Customized Lounge Robe by Stacy Schlyer Jump out of the shower, lounge in your room or cozy up on a cool winter s night with a robe custom-fit to your measurements. Choose material from the fabric store or upcycle blankets or sheets to create your look. Any woven material such as cotton, fleece, satin or a large blanket. The yardage needed will depend on your measurements and the width of your fabric. Coordinating thread Tape measure Scissors Water-soluble marking pen or tailor s chalk Ruler All seams are ½" unless otherwise noted. 1
Step One Measure A Before you begin cutting your fabric, you ll want to take some measurements. It s best to enlist a friend to help you do this. A. Extend your arms away from your body and measure from wrist to wrist. Wrist to wrist measurement = " Measure B B. Place your arms down by your sides and measure from wrist to armpit. Wrist to armpit measurement = " Measure C C. Standing up straight, measure from the base of your neck to the desired finished length of the robe (e.g., hip, mid-thigh, ankles). Back length measurement = " 2
Add seam and hem allowances as well as some ease to your robe, plug your measurements in the chart below: Wrist to wrist measurement " plus 4" = " = Measurement A Wrist to armpit measurement " minus 4" = " = Measurement B Back length measurement " plus 2½" = " = Measurement C Step Two Cut Fold the fabric in half; this will allow you to cut a front and back at the same time. Measure across the top of the fabric the distance of Measurement A; mark using tailor s chalk or watersoluble pen. Measure and make a mark 11" from each end of the fabric. Draw a line from Measurement A to the mark. 3
From this point, measure across the fabric Measurement B and mark. Repeat for the second side. From the top line, measure down the fabric Measurement C and mark. Draw a line at the bottom of your fabric at this point. Draw a downward line from Measurement B to Measurement C and mark. You should now have a T-shaped pattern. 4
Cut along the lines to remove your robe fabric. Step Three Fold the Robe Keeping the front and back robe pieces together, fold the fabric in half lengthwise, matching the raw edges of the shoulders and arms. Step Four Neckline Template Place the neckline template on top of the robe along the fold and trace it using tailor s chalk. Cut along the line. 5
Step Five Mark and Cut On one fabric piece, mark the center lengthwise fold. Open the robe pieces and set the unmarked piece aside. Cut the marked piece on the lengthwise line, creating two pieces. These will become your robe front. Step Eight Prepare the Tie For the tie, cut two 5" x 36" strips. Step Nine Facing Template Place the neckline facing pattern piece on the fold of your material and cut it out. Cut out a second time so that you have two facing pieces. 6
Step Ten Sew Place the robe front and back pieces right sides together, matching raw edges. Sew the shoulder / top of sleeve seams on both sides of the robe. Sew the bottoms of the sleeves together, pivoting at the underarm, and continuing to sew down the side of the robe. Repeat for the second side. Step Eleven Clip the Underarm Seam Clip the underarm seam up to but not through the stitching. 7
Step Twelve Sew Sew the two short ends of the facing together. Step Thirteen Fold and Press Fold under ½" along the facing edge and press. Step Fourteen Neckline With right sides together and raw edges matching, pin the neckline facing around the neckline. 8
Sew together using a ¼" seam allowance. Fold the neckline facing to the wrong side of the robe and press. Stitch in place close to the folded edge of the facing. Fold the front edges of robe under 1" and press. Fold under 1" again, creating a finished edge. Stitch close to the inner finished edge. Repeat for the second side. 9
Step Fifteen Sew the Edges Fold the bottom edge of the robe under 1" and press. Fold under 1" again, creating a finished edge. Stitch close to the inner finished edge. Fold the edge of the cuff under 1" and press. Fold under 1" again, creating a finished edge. Stitch close to the inner finished edge. Repeat for the second cuff. Step Sixteen Sew the Tie With right sides together, sew the short ends of the tie together. 10
With right sides together, fold the tie in half lengthwise. Sew, leaving a 3-4" opening in the middle of the long edge for turning. Clip the corners and turn the belt right side out. Topstitch around all sides of the belt. Doing this will not only give the belt some detail, but will also close the hole that was made for turning. 11
Stacy Sews for the Sewing Republic 12
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