The Modern Patchwork Robe: A NEW sewing pattern!

Greetings and Happy New Year to all.  Owing to popular demand, we're pleased to introduce a brand NEW sewing pattern: the Modern Patchwork Robe!

The pattern is Layer Cake-friendly, using 10" fabric squares to construct the body of the robe and sleeves. 41 (10") fabric squares are needed for this pattern.  An additional 1.5 yards of coordinating fabric is needed for the collar, belt, facings and sleeve bands.  The pattern is available at our shop on eBay... simply click on the link on the sidebar.  Enjoy making your very own Modern Patchwork Robe!

The pattern includes directions for sizing the robe, from women's size S (small) to XL (extra large).  Make it from fabrics in your stash, or start with a stack of 10" squares from your favorite fabric manufacturer.

NOTE: To make the robe from regular yardage, choose the original Modern Robe pattern as shown at the link on our sidebar (photo below).

Image credits: Photos are the property of The Modern Robe.  For questions please email us at modernrobe {at} gmail {dot} com.

Modern Robe from Recycled Hawaiian Shirts

This robe was made for a dear friend.  It is made entirely from recycled Hawaiian silk shirts in shades of blue and ivory. I enjoy using men's Hawaiian shirts as the heavy, pre-worn silk has a wonderful feel that is almost velvety to the touch.  My friend loves the finished robe! It is shown below without and with the belt.

Here is a photo of one of the shirts used in the robe.  All the shirts were purchased from a thrift shop and washed in the washing machine before I cut them up.

One of the shirts had extensive embroidery on either side of the front, so I cut out those panels, pieced them lengthwise, and used that long strip for the back of the robe.

The original embroidered Tommy Bahama logo was also pretty; I cut it out in an oval shape and used it inside the robe.

Serging the many seams will help prevent them from raveling during future washings.

I hope this inspires you to consider your own Modern Robe product.  You can purchase the basic sewing pattern from our shop on eBay (with FREE shipping!) Have fun designing your own robe from scraps, clothing, or other fun fabrics.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Marina at Modern Robe.

Modern Robe in Blueberry Park fabrics

We love the look of the Modern Robe in fabrics from the Blueberry Park Collection by Karen Lewis for Robert Kaufman Fabrics.  This robe was stitched upon request of Stone Mountain and Daughter Fabrics in Berkeley, California, where it is displayed as a store model.

Here are the Indigo and Coral fabrics from the Blueberry Park collection :

AWI-15747-62 INDIGO by Karen Lewis -Blueberry Park 

AWI-15751-143  CORAL by Karen Lewis - Blueberry Park

Karen was born and brought up in Leeds, West Yorkshire in the UK where she learned to sew and knit with her grandmother. Karen always had a passion for textiles, pattern and color and after a brief silkscreen printing course in 2011, she set about teaching herself more about this technique in order to design her own fabric.  Blueberry Park is her first collection for Robert Kaufman.

Karen is also the author of the acclaimed book, Screen Printing at Home: Print Your Own Fabric to Make Simple Sewn Projects  (2014).

Screen Printing at Home by Karen Lewis

Karen Lewis is also a prolific quilter and her work is regularly seen in Love Patchwork and Quilting as well as Quilt Now magazines. As well as running workshops in her home in Leeds, she has taught at the Fat Quarterly Retreat and around the UK.  You can read a fascinating interview with Karen Lewis at Wicked Printing Stuff.

Stonemountain & Daughter is one of the last great full-service fabric stores in the country. There are less than 50 such stores in the country – there used to be at least one in every city and town! We're honored to have the Modern Robe pattern featured at Stonemountain & Daughter.

Modern Robe in Windham Fabrics

Happy 2016 to all !  I wanted to share a project made with our Modern Robe sewing pattern in one of Windham Fabrics' newest collections: Good Hair Day by Kim Andersson. The robe was made by Pati Fried at See How We Sew, and featured in a January 2016 blog hop.  Here is a photo of the robe from the Good Hair Day lookbook:

Pati Fried says:  "...when Laura [Nownes] and I were asked to create something out of this line to share in the blog hop, we jumped at the chance. What a perfect opportunity to embrace our girly side. Hmmm, combs, blowdryers, ribbons and curls – how about a girl’s pajama night? Laura chose a Butterick #B6225 pattern to make a pair of pajamas. I chose Modern Robe by The Modern Robe Company."

