DIY: Beautiful & Easy Kimono

How to make a Kimono!
Super flowy and fun to wear - look fab with minimal effort!
Requires basic use of a sewing machine - still a pretty easy project.

Chapters and times;
(What you'll need - 2:42)
Chapter 1 - Working out how much fabric you'll need - 3:17
Chapter 2 - Cutting your fabric - 4:13
Chapter 3 - Piecing the panels together - 6:24
Chapter 4 - Edging the sleeves - 8:17
Chapter 5 - Closing the kimono - 9:12
Chapter 6 - Edging the front of the kimono - 10:09
Chapter 7 - Finishing the kimono - 11:12

[DannyJane.]

You're very personable, well-spoken, and your tutorial is essentially correct for following the Japanese sewing method. I've been an historical recreator and historical costumer of many years, so I'm not flattering you when I say you didn't make any mistakes. However, there are some things that can help novice sewists. First, a sewing machine isn't really essential to make kimono or really any other period garment. Once upon a time there were no sewing machines.. Further, historically kimono were made to be taken apart. In the time when they were made entirely out of natural fibers Japanese sewed them together by hand, using a small tight running stitch then the expensive fabrics were taken apart for cleaning and reassembled. Sewing machines are faster, but hand sewing is "period". Ambitious newbies may feel more comfortable trying it if they are really ambitious. Next, Although the zigzagging is perfectly all right some sewing machines have an "OVERCAST" stitch (see your manual if you want to know if you have one) that works even better. OR you can beg, buy, or borrow a pair of PINKING shears. They come with the zigzag already in them and eliminate the need for finishing off the seam. You can even "pink" your edges AFTER you sew the seam. Press all your seams open so they lay "flat and beautiful" (stolen with affection from brilliant designer Gunnar Deathridge--check out their channel).

You have all the makings of a great costumer and I encourage you to learn all you can about fabrics and construction. I'll be watching to see you grow.

[pennylighthall]

I have wrecked several pieces of fabric trying to make a kimono. They never turn out. This tutorial is wonderful, and now I see what I was doing wrong. Thank you, thank you, thank you. P.S. for all those that are talking about how fast the video is, wanted to let you know I have discovered a unique feature on my computer, it is called "pause". I can stop the video, do the step, and then start it again by unpausing it.

[independantegirl]

I love the intro for this video so much

[alexsingh]

Thank you for doing a voice over with actual instructions.. I swear I've been losing my mind with the collar part and you make it sooo easy!!

[federicabeltramone]

I really liked this method and i have already used it twice. Since i find it easier to follow writtend instructions then a video, i wrote them down for the next time i want to use it. I will share the recipe here if anyone else or the author of the video finds it helpful.
The measurements given as example are for a 170cm tall, 55/60kg frame.

1. Measuring and cutting
Measure vertically from side shoulder (t-shirt seam) to floor, and from horizontally wrist to wrist via back of neck and shoulders.
Measure the witdth of the base of your neck, in the back.

120 length
135 arms
15 neck

Divide the horizontal measurement by 3, to obtain the panel width: 45cm

The fabric needed is the vertical measurement x2 in lenght, and the panel measurement x2 in width.
Cut the fabric in 4 identical rectangles by cutting along the mid line vertically and horizontally (shown in video at 4'22"). Take one of the rectangles and cut it in half across the long side (shown in video at 5'01"). These will be your back, front right, front left, and sleeves panels. Use a post-it or paper tape to add a note on each panel to identify which is which, which side is out, and which end is up, if relevant for your fabric.

Measure the base of the back of your neck, side to side. Calculate the difference between that measurement and the width of your back panel, then divide it by 2 and you will obtain a measurement of Xcm.
X = 15cm

Take your front left panel right side up, find the top right corner, and make a mark at Xcm IN from the corner, on the top edge of the panel. You have marked point A.
Then, measure 40cm down the length of the same panel from the top left corner, to find and mark point B. (NB: 40cm is the length for a man's size, or panel lenght of around 1.5m. Adjust as needed to your fabric size to maintain proportions). 35cm with these measurements.

Draw a straight line to connect points A and B, then cut along it.
Use the edge of a plate to round the edge where point B is.
Place this panel back to back on the other side panel, and use it as a guide to cut the same shape in reverse.

Take the fabric you will use for the edges and cut 4 long strips of 8/14cm of width, depending on how wide you want your edges to be.
Wrong side out, bring the 2 long edges together and stitch along the edge of the strip, at around 1cm from the edge. Stitch across one of the short sides to close the tube you have just created. Use a thin blunt object (chopstick, crochet...) to push this end inside the tube until the tube is reversed and the right side is out. Press flat.



