A masochist is someone who
... despite really only liking to make full-skirted dresses (and abhors sewing gores or tiers) continues to browse kimono fabric online. Did I mention that kimono fabric is FIFTEEN INCHES WIDE? No? Well, it is. At best. But look at these!
I either need to find a pattern that calls for ten yards of fifteen-inch-wide fabric (and don't be cute and say, brightly, "why not a kimono?" you wiseacres), rethink my aversion to gored and tiered skirts, or stop checking that website.
I either need to find a pattern that calls for ten yards of fifteen-inch-wide fabric (and don't be cute and say, brightly, "why not a kimono?" you wiseacres), rethink my aversion to gored and tiered skirts, or stop checking that website.
posted by Erin @ 7:14 AM
24 Comments:
At Jul 9, 2006 8:00:00 AM,
the_sewist said…
Erin, I've read about these fabrics on the sewretro yahoogroups, but I've never seen any images of them. Now that I've ACTUALLY seen kimono fabric, I just want to go and buy at least one roll, which would be enough to cover either my bottom or top half, but not both....
At Jul 9, 2006 9:24:00 AM,
oracle said…
I'm going camping on the East Coast (of Canada) for three weeks. What am I going to do without Dress A Day?
At Jul 9, 2006 10:45:00 AM,
Valerie said…
oh nooooo! Like I need to hoard more fabric. That second one is gorgeous. And the green one...I'm a little bit scared to go to the website. Thanks for posting this!
At Jul 9, 2006 11:00:00 AM,
Diane said…
Hey, the kimono sleeve was quite popular on vintage dresses and in honor of the fabric it would seem fitting to keep that feature. Remember that vintage fabric was usually 36" wide so it would have been pieced to get those full circle skirts. You probably have the Madeline Vionnet book where the fabric is pieced (straight seams) before it's cut on the bias. In fact, the pattern you posted a few days ago would be awesome in kimono fabric!
At Jul 9, 2006 11:02:00 AM,
Melanie said…
Fabric stores in Japan are like precious little jewelry shops-don't go in and think you can "handle" the material like I did...Kimono shops are the best! There are hundreds of rolls of silk and scads of accessories-belts, obis, purses. Textile arts in Japan are truly amazing.
At Jul 9, 2006 11:16:00 AM,
john said…
but think of the wonderful mens shirts you could make.
At Jul 9, 2006 11:23:00 AM,
Anonymous said…
Holy crap-did you see this one: http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=99907
I do not need more fabric, I do not need more fabric...
At Jul 9, 2006 1:11:00 PM,
Tikimama said…
pencil skirt?
At Jul 9, 2006 1:11:00 PM,
Francis said…
Kimono fabric is probably good for ties, though...
At Jul 9, 2006 1:27:00 PM,
Cynthia said…
Drapes! In billows like a geisha's palace. These are freeking gorgeous. Glad I found your blog.
At Jul 9, 2006 2:18:00 PM,
bluekidcory said…
Every time I hear the word Kimono, it reminds me of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"...
besides that, I loved the top fabric pattern. the colours are beautiful.
At Jul 9, 2006 2:44:00 PM,
meara said…
I was leafing through the latest "Lucky" in the airport today, and saw a two-page spread of Duro-esque dresses!! Thought of you.
At Jul 9, 2006 5:01:00 PM,
iopine said…
It's possible to love it and not have to have it.
At Jul 9, 2006 5:34:00 PM,
Heather C. said…
Mmm...I have to say thank you for the links. I loved the second one so much that I bought it, as well as two other bolts.
As for patterns that use 15" wide fabrics, I think this might work (http://www.mekongrivertextiles.com/Patterns5.html) I've seen it made up in several different fabrics, and it's gorgeous. This skirt is also quite lovely, and would probably lend itself nicely to narrower fabrics (http://www.mekongrivertextiles.com/Patterns4.html.)
At Jul 9, 2006 6:01:00 PM,
john said…
There is also a phamphlet that I believe is published by Royal Ontario Museum titled "Cut my Cote".
It has patterns for many pieces of clothing based on narrow-woven fabric.
At Jul 10, 2006 12:03:00 AM,
Lady Arwen of the Silver Rose said…
Waves at John...glad to see a man around here. Do you make your own ties and shirts John?
At Jul 10, 2006 6:33:00 AM,
bani said…
If you buy fabric from Africa (as in artisan fabric) it'll often be very narrow too. (Random fact of the day.)
Anyway, what in the name of bumwipes is a gored and tiered skirt? Once again I admit my ignorance.
At Jul 10, 2006 9:02:00 AM,
Anonymous said…
Wonderful fabrics. I clicked through to the website and saw an absolutely beautiful bolt of wool kimono fabric. It had already been sold, however. Sigh.
Amy
At Jul 10, 2006 2:43:00 PM,
Neefer said…
How about using the widths as the gores? If you made a 36 inch 10 gore skirt, the fabric would be perfect.
At Jul 10, 2006 4:22:00 PM,
Lady Arwen of the Silver Rose said…
To bani...a gore is an extra piece of fabric spliced vertically into a skirt. They are usually narrow on top and wide at the bottom, so as to add a bigger flare to a skirt. http://home.aol.com/lclacemker/goreskirt1.html
A tier is a horizontal row of fabric (as in a gypsy skirt) gathered and sewn to a waistband. They can be narrow or wide much like the tiers on a wedding cake.
http://www.gypsymoon.com/skirts/sub_gypsy.shtml
At Jul 11, 2006 5:45:00 AM,
bani said…
Thank you very much, lady Arwen. I know I should google this, but I get such good explanations by just asking... Thanks! So a gore is sort of like a huge dart then? See, I would have called that a dart, so I'm grateful for the info!
At Jul 11, 2006 5:02:00 PM,
Lady Arwen of the Silver Rose said…
Well, technically a dart removes fabric, making something tighter where as a gore adds fabric making something bigger.
A tier is like a wedding cake and a gore is like a slice of pie. Anyone up for dessert?
At Jul 11, 2006 6:50:00 PM,
K.Lao said…
Oh my! I love the modern ones, the last two..... Oh dear!
How about capris - cut one piece at a time, single thickness? Might make it for smaller sizes. Larger sizes could piece a strip down the sides, or add a gore to the crotch area.
Oh dear.... What great fabric!
At Jul 12, 2006 9:08:00 AM,
bani said…
Dessert? Yes please. Anyway, I guarded myself by writing "sort of like", so my conscience is clear. :-P
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