Taking Measurements and Preparing Materials

• 1). Measure the distance between your shoulder and the floor. Add six inches for ease. Measure the distance between your shoulder and the center of your chest. Measure the distance from your shoulder to the base of your neck. Measure your wrist circumference. Add three inches to this number. Measure the width of the sleeve by draping the measuring tape over the arm, perpendicular to your wrist. The width of the sleeve should be wide enough to have eight to 12 inches of sleeve hanging freely from the arm when the arms are lifted. Measure your torso at its widest point.
  
  
• 2). Multiply your shoulder to floor measurement (plus the six inches for ease) times two. Add the sleeve width. This is the minimum length of fabric you will need. Get three yards of a contrasting fabric for the obi (the wide, colorful sash.) Get six yards of cording.
  
  
• 3). Launder the fabric according to manufacturer's instructions. Press the fabric to remove all wrinkles and creases.
  
  

Sewing the Kimono and Obi

• 1). Measure out the sleeve width at the cut end of the fabric. Cut this and set aside. Measure out four inches from the selvage edge of the fabric. Cut this and set it aside; it will form the collar. Fold the fabric in half so that the cut edges meet. Cut the fabric at the fold. These are the body panels, front and back. The cut edge at the top of the fabric will be your shoulder seam.
  
  
• 2). Fold one body panel in half from selvage to selvage. Measure out the shoulder to neck measurement at the top of the panel. Mark this point. On the fold of the fabric, measure out the shoulder-to-chest measurement. Mark this point. Cut the neck opening diagonally from the center of the chest to the base of the neck. Cut the entire panel in half along the fold.
  
  
• 3). Place the body panel's right sides together. Sew the shoulder seams. Open the kimono and pin the sleeves to the body, right sides together. Sew the sleeves to the body. Sew the sleeves shut on the bottom. Mark off half your wrist circumference from the top of each sleeve. Sew the side of the sleeve shut up to that point. Sew the sides of the body shut.
  
  
• 4). Fold the collar fabric trimmed in half width-wise. Press the collar. Open the collar, and fold the fabric edges to the middle fold line. Fold along the center again and press.
  
  Slip the collar over the raw edges of the body panels. Pin the collar in place, and stitch closest to the body panels. Finish the raw edge at the hem.
  
  
• 5). Measure out one foot from the selvage edge of the obi fabric. Cut the fabric. The foot-wide piece will be the obi. Fold it in half so the cut edges meet, wrong side out. Sew the obi into a tube. Finish the raw edges. Cut the cording in half. These pieces will be the ties that go over and under your obi.