The Clara Kimono
The Clara is a free pattern and tutorial for your own use at home and not to be reproduced commercially. The super simple Clara Kimono is stunning
Beginners project.
Materials and Equipment
200cm of fabric I got mine from here
50cm of light weight iron on interfacing.
Matching thread, pins, tape measure, chalk and scissors.
Suitable Fabric.
It is important that you choose the correct fabric for The Clara.
Your Fabric choice needs to be medium weight, to achieve the look in the image,
The fabric used for this project is from John Lewis Sevenberry print line Fabric, because the
pattern is printed on the fabric I was able to use the WS as a contrast for the band and cuffs.
If you fabric can not be used in this way, you will need to buy 70cm off contrast fabric.
Heavy or stiff fabric would result in a different look to the images shown.
The Clara would be very suitable for lightweight fabric such as viscose, polyester or a leightweight crepe.
Tips for beginners
Seam allowance 1 cm this is the distance between the edge of the fabric and the stitch line. You will find a series of parallel lines engraved on the needle plate of your sewing machine pick the one marked with the measurement you need and keep the edge of the fabric to this guide
RS = right side of fabric WS = wrong side of fabric.
Press = Iron the section you had just sewn, seam should be ironed open.
Sizing
Small
Fits up to size 12 - the finished garment measures, front laying flat 58 cm and the back 58cm total finish circumference 116cm
Medium
Fits size 12 to 14 - the finish garments measures front laying flat 62 cm and the back 62 cm total finish circumference 124cm
Large
Fits size 16 to 18 - the finish garments measures front laying flat measures 66cm and the back 66cm, total finish circumference 132cm
Make a paper pattern for the Clara kimono follow the measurements for your size as given above, OR Pin the selvedge edges of you fabric together, and using tailors chalk, measure and chalk out the pattern pieces.
Using your iron on interfacing cut out 2 pieces measuring 54.5cm x 14cm.
Check your measurements and cut out.
Lay both of the front pieces RS up with the short measurement at the top, measure from C to A (all sizes) 15cm. Cut a small notch or mark with chalk, measure from C to B 40cm (all sizes), drawn a chalk line from A to B, repeat on the other side as shown in the diagram, THE FRONTS MUST BE A PAIR. Cut, A to B, repeat on the remaining side.
Join the front shoulder seam to the back shoulder seam using a French seam. With WS together pin, the front shoulder to the back shoulder and stitch a 0.5cm seam, press flat, flip your work over, leaving the RS together stitch again using a 0.5cm seam. Press. Repeat on the remaining shoulder.
Iron on the interfacing to the WS of the band x 2.
Fold the 3cm x 25cm in half, press, open and fold the outside raw edge on each side into the middle, press. Fold in half again and press. Stitch the edges together. Repeat on the remaining tie.
Position the ties at point B on the front jacket and pin and stitch or tack into place, as shown in the image.
Join the short seams together giving you one long band, fold the band in half RS together, and press your band should measure 7cm x 146 cm, using a 1cm seam stitch together the ends of the band.
Clip the corners and turn inside out, press.
Fold the back neck of the jacket in half and mark with a pin. Fold the band in half and mark with a pin. Join the jacket and the band together at the point marked by the pins.
Continue to pin the band to the jacket. N.B. the band ends 14.5cm from the hem. Stitch the band to the jacket, start sewing from the middle of the back neck stitching down to the hem of the band, the shoulder seams will need to be pushed forward and pined flat to the front of the jacket. Pin the ties to the front of the jacket as shown so they do not get caught in the band.
Zig zag or over lock this seam. Press.
Fold the sleeve in half and mark the middle with chalk or a pin. Lay the kimono flat RS facing up and pin the sleeve to the jacket. The chalk mark or pin must match at the shoulder seam. Repeat with the remaining sleeve. Stitch using a 1 cm seam allowance. Repeat on the remaining sleeve. Zig zag or over lock the seams.
With the RS together fold the sleeve in half and pin, making sure the shoulder seams are pushed towards the sleeve. Pin the under arm seam as shown.
Stitch the sleeve and side seam together. Start sewing from the raw edge of the sleeve, stitching over the seam you made to join the shoulder to the jacket. Stop, leave your needle in the fabric, lift up the foot, and swivel the jacket around until you are able to sew the side seam. Repeat on the remaining side. Over lock or zig zag the seams.
Making the cuff. With RS together fold the cuff in half and stitch the short seams together, press the seam flat. Fold the cuff in half RS together and press as shown in the image.
Attach the cuff to the sleeve. With the RS of the sleeve facing, slip the cuff onto the sleeve. Match the seams and pin the 3 raw edges together. Stitch the 3 layers together using a 1cm seam allowance. Zig zag or over lock, press. Repeat on the remaining side.
Nearly finished :-)
Using a zigzag stitch or an over locker, neaten the hem. Using a tape measure, fold under for 1cm the raw edge under the band on both sides. Pin. Press. Fold the hem up for 1cm pin and press. Start stitching just under the band on the RS towards the hem, leave the needle in the fabric and lift up the foot, swivel your work, continue to stitch the hem until the end, leave the needle in your work, swivel, and stitch up the front until you meet the band. Trim and loose thread, press and CELEBRATE.
CONGRATULATIONS your have just made an awesome Clara Kimono.