Modern Robe (right) by Pati Fried; Modern Robe pattern from The Cotton Patch

The turquoise Pati chose for the belt is a perfect complement to the red-orange fabric.  We love the way in which Pati added a flange of blue alongside the collar.  The Good Hair Day prints feature hair combs, bobby pins and other cute designs:

 

You can see Pati Fried wearing her Modern Robe at the See How We Sew blog hop post, and see the whole Good Hair Day collection - including several free quilt patterns - at Windham Fabrics.  Here is a free quilt pattern by Stacey Day:

Baubles quilt by Stacey Day, free pattern at Windham Fabrics

And speaking of QUILTS, you can find tons of quilt inspiration at Pati Fried.com and Laura Nownes.com. Here are two dazzling designs:

Shortcuts II quilt, 42 x 54", by Pati Fried, pattern available at Etsy

Making Waves quilt, 42 x 66",  designed by Pati Fried, Laura Nownes and Jennifer Rounds, pattern available at Etsy

Image Credits:  Photos are courtesy of Windham Fabrics (lookbook), See How We Sew, and Pati Fried, respectively.  The Modern Robe pattern used in this project was purchased at The Cotton Patch (Lafayettte, California).

Our newest distributor is in Canada!

We are excited to announce that Fabric Spark is carrying the Modern Robe pattern online, which means that we now have a distributor in Canada !  Owner Daryl Aitken has created a beautiful, well-organized shop with luscious designer fabrics, and creative quilting and sewing patterns.  Here is the Modern Robe, created by Daryl, in luscious Joel Dewberry fabrics from Fabric Spark.

This is the most gorgeous shade of raspberry we've seen!  Here is a close up of the fabrics, which you can find on this page as of this post.

You can find scores of unbelievably beautiful designer fabric at Fabric Spark, and you can search for fabrics by color, theme, manufacturer or designer.  Daryl Aitken, the store owner, says:  "I love the sewing community. Whether interacting with bloggers, fabric designers, pattern makers, manufacturers, or sewists, everyone I meet is nice, helpful, talented and enthusiastic. Fabric inspires me to make things. I hope that the fabric here will inspire other people to make things too."

Here are some fabrics we are currently coveting at Fabric Spark.

Some fabrics we are coveting at Fabric Spark

Image credits:  The Modern Robe photo is courtesy of Fabric Spark; the Modern Robe pattern can be ordered on this page.

I was featured at See How We Sew!

In a post at See How We Sew, I was thrilled to read an enthusiastic review of my Modern Robe sewing pattern. Here is a photo of the Modern Robe made by quilter, author and teacher Laura Nownes:

Those of you who are quilters may recognize Laura Nownes as the co-author (with Diana McClun) of Quilts! Quilts! Quilts!!! The Complete Guide to Quiltmaking. Laura offers quilt patterns and instruction on her website, Laura Nownes. 

Here is what Laura said about the Modern Robe: "There are many wonderful details that make this robe special: a stand-up collar, side seam pockets, a hanging loop, inside ties, reinforced facings AND there are no set-in seams! During construction I found myself enjoying the design and sewing process so much that I decided not to skip one single step. It is simply wonderful just as Marina has designed it. Being particular about patterns, I must say that I was extremely pleased with the clarity and thoroughness of her instructions. They are well written and include easy-to-follow diagrams. Although this robe looks wonderful in Asian-inspired fabrics, it can take take on a thoroughly modern look with today’s fabrics."

A big thanks to Laura for featuring Modern Robe and for sharing the photo. If you want to make a robe in fabrics of your own choosing, you can purchase a pattern at one of our distributors listed on this page. 

Modern Robe made from reclaimed Hawaiian shirts

I've been collecting men's silk Hawaiian shirts for use in sewing projects, and I finally had an occasion to turn them into a robe.   The heavy silk they use for men's shirts is buttery soft and easy to sew.  Here is the finished robe, which I gave to a dear friend.  It is based on a variation of my Modern Robe sewing pattern.

Here is the back of the robe...

This mens' Hawaiian shirt was used for the waist and collar detail on the robe...

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Marina at Modern Robe.

Our newest distributor: Fabricate!

I am thrilled to announce that our newest pattern distributor is Fabricate! Located in the beautiful Rocky Mountain city of Boulder, Colorado, co-owners Linda and Corey have assembled a truly chic, contemporary collection of designer fabrics, patterns and notions for sewing and quilting.  Don't you just love Linda's version of the Modern Robe?  She made it up in pretty florals from Art Gallery Fabrics.

For those who have never been to Boulder, Colorado, this photo* may just convince you to visit...

The center of downtown Boulder is the tree-lined Pearl Street pedestrian mall...

You will find Fabricate just off the mall on 17th street (for details and map location click here).  Just look for their distinctive blue sign and welcoming red brick archway...

Last but not least, here are Linda and Corey, the creative minds (and hands) behind Fabricate!

p.s. Fabricate offers an amazing variety of sewing and quilting classes.  Check out the whole list at the Fabricate website !

