I started work last evening on a silver satin kimono, one of the costumes for the Nova Albion convention in March.  I chose this material for my first attempt because I have a whole roll of it, little use for it, and it is a wonderful weight and flow for a kimono.  When finished, I am intending to paint on it.

Since I have never made a kimono before (or any similar garment), I am leaning heavily on the instructions and pattern diagrams in Making Kimono and Japanese Clothes. It’s an excellent read, with clear instructions and historic notes, but laid out for use by the modern wearer.

Traditional Japanese fabric is narrow, so there would usually be a seam along the back.  I decided to take advantage of the qualities of the material I have and leave out that seam.  I did, however, cut both the front and back out of a single piece of fabric, so there is no shoulder seam.  I slashed it up the center front to the neck, and then slashed 1.75″ to either side along the shoulder to create the neck opening.  The front is widened with extension pieces, into which the collar is sewn along a diagonal.  It was much harder to attach the collar than I had expected, and this one when finished and laying folded will not have the nice crisp angle at the shoulder. There’s a lot of work left to do. It will not be lined when finished.