chinese opera characters on the shoulders, pockets and openings of the robe.

• If silk is the chosen textile use dry cleaning versus machine washing to maintain the beauty of the fabric.

• When pressing silk use the correct setting on the iron to prevent burning the fabric.

References

• ThinkQuest; Destiny, the Culture of China Living and Values: Clothing; 1998
• Stitch 'n Save With Sara Glenn: Fabric Care

Resources

• Asian Oriental Clothes: Chinese Robe, Yukata & Japanese Kimono Robe