2. Assembling
a. Placing the fabric panels right sides together, connect the top of each front panel to the back panel, starting by aligning the external corners.

b. Attaching the sleeves: place the material (now one ver long piece) on the table, right side up, with the 2 front panels facing you and overlapping so that the sides are flat (shown in video at 7'33"). Take one sleeve piece and place it right side up and lenghtwise along the side of the kimono, aligning the center of the sleeve to the shoulder seam, then flip it along the side (like turning a page) so that the external edge is now on top of the kimono, the wrong side of the fabric is up, and the other edge of the sleeve piece is aligned with the edge of the kimono. Pin working from the middle out, stitch, repeat on other side.

c. Edging the sleeves: take one of the tube strips and cut it in half widthwise obtaining 2 shorter strips. Attach to the edge of the sleeve, then trim off any excess length of material. Repeat on the other side. Press all seams flat with an iron.

d. Closing the kimono: place the kimono flat and all open, wrong side up and with the back piece facing you. Fold it along the shoulder line so that the bottom edge of the sleeves, the sides and the bottom edge are aligned. Pin along the bottom side of the sleeves and the sides of the kimono. Stitch staring from the edge of the sleeve, all the way down to the bottom of the kimono, lifting the foot of the machine at the armpit corner. Repeat on other side.

e. Edging the long sides: Take the tube strips and stitch them together to create one long strip.
Find the middle of the tube and line it up with the top center of the back panel. Start pinning the pieces together from here and down the sides of each panel. Stitch in place, going carefully around the round edges. Check the bottom length, straighten or shorten if necessary, then edge the bottom by rolling up twice, pinning/ironing the fabric in place, then straight stitch.
Check for loose threads and you are done.

[deathryusaki]

You're such a good teacher ! I don't particulary have the sewing vocabulary in English but I understood everything, thank you !

[xharelygrillzx]

His tutorials are SO well put together, I literally understood everything first time


*goes off and makes 1000 kimonos *

[madoldbatwoman]

Yes! This is the video I've been looking for, this is *the one*. Pretty sure I can do it now, and turn all the odd bits I've fiddled with into belts. Found two rolls of lovely cotton material for next to nothing, the junk room is cleared out, an old door is now my work surface and sewing machine is dusted off. Everyone's getting kimonos for xmas, whether they bloody well want one or not!

[phantomlagger]

Brilliant! Thank you so much for uploading it. Just did a practice run out of an old bedsheet! It’s so much better than faffing around with a pattern, it took me just a few hours. I’m now looking for real silk as a birthday present for mommie dearest. Tip: if anyone is struggling with slippy slidey material, spray it with starch. You can get it out of any big supermarket, but if you can’t find it then hairspray works almost as well. Test it on a piece of scrap first though!

[klchu]

I had to find this video again because it was so helpful. I used this method to make a "Sokka" costume for my son. I changed it to be a "vest" style by making very short sleeves (about 3 cm long). It came out great! Thanks much!

[anelvanzyl]

Wow thank you so much! I plan on making kimonos for my bridesmaids as a thank you gift and this video is so helpful and SO EASY to follow! Thank you!

[bieourself]

So awesome. I've been looking for a tutorial for several weeks now, I must say this is the best one. Finally I know how to take the measurements! Thanks, and will try making one of these tomorrow.

[beingMyself-fs]

istg! i am happy i found this video. i usually don't leave comments but i needed to for this one. I have been searching multiple videos on how to do this as a beginner and none of them was this clear and helpful as this one. you addressed all of my concerns. i was always confused on what part of the garment they are stitching. is it front or back? on what line they are stitching? what two pieces are they stitching together like they be like stitch and boom its ready. no its not a tutorial for beginner. THIS IS! i love how you added illustrations on which part to stitch and how you lay out the garment to stitch and is it front or back side. it was so simple and really helpful. i thought i had to do so much work but you made it seem so easy. and i kind of feel confident thanks to you. truthfully thank you so much for this i really meant it from the bottom of my heart. hope you have a very nice day!!! would love to learn so much more from you! thank you so much

[krazykid]

Very informative with notes in the margin of the note book. Easy to understand and execute. Thank you

[davidballantyne]

Loved this! I’m going to do one for my boyfriend for his birthday, I’ll try it with my overlocker 😁

[ConejoChernobyl]

Hands down the best Kimono tutorial on Youtube! You went up and beyond for this tutorial. Keep on going bro!

[Bonbon]

This video must have been a lot of work. Thank you so much!! This is exactly what I was looking for. I love the little half size one - so cute!

[melissareichel]

Thank you for this video, you made us so clear and simple and the idea of making a smaller dress to get it all in shot helped a lot! I have tried to watch other videos and can’t tell what’s going on due to the size of the fabric :$

[brianching]

This is so well explained! Wish he still uploaded

[susanrimmington]

Brilliant one of the best patterns I've seen, definitely going to use this, is there anymore patterns from this man, he's made it very easy to follow
Well done 👖👕👚🧥✂️