Named Asaka

Well, it's been a minute since I last posted.  Although I never promised to keep to any kind of regular schedule, I did actually intend to post a bit more often than I have been!

Today I would like to talk a bit about the Named Asaka Robe.  I've made two so far; one for myself and one for my BFF.

My plan from the start was to make this pattern as a gift for my friend.  I made mine as a test sample for him to try on (and to get to have one myself!) before I cut into the fabric for his.

It has a long, 2 piece sleeve that is split below the elbow.  It gives me the ability to do things without the sleeves getting caught on door handles and chair arms like several other robes I own with voluminous sleeves.  It is such a fun item to wear!  

I lengthened the pattern by 5 inches because it is very short and I am 5' 9".   Although I didn't lengthen it any more for my 6' 1" friend, because I thought it would be funny for him to have a tiny short robe, like he was a 70s gigolo.

I made mine out of a polyester crepe floral fabric and I made my friend's out of a maroon silk/rayon charmeuse from Fashion Fabrics Club.

I bound the seams on both -- for mine, I happened to have a few packs of perfectly matching vintage seam binding that I had previously picked up at Seattle Recreative, and for my friend's I used bias strips cut from a poly charmeuse that I had in my stash.

Here is what the insides of the finished robes looked like.

The pattern isn't terribly difficult, but there are a couple tricky bits, so I wouldn't recommend it for a beginner, unless they are feeling confident and ready for something to help push them to the next level without dealing with zippers or buttonholes yet.

I can see myself making this again.  I would love to eventually make another for myself that is floor length.