Despite my best efforts to stand strong, I was weak and allowed my resolve to crumble last weekend. That’s right – I finally turned on my air conditioning. I try to wait as long as possible to turn on my AC but we had a bit of a heatwave come through and my open windows and ceiling fans were no longer doing the job. I don’t know how long it will last, but while things are warming up, I need some cool clothes for lounging. I’ve had my eye on the Almada robe from Seamwork for years now and I finally took the plunge using lemon yellow chiffon I received from Minerva. This might be the quickest sew I’ve made in a while, and I think it’s the perfect warm weather robe.
For my Almada, I made one big change and one small change. For my big change, I lengthened the robe by 10 inches. The original mid-thigh length was cute, but I wanted something grander. Nothing says “GRAND” like a floor-length chiffon robe. Just imagine me clutching my robe as I run through a dark castle, guided only by my flickering candelabra. In your imagination, am I wearing a short robe? Didn’t think so 😊. For my small change, I skipped the bias tape binding because I was afraid that would lessen the floaty feel of the robe. Instead, I used my serger to finish the seams and folded them over twice to enclose them in a narrow hem. I really like the way it turned out and if I decide to go grander in the future (I’m looking at you, marabou feather trim), I can easily build upon the narrow hem.
I love yellow fabric and this beautiful lemon yellow Cutspot Sheer Chiffon fabric from Minerva is no exception. Unlike most chiffons I’ve worked with, it didn’t snag or unravel like crazy. I was even able to skip serging the cut edges of the fabric before laundering and I had no issues. If I tried that with other chiffon, I’d end up with a ton of loose threads. I used a new 70/10 needle for this project and this chiffon sewed like a breeze. The raised dots on the fabric not only add a stunning aesthetic, but also weighs the fabric down slightly while sewing. Any time I don’t have to chase fabric around my sewing machine or serger is a good time for me.
Overall, this is an ideal afternoon project for anyone looking for a simple but satisfying make. While it is meant for lounging around the house, with careful fabric choices, I can easily see this robe being worn at the beach or on a casual night out. I can even see Almada being worn at a fancy event if made with luxurious fabrics. I can’t believe it took me nearly six years to make a robe that ultimately only took a few hours to complete. There’s a lesson there somewhere, but I can’t focus on that yet. I’m distracted – I think it’s finally cool enough to turn off my AC.
