Debra's Project: Patchwork Bathrobe

Thank you for your thoughtful comments on my post about the Altar quilts.  Very nice!  I enjoy what you have to say!

It turned a little chilly this week.  On Friday morning I got up hunting through my closet for my old faithful fleece bathrobe.  Then I remembered I had banished it from use last year!  It's really gross.  But, being who I am, I decided to keep it with the thought of remaking it into a new bathrobe.  My plan was to sew patchwork and use it as the inner layer; basically the same process I use for my quilts.

You know how those ideas sound in your head?  Yea, this one was like that.  When I "really" thought about it, I realized I wouldn't know where the edges were on the bathrobe when it was sandwiched in the middle. If I wanted a guide I would have to draw & cut a paper pattern ahead of time.  OK, this is already sounding like more than a weekend's work.  I shuffled through my patterns.  At some time in the past I decided to sew coats to sell.  Did you see them?  Me either.  But, I have the patterns. And, it's very possible this bathrobe experiment will lead to patchwork coats.  I believe in timing. 😎

My favorite bathrobe (and coat) has either a large collar or a hood.  I can't handle my neck getting cold.   This pattern seems to be perfect for my needs!  The Fast & Easy is appealing!  😎 

Also on my radar screen lately has been a large cache of floral prints.  Probably at least 10+ years ago I decided to collect some rose prints to make a crazy quilt.  At the time I was new to crazy quilting so didn't realize how little I would need of each print, if I even wanted a print.  But, ignorance is bliss and I happily bought a bunch of fabric.   I had lived with men so long I was just craving something feminine of my own choice.  I may have gone overboard a bit.  Not much, just a bit.  

This reminds me of a similar buying spree.  My son, who is a chef, asked for a food themed quilt.  Oh Fun!  Everywhere I went I looked for food fabrics.  People sent me scraps from their stashes.  By the time I got ready to sew his quilt I had enough food fabric for 3 king sized quilts.  All he really wanted was a big cuddle quilt for the couch.  Yea, you get it, right?

Yesterday morning I pulled fabrics.  The ones I didn't love as much as the rest I decided to use for the bathrobe lining.  I got busy sewing a piece of yardage.  When I was finished, I quickly realized I actually liked it a lot and didn't want to sew another piece for the front.  This piece will now become the front.  I picked this vintage sheet for the lining.  I tend to like stylized flowers more than realistic ones.

 Speaking of crazy quilts, I pulled out a box of my linens and some my friend Cathy sent me.  I've decided to crazy patch some of them together for the collar.  In my mind, it looks lovely.  😎  I guess we'll find out soon enough! 

What about the old bathrobe?  I guess it will become the inner layer on something smaller.  I don't want to spend the time or effort taking it apart for this project.  I'll use a thrifted flat blanket instead.  

Next step will be to lay out the pattern pieces and see how much I overestimated the pieced yardage!  

Check back because I'll be posting progress photos.  

Please Join the Conversation!

Have you had projects that looked better in your head than reality?

💬💬💬