This is it right-side out, with free cat #Sewing#Haori#Kimono

This is it right-side out, with free cat #Sewing#Haori#Kimono

So, this is the garment turned inside out. My hope is to make this as perfectly reversible as possible #Sewing#Haori#Kimono

My inter-layer stitching is getting much better. It’s not proper kimono-quality yet. But I’m inching my a way towards it. The biggest challenge is the miatsu guchi underarm area. If the outer and inner layers aren’t laying together perfectly, then the garment doesn’t lie straight. #Sewing#Haori#Kimono

As you can see, I still haven’t given in to the lure of an overlocker/serger. And with this project, I’m so glad I didn’t. Because I wouldn’t want something so mechanical at the edges of a garment like this. I can totally see the convenience, and if I was going to sew jersey or more rayon, I’d definitely succumb. I can’t fully explain why, but an overlocked edge on this would feel like a sin.

What do you think, sewers? I’m so interested in your feelings about this.#Sewing#Haori#Kimono

I’ve used a machine to zigzag stitch the raw edges, just to keep them from fraying inside the garment with successive washes. The rest… is a very relaxing slow process.
I love the texture of this fabric with its uneven slub and its charmingly organic selvege. #Sewing#Haori#Kimono

Here is the almost completed lining, in the black cotton feather print. #Sewing#Haori#Kimono

I’ve decided to do the entire thing (except for the sleeve seams) by hand, because I have noticed that the garment folds much more pleasingly with a hand stitch.

One of my deepest wishes was to make a beautiful #haori for Elnaz when I meet her in Istanbul. I wanted to make something that was perfectly reversible, so I chose a linen cotton blend in muted red for the outside, and a black cotton inside with a delicate feather print. I’m still not entirely sure what I’m going to do with the collar, but I might create it in the red, but add a black tomo-eri - I think when it’s a contrasting colour it’s called kake-eri. #Sewing#Haori#Kimono

I’m trying to really interrogate what I get/want to get out of sewing. I love that feeling of lost time, of absolute absorption, of complete mastery and the pleasure of finishing a project completely, and setting it aside absolutely finished (something that was not part of my life in my career, where nothing ever really ‘ended’).

And for some reasons, I feel like all machines somewhat get in the way of that. #sewing #kimono #haori

I’m trying to really interrogate what I get/want to get out of sewing. I love that feeling of lost time, of absolute absorption, of complete mastery and the pleasure of finishing a project completely, and setting it aside absolutely finished (something that was not part of my life in my career, where nothing ever really ‘ended’).

And for some reasons, I feel like all machines somewhat get in the way of that. #sewing #kimono #haori

One of the aims of this project is to challenge my finishing skills. Because the seam finishes are going to be visible through the fabric, and like viscose, this stuff frays like crazy, everything will require a french seam. Luckily, Haori sleeves go on straight! I am going to attempt to strictly match the fabric pattern at the joins and I have just enough flexibility in the pattern to do this. #sewing #kimono #haori

This fabric is not my favourite - I much prefer to work with natural fibres. But silk organza was beyond my financial reach. These were both in the remnants bin at my fabric store, they’re 2 meters each, and they were priced at 5 euros each. I guess someone ordered them cut but didn’t buy them #sewing #kimono #haori

I have a new project today. Summer Haoris out of these two translucent fabrics #sewing #kimono #haori