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Member since 7/25/08
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Posted on: 11/13/18 8:10 AM ET
Which patterns used for quick Christmas gift ideas? I've made basic open ones, looking for the throw-on, Closed types. I saw some in sunny climates on vacation, scarf types with a V-neck opening, but they seem to shift, fall off shoulders, or have batwing sleeves to get in the way.
  
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Posted on: 11/13/18 9:44 AM ET
I just made my first kimono out of a fiddly poly chiffon and the newish Jalie kimono pattern. I really don’t care for the bands on such patterns that stick out 2 inches and stop at about the waist ( I prefer the bands to go all the way to the hem) . I made a mess of mine, so I just cut the band off and rolled the edges to save a wadder and turn it into a beach coverup.
The point of this rambling is I think I could have just sewn up the center seam ( maybe made the two front panels narrower if needed) and it would have been what you describe.
  
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Posted on: 11/14/18 6:26 AM ET
I believe what you are looking for is called a Caftan.
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height 5'2" bust 36, waist 31, hip 39.
I have way too many yards to count, and I will never use them up, but I will die trying!
  
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Posted on: 11/14/18 7:01 AM ET
In reply to gramma b
The thing about those loose caftans you see on vacation is that they are made to be one-size-fits-all, so they can sell them to as many folks on vacation (vacation mindset in play here) as possible, and of course one size usually fits no body very well. Every vacation location has clothing options like this - many patterns/colors of usually 1-2 styles of something simple to wear and even simpler to make in mass quantities. In Thailand it's a simple long wrap skirt or pant made of rayon challis. Other places it's a bikini. Other places it's a caftan or muumuu.

There are many caftan patterns out now, sorry I don't have any specifcs, I tried one for myself and hated it. That was my short-lived "need to try new styles" phase, so nothing against caftans here. I do wish I had that fabric back though. I guess I am just saying you might save some time/money with respect to gifts if you determine first if the recipient would really like that style because if not it might end up in a drawer or passed along.

I am struggling mightily with the urge to make lovely things for others at this time of year vs them actually wearing it. Your post really hit that button for me.

Good luck finding just the right pattern, I hope you find what will work in your circumstances!
  
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Posted on: 11/14/18 10:13 AM ET
In reply to YoungRobert
Right--they always show ladies lolling around their patios with a tropical drink in a voluminous kaftan or muumuu. Of course they never go in the kitchen to drag sleeves in anything. I once had a wacky neighbor who would glide down the street in one every day to the mailbox, tropical drink in hand. We went to her BBQ--she'd take a drink from her constant wine glass on the counter, stir, repeat, swish around in her kaftan, sip, add seasonings, stir, sip. We weren't sure of the "additions" vs. food in her recipes.
FYI, I found some lovely $8 scarves for these measuring 36" x 2 yards in sustantial poly, not whiskery fabric. I want a more useful top than a kimona worn with jeans--not good at that proper layering of fashions either. At craft shows in Ca. saw a vendor whipped up scarf kimonas (probably bought for a few bucks) and just zigzagged raw seams together, not serged or French seams. The young snatched them up at $40 apiece, not knowing they'd fall apart washing. Our Goodwill also gets new long scarves donated, realized you can buy 2 coordinating ones and use the 2nd for sleeves like RTW does.
Well, snow is coming, why are we on sunny wear?!


-- Edited on 11/14/18 at 10:17 AM --
  
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Posted on: 11/14/18 11:44 AM ET
In reply to gramma b
Ha, ha, funny story, thanks for the laugh! Maybe she was going for shabby chic.

Scarves are a great idea for a base. I can see shorter cap sleeves created by the scarf edge. Enough of a sleeve to cover the shoulders, but not enough to hinder movement. It could also end up as a colorful collarless tunic over a crisp white shirt.

I think it's fun to make any season of clothes anytime, unless you really need to be wearing something at that moment for that season. The trick is to not make it up, put it away, and then forget about it. Summer makes in the winter can inspire a winter vacation to a summery climate, so, not a bad thing.
  
Member since 11/28/13
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Posted on: 11/14/18 3:43 PM ET
Do you mean "Kimona" or "Kimono"? I assumed that the first was a rare Americanism for kimono, but it's actually a Filipino women's garment. Learn a new thing every day.
  
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Posted on: 11/14/18 4:07 PM ET
In reply to pointpatou
Hey, that’s fun! Thanks for the info on a garment I had never heard of. Pretty!
  
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Posted on: 11/14/18 5:02 PM ET
In reply to pointpatou
Well, many words get "fractured" when they cross the oceans. We are enjoying shows from other countries with services like Netflix, altho some translations are too fast to read. Aussies accents for instance, we find easier to understand than the Queen's English. I envy Europeans growing up close to/traveling to other countries so they pick up parts of several languages better than those in the US. Now they say our young are limiting their vocabulary and can't write with their appreviated terms on social media and technology?! winkgrin:
  
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Posted on: 11/18/18 10:26 AM ET
In reply to gramma b
Fractured words: I was imagining a WWII movie in which a GI flies into Tokyo on leave and picks up a "kimona" to send home to his honey. Maybe I did hear someone say that in a movie once.

Language use by the young: You can always tell my age on social media. I use basic abbreviations like "BTW," "IRL," and "FWIW," but otherwise write out words. It's irritating to have to look up arcane (at least to me) slang.
  
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