Kimono Jacket is a must-have versatile garment that should be in every girl’s wardrobe. You may have heard of it as a kimono cardigan, kimono style jacket or maybe even as a kimono wrap.
Kimono Jackets are mostly sheer, long, cardigan-style jackets that you can wear as an outer garment. Sew them in knits or sheers or any beautiful patterned fabric you love and wear them with absolutely everything.
Please do not confuse these trendy jackets with the traditional Japanese Kimonos. They are nothing like them. If you have come here, mistakenly, looking for a pattern for making a Kimono (which is nothing like the kimono jacket) you can head over to the post on drafting a pattern and sewing a Kimono. Learn more about Kimono and different types of Kimonos here
Kimono Jackets are trendy throughout the year – You can sew them for summer as a light and airy jacket over your tank top or wear them over a romper on chilly night outs. You can wear it over your bath suit as a cover-up. Read about making a similar swimsuit coverup here.
Transform your boring dresses or t-shirts with a brightly patterned kimono jacket in brilliant color. I have seen black simple dresses transformed to chic with beautiful kimono jackets sewn with a fringed fabric.
Below are some brilliant tutorials to sew kimono jackets. They all have detailed easy instructions and will make you want to sew at least half a dozen in one single sitting. Â
In this article I will cover:
Easy Kimono Cardigan pattern & tutorial
This kimono sleeved cardigan is made best with a sheer, lightweight, flowy fabric like chiffon, georgette, crepe etc. Yes, you are going to have a lot of trouble sewing these fabrics. They are trouble with a capital T. But once stitched, they are beautiful. Or else sew in a silk fabric as I did.How to sew the easy Kimono CardigonÂ
Step 1Â Cut out the front pattern.
 Take a fabric piece 40 inches wide and 30 inches long and fold by half (by the vertical). This will be cut and separated by the middle after marking and cutting out the neckline, sleeve etc. Just follow the picture below for the dimenions
( If the front piece you are using is finished as mine is with fringes, you will have to add 1/4 inch extra at the bottom edge to make the back piece same as the front piece) If the front piece doesnot have any fringes like mine, finish the hem now. Just use a fabric strip of 1 1/4 inch to bind the hem.
If you are petite or thin, you may reduce the width of the fabric from 20 inch to a suitable width for your frame. The following pattern for a less widern kimono cardigan.
If you are interested in making tassels like the one preceding look at this post on making tassels.
Step 2. Cut out the back pattern for the kimono cardigan by folding a 40 inch wide and 30 inch long fabric by half.
The dimensions as given in the picture below are marked on the fabric ; for the sleeve mark 14 inches – this will give you the wide kimono sleeves
This is the back pattern when it is opened upÂ
Finish the lower edge of the back pattern with a binding – just keep a fabric strip of 1 1/4″ and bind the bottom edge of the kimono cardigan back piece
Step 3Â Join the shouder seams.
For that first, Keep the back piece right side up infront of you. Keep the front pieces on top of this rightside down- top edges of all pieces aligned. Stitch the shoulder seam together.
Step 4 Finish the sleeve hem.
Just turn under twice and stitch the whole 28 inch edge – do for both the sleeves
Step 5 Cut a bias strip long enough to finish the lapel edge and neckline.
You will need a 1″ bias tape for this.
Stitch the bias tape up from the bottom edge – first turn under the bias tape and then strat stitching . When you reach the other end also turn under the bias tape edge.
Turn to the back and stitch in place effectively binding the whole edge.
There, I have finished the kimono cardigan in under an hour or even less.Â
Kimono jackets on other sites
This site has instructions to make this cute kimono jacket ; The one in the picture is made in a luscious voile fabric and has a beautiful trim
Kimono Jacket from scarves
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An easy to make Kimono Jacket from scarves with a border print. Love Love.
Kimono cool tutorial
Made in a gorgeous silk fabric this kimono jacket is beyond cool ; The author recommends making a paper pattern before cutting on silk as it can prove slippery; you definitely do not want to ruin a precious fabric like this one.
1 1/4 yards of a beautifully printed cotton/rayon blend material and some length of pompom trim makes this very cute and simple kimono.Â
Related posts : How to sew shrugs with minimal sewing – 2 ways ; Make a waterfall jacket – easy tutorial; Make a bolero jacket ; Sewing capes – tutorials
Awesomely beautiful
I can’t even get any useful information outta this goooosh
Hi Farida
Why is that so? If you click on the links on the page – that will take you to the web pages with the tutorials or is there another problem?
Thanks
Same here. I wanted to see the lace tutorial, but it takes me to an update. I clicked on the 1 hour kimono tutorial takes me to a different site (which I already checked out) and THAT site has a link to a tutorial that doesn’t work.
Hi Kathy
Sorry for the trouble. I have replaced the wrong tutorial links – please have a look again
Love it