Aqua and Purple Wool Blanket Robe (XL)
This shawl collared dressing gown is made from a glorious woollen blanket that every Australian of a certain vintage remembers growing up with. Instead of duvets, they kept us toasty warm in the winter, often stacked two and three thick in the middle of winter.
No two gowns are ever alike as it is nearly impossible to find multiples of the same blanket, unless they were originally purchased together. Each little woollen mill in Victoria, around Melbourne, made their own unique colour combination and as the fashions changed from decade to decade, so did the feature colours. Sadly, almost all of these little woollen mills no longer exist. I have been collecting these gorgeous blankets for years and have rarely come across multiples of the same.
Where possible for the lining, I use vintage bed sheets if I can find them, otherwise I use 100% cotton fabrics which have been reclaimed, such as factory overruns or from unused lengths of fabrics recycled from someone else's stash.
The Details:
*All buttons are vintage buttons from the 1940's-60's.
*Each blanket is fully sanitised in wool wash and eucalyptus oil before it is cut and sewn.
*This particular blanket (two slightly different single blankets) date back to the 1970's and have been lovingly up-cycled and repurposed into this wonderful dressing gown. It is a one-off bespoke piece. The back is a different blanket with more purple.
*The lining of the gown is made from a bright happy floral cotton which was purchased as a roll end from a Melbourne company that purchases roll ends from manufacturers to save them from landfill.
THE DETAILS
*This robe is extremely heavy, similar to the weight of a coat. It is incredibly warm.
*This robe is a Australian size 18 which is slightly smaller than US sizing and slightly larger than UK sizing.
*The blankets are 100% lambswool and the robe is fully lined in 100% cotton fabric.
*Even the back of the neck is lined so the wool does not touch your skin.
*There are two hidden pockets in the side seams.
*In the photographs, the cuffs are turned up to expose the lining but can easily be folded down.
*The sleeve hems and bottom hem are both hand sewn so that if you need to alter the length of either, this can be done very easily if you are handy, or by your alterationist.
*The entire length of the front edges of the robe and around the collar is blanket stitched as the old blankets were on the edges, only mine is done my hand.
*Measurements: (These measurements are of the garment, not of the person wearing it)
-The overall length of the gown is 54" (138cm), measured from the back of the neck to the bottom hem
-The shoulder measures 21.5" (55cm) across the back. It is a slight drop shoulder.
-The sleeve length is 23" (59cm), unfolded.
-Measurement around the bust of the robe is 54" (137cm) with the buttons done up.
-The total measurement around the waist is 54" (137cm) with a 6" (15cm) overlap at the front with buttons done up.
-Shaping at the waist can be achieved with the tie belt and the buttons are there so there so the gown does not gape open.
-Measurement of the robe around the hips is 56" or 142cm, with the robe buttoned up at that front.
*MEASUREMENTS:
(These measurements are of the garment, not of the person wearing it)
Please compare your own measurements to those of the garment.
***If you have questions about what size you are, or if purchasing for someone else, please feel free to contact me and we can discuss sizing.
