How To Use French Seams to Make The Weekendje Kimono

Hi Guys! Have you ever made a garment using french seams?  Well, today, I’m going to show you how I made my Weekendje Kimono from The Eli Monster using french seams.  As part of my The Eli Monster brand ambassasorship post for the month, I selected the Weekendje Kimono pattern.  Kimonos are very much on trend and is such a vercitle piece to own.  A kimono is something you can defininitely dress up or down, so I was excited to add this piece to my warbdrobe.

DIY Weekendje Kimono

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Let me start of by saying that this is a fairly simple project to make since it only has 3 pieces.  Yes, only 3 pieces!  Now, I say fairly easy because it all depends on what type of fabric you choose.  You can pretty much use whatever kind of fabric you like, as long as it has a nice drape.  I used a satin charmeuse fabric I picked up in LA at the Michael Levine Loft.  First of all, this fabric frayed like a mutha and is pretty slippery!  Once the 3 pieces are sown together, the pattern instructions call for the edge to be hemmed using a rolled hem foot, which I did not have.  I figured I would finish my seams off with my serger and fold over twice and sew down my seams.  Well, that plan was not working out because the fabric was being pulled while serging and ruining my fabric!  Good thing I used a test scrap first.  After days of trying to figure what to do, I got the bright idea of changing out my serger needles with microtex needles and it worked like a charm!  I was able to serge my kimono without ruinning my fabric!

How To Sew Using French Seams

Since I didn’t want my serged seams to show, I decided to use french seams to make my kimono.  I made a kimono a while ago using french seams as well and I thought it worked out perfectly.  You can read all about my Willow Kimono HERE.  French seams are a great way to finish a garment because the raw edge is encased and no one will be able to see them.  Below is a quick and painless way of sewing french seams.

Once I figured out my serger issue, it took me no time to finish my Kimono.  I decided to go casual with my look and paired my Kimono with a pair of jeans and a white tank top.  I pulled out this beautiful leather purse my Mom brought back for me from her trip to Italy.  You can purchase your very own Weekendje Kimono HERE.