Kimono Dress

I made the Kimono Dress in the Heather Ross Weekend Sewing Book. I wanted to make it out of knit fabric, and I scored some inexpensive, yet stable interlock knit at my nearest mega-store, so I was willing to consider this dress a muslin.

Yes, I bought the fabric to match my shoes.

The sash fabric is silk from a different mega-store. I got it on clearance in the bridal section and could only get the 1/4 yard that you see there. It is nearly 44" wide and I simply cut it in half lengthwise and sewed it together. I finished the edges with a rolled hem on my serger, using wolly nylon in the upper looper.

The dress itself only vaguely follows the pattern. I made the bodice and then wrapped it around me until I had adequate coverage and a less plunging neckline. Then I took in the side seams of the skirt until it matched the circumference of the bodice. After I sewed the bodice to the skirt I tried the dress on and it was still way too big. So I took inches more off the waist, tapering from under the kimono sleeves to the hip. I got a little carried away and would like it to be a little less snug through my low-waist, but it's soft and comfy and stretchy! I'll be making many more!