Water Lily Kimono and a cup of tea

For a while now, I have been wanting to try this kimono-pattern made by Amy from Habitual. Yesterday I got started with the pattern, and today I cut the fabric and sewed it up. Ronja chose the fabric for the binding – and it’s a nice coordinate for the orange in the water lilies.

Water Lily Kimono 

Thumbs up to the pattern – it is quick and easy (and this is me saying that – I never think something is quick and easy), the instructions are really good, and they are followed by very clear pictures. I was planning on using my new bias tape maker for the binding, but mine is a 3/4″ (18 mm), whereas you need a 1″ (25 mm) binding maker. I did wonder if mine would do, but I decided that especially the ties would be to thin. I believe this was the right decision.

Water Lily Kimono - detail 

The binding will be much easier to make if you have the right bias tape maker, but it’s not a big problem without one either. Just takes a bit more time…

Water Lily Kimono - detail 

This is a great kimono-pattern. I made another kimono some months ago, when I had just started sewing, but this design is more simple, and I like the clean lines a lot. I have yet to try it on Ronja, but that’ll have to be for another post.

My model is sleeping on the couch at the moment. She wasn’t on top when I went to get her from kindergarten, so I’m letting her rest a bit for now. She has been coughing quite a bit, I sure hope she’s not coming down with a cold. Frida is sleeping too – when I was done with the kimono earlier this afternoon, she and I went to have a cup of tea and play a bit with Rikke and Nelle (from the mothers group), and I think the extra excitement in playing with Nelle made her wonderfully tired. Have to go more often – it’s really nice having a cosy chat with Rikke as well!  🙂

13 comments

  1. Karen says:

    I am blown away by this! Gorgeous fabrics, beautiful pattern (thanks for the link!) and as always, impeccable construction! Congratualtions on an afternoon with TWO sleeping children.

  2. dana says:

    That is beautiful and adorable. Where do you find such gorgeous fabrics? Oh yea, you’re in a different country than me 🙂
    I was looking at your flikr pics and I adore those little Owl pants.

  3. Rikke says:

    Selv tak for en rigtig hyggelig kop te. kom snart igen 😉

    Jeg har lige lånt en sybog på bibloteket, håber jeg kan nå at sy en sølvbryllupskjole til Nelle.

    Håber Ronja har det bedre.

  4. Astrid says:

    Karen – thanks a lot! And on the sleeping children subject – glad I had yesterday, because that hasn’t been the case today…

    Amy – thank you! She has a cold now – she has been wearing the kimono today, and it looks so cute on her, but I didn’t take a picture, because frankly she looked like s**t! It wouldn’t be fair to post a photo of her sick…

    Melanie – thanks! I highly recommend this – it really is easy to make! Ronja has been sick today, sadly, so it has been a loooong day!

    dana – thank you! Actually, I order most of my fabrics from the US – fabric.com and some other places – check the links in the right sidebar. 😉 I love the owl pants too – unfortunately they have been too small for a long time, so I’ll have to make something else owly for this winter! 🙂

    Jeanette – tak! 🙂

    Yvonne – thanks a lot! 😉

    Rikke – det vil vi gøre, nu har vi lige en travlt weekend foran os! Ronja har været snotforkølet i dag, så desværre. Frida har også været lidt snottet, selv om det ikke har været så galt. Vi ses! 😉

  5. Sarah says:

    Astrid this is so charming. Is it really easy? Could I do it? I’d love to try. I especially like the binding, something I really like on clothes. Hope Ronja feels better soon-Tabitha has been hanging on to a cold for a week.

  6. Astrid says:

    Sarah – thank you, and yes, it is really easy. Three pieces of fabric that need to be sewn up and finished with binding. Amy’s pictures and instructions are really great. I find that three things are crucial when you are sewing: 1. follow the instructions closely – even if it takes a bit of patience 2. pins – remember to pin everything together before sewing – this would be true especially for the binding 3. iron – iron every time you get the chance. It makes sewing so much easier.
    If you do set out to do it, you’re welcome to ask any question you need to! 🙂

  7. Megan says:

    How lovely! Great fabric selection, too. I’ve always meant to try the kimono pattern in one of the (now defunct) Martha Stewart Baby magazines. I’ll check out this pattern instead, though.

  8. lena says:

    Hello,
    I’m french and I just discovered your beautiful kimono.
    I seek a fabric with water lilies. Can you tell me where you found your fabrics?
    thank you very much
    lena

A penny for your thoughts?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.