*Image credits:  The photo of Boulder in the summer by Ann Duncan is from the City of Boulder website.  The photo of flowers at the Pearl Street Mall is from the Downtown Boulder website. Photos of the Modern Robe, Fabricate storefront, and Linda & Corey are by Fabricate. 

African-Inspired Modern Recycled Robe

This modern robe, made from recycled clothing, was inspired by a good friend who went on an African safari.  She had the time of her life, and brought back some amazing photos of herds of zebra.  I went looking for vintage clothing with African prints, and I stumbled upon a black-and-white cotton skirt with a geometric design reminiscent of kuba cloth; this served as the focus fabric for the robe. Altogether, four different items of gently used clothing were cut up and pieced together: the black-and-white skirt, a black floral print skirt, a white lace sun dress, and a red-and-white dress with heart motifs.

 A strip of pleated white cotton from the sun dress was used as an insert across the bodice.  For the collar, I fussy-cut a line of hearts.  One of the heart motifs was used to decorate the inside neckline, and can be seen peeking out from behind the hanging loop in the photo below.

All of the fabrics were high-quality cotton voiles. One of the fun challenges was to cut up the clothing items in such a way as to center the large-scale design,  shown on the back of the robe, below. 

The sash was pieced together from different parts of the red-and-white dress.  The red heart motifs were placed at the ends of the sash.

I must say that this is one of my favorite recycled robes so far. It is as light as a feather, thanks to the tissue-weight vintage cottons.

Art Deco: Robe from reclaimed clothing

I have started making robes from vintage clothing.  I have titled this one "Art Deco" because of the fabulous art deco fabric, which I found at a thrift store.  This robe was created by deconstructing two vintage 100% cotton skirts: a turquoise Indian cotton skirt with gold trim, and the art deco print in blue and green.  Although it was a stretch to create a robe from only two items of clothing, I love the way it turned out.

Every inch of the reclaimed clothing was used; the sash was constructed with strips of the art deco print, along with the white cotton lining.  The gold trim, which was taken from the hem of the turquoise skirt, was used to decorate the sleeves.

The back of the robe might be my favorite part.  The stylized, art deco print resembles peacock feathers. I fell in love with the aqua blue and aqua green colors and design.

As you can see, I pieced the skirt fabric in the back to create one long panel.  This project was challenging and fun.  I'm now making another robe from recycled clothing in a totally different style... stay tuned for more photos from the studio !

p.s.  By request, we've added a tab at the top of the page which shows where to find our patterns.  For questions, email Marina at modernrobe@gmail.com

Pacific Northwest Style

I once lived in Seattle and learned a lot about Pacific Northwest style.  An influence of Japanese design can be seen in the often minimalist architecture, interiors, and clothing.  The art and design community in Seattle reflects the cloudy skies, and lush forests and rugged coastline.  The town of Mukilteo, Washington, is one of the towns that lines the Puget Sound. Our friend Lynda makes her home here, and her choice of Modern Robe fabrics reflects her Northwest lifestyle.

Lynda chose the long version of the Modern Robe, a good choice for cool and misty mornings.  This elegant salt-and-pepper print, in 100% cotton, has been described as "abundant white circles, as drawn on a chalkboard". The graphic print shows beautifully in this robe.  The surprising but delightful combination of the sash, in "Rhode Island Red", adds a dash of energy that we love.

The "Third In Line" design is by one of our favorite fabric designers: Marcia Derse.  The fabric combination worked out beautifully... and Lynda tells us that she loves her robe.

Above, Left: Circle swirls, Potpourri Collection,  Q1402-26062-991 at South Seas Imports.  Right: Rhode Island Red Basket Weave, TRO-1204/3, Third in Line by Marcia Derse for Troy Corporation

Lotta Jansdotter

Lotta Jansdotter’s fabrics are things of beauty, consisting of simple but modern designs with an air of sophistication. Her aesthetic is deeply rooted in the Scandinavian landscape. She was born 1971 on Åland, a small group of islands in the archipelago between Sweden and Finland.  Her look is sleek and urban and her products are created for a busy city life. Here is our Modern Robe in a bubbly stripe from Lotta Jansdotter's premier collection.  Wouldn't it be fun to throw on this robe in the morning ?

The robe and sash fabrics are from Lotta's debut collection for Windham Fabrics, which premiered in November 2011. The 100% cotton fabric is silky smooth and beautiful for sewing.

For the sash, shown above, we used Echo Aneta in Ironwood, a rich grey with brown undertones and scattered white pollen, which is just one of many delights within the collection. Currently available at Lotta Jansdotter's website.

Above: For the robe we selected Echo Choma in Bermuda in beautiful brown-grey and teal by Lotta Jansdotter. Below: A Lotta Jansdotter fabric bundle spotted at Backstitch (UK)

And here is Lotta Jansdotter with her collection (photo by Jennifer Causey for Windham Fabrics):