How to make a robe

1. Materials & tools

Materials (women's M)

• Main fabric (waffle, double gauze or linen) — about 110 cm wide × 330 cm (43 × 130 in)
• Optional: self-fabric belt loops for the sides
• Thread to match

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Adult clothes” → “Robe” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter bust, length, shoulder width, sleeve length, collar width and ease. Presets cover women's M, men's M and a short version.
3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Trace the pattern
   Trace the back (on the fold), the fronts, the sleeves, the collar and the sash. Each front extends past the center front — that is the wrap. Transfer the collar notches (shoulder and the bottom of the V) as well.
2. Cut
   Cut one back, two fronts (flipping the pattern for the second), two sleeves, two collar strips and one sash. The collar strips are long, so cut them along the lengthwise grain.
3. Finish the edges
   Zigzag or serge the shoulder, side and underarm allowances.

4. Sewing

4-1. Sew the shoulders

1. Sew both shoulder seams and press the allowances open. A robe carries weight on the shoulders, so pressed-open seams sit better than pressed-to-one-side.

4-2. Attach the sleeves

1. Match the center of each sleeve head to the shoulder seam and sew the sleeve into the armhole.
2. Sew the sleeves in while the garment is still flat — the armhole is far easier to handle open than in the round.

4-3. Sides and underarms

1. Sew from the cuff along the underarm and down to the hem in one continuous line, lining the underarm seams up first.
2. If you are adding belt loops, catch them in the side seams now.

4-4. Hem and cuffs

1. Turn the hem and cuffs under 1 cm and then 2 cm, and stitch close to the fold.
2. Hemming before the collar goes on lets you line the collar ends up with the finished hem.

4-5. Attach the collar

1. Join the two collar strips at the center back, right sides together, and press the seam open. Fold the collar in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and press.
2. Pin one long edge of the collar to the right side of the robe: the join at the center back, the notches at the shoulders and at the bottom of the V. Sew from one front hem, around the back neckline, to the other front hem. Clip the body allowance on the back neck curve so it follows.
3. At each hem, fold the collar end right sides together, stitch across and turn it out.
4. Fold the collar over to the inside to cover the seam, and topstitch close to the edge from the right side (or slip-stitch by hand).

4-6. Sash

1. Fold the sash in quarters lengthwise, press and topstitch all around.
2. Thread it through the belt loops.

✏️ The collar runs in one band from one front hem, around the back neck, to the other hem. Wider reads as a shawl collar, narrower as a light wrap. About 7 cm (2¾ in) is easy to sew and looks balanced.

5. Tips & variations

• Waffle for a bathrobe: absorbent and quick-drying, which is the whole job.
• Add pockets: catch pocket bags in the side seams for your phone and glasses.
• Belt loops are essential: without them the sash slides around and the robe falls open. They take five minutes.