A kimono jacket is a loose, T-shaped jacket with wide rectangular sleeves and a long band that runs up one front, around the neck and down the other. It is worn open, or closed with a tie belt, and it is mostly straight lines, which makes it one of the easiest jackets to sew. Sewly sizes the body from your bust, shoulders and back waist length, and the sleeves from your arm length.
Kimono jacket options
- Length: hip (the default), thigh, knee, or long as a robe.
- Sleeves: short, elbow (default), three-quarter or long. They are wide, open kimono sleeves that hang from a shoulder fold.
- Front band width: from 3 to 10 cm (1 1/4 to 4 in), 6 cm (2 3/8 in) by default.
- Tie belt: off by default; on, it comes with two belt loops.
- Patch pockets: off by default.
This is an unstructured jacket: no collar, no lapels and no lining. Tailored jackets and coats are not in Sewly's library yet.
Sizes for women, men and children
Use your own measurements or a standard size: women's EU 32–54 (US 0–22, UK 4–26), men's XS to 3XL, or children's 2 to 14 years. Because the fit is loose, a few numbers are enough: bust, shoulder width, back waist length and arm length, plus your waist-to-knee or waist-to-floor length for the longer versions.
Best fabrics for a kimono jacket
Fabrics that drape: viscose, linen, cotton double gauze, silk, lightweight wool, or quilted cotton for a warmer jacket. Viscose and silk give a fluid beach cover-up or robe; linen and double gauze make an everyday layer. Large prints show off well on the broad, flat pieces.
How hard is it to sew?
An advanced beginner project. The body and sleeves are easy; the care goes into the long front band, which must lie flat without twisting. Allow 4 to 6 hours. Since the seams show when the jacket moves, finish them neatly: see finishing seams without a serger.
What's in the pattern
- Back, cut on the fold
- Two fronts, cut as a mirrored pair
- Two sleeves, each a rectangle cut on the fold at the shoulder
- Front band, given as cutting dimensions, joined at center back if your fabric is too short
- Patch pockets, tie belt and two belt loops, if chosen
Notions: lightweight fusible interfacing for half the width of the band. The guide gives the fabric quantity for 110, 140 and 150 cm (45, 55 and 60 in) wide fabric, with a cutting layout.
How to sew a kimono jacket
- Topstitch the patch pockets to the fronts, if you chose them.
- Sew the shoulder seams.
- Attach the sleeves to the body, matching the notches.
- Sew each underarm and side seam in one pass, and finish the seams.
- Hem the sleeves and the body.
- Interface, attach and fold the front band, then make the belt and press.
Our project post on sewing a kimono jacket from two meters of fabric follows this pattern with tips on handling viscose.
Frequently asked questions
How much fabric do I need for a kimono jacket?
A hip-length kimono jacket with elbow sleeves usually takes 1.8 to 2.5 m (2 to 2 3/4 yd) of 140 to 150 cm (55 to 60 in) wide fabric. A knee-length or robe version needs about 3 to 4 m (3 1/4 to 4 3/8 yd). Sewly computes the exact quantity for your size and fabric width.
Can I make a kimono robe with this pattern?
Yes. Choose the long length, long sleeves and the tie belt. Cotton lawn, viscose or a light flannel make comfortable robes.
Is this a tailored jacket?
No. It has no collar, lapels or lining and is meant to be worn loose. Tailored jackets and coats are not in Sewly's library yet.
Is a kimono jacket a good first jacket to sew?
Yes. It is mostly rectangles and straight seams, with no set-in sleeves and no buttonholes. The front band is the only part that asks for patience.