Aqua, Pink & Tan stripe - Wool Blanket Robe (Small)
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.
Each blanket is fully sanitised in wool wash and eucalyptus oil before it is cut and sewn.
This particular blanket, one double blanket, date back to the 1960's and has been lovingly up-cycled and repurposed into this wonderful dressing gown. It is a one-off bespoke piece in a unique palette of colours: Aqua, pink, beige and cream.
*The lining of the gown is 100% cotton, an old stock sheet set (new in packaging) from the 1970's.
*There wasn't a single bit of this fabric leftover for the belt so the belt is made of the lining fabric and pale pink 100% linen so it is reversible.
*This robe is extremely heavy, similar to the weight of a coat. It is incredibly warm.
*This robe is a Australian size 8-10 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.
*All buttons are hand dyed vintage buttons from the 1940's-70's. These gorgeous buttons come from Israel, and have some very pretty glitter detail. Zoom in on some of the pics.
*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 52" (132cm), measured from the back of the neck to the bottom hem
-The shoulder measures 19" (48cm) across the back. It is a slight drop shoulder.
-The sleeve length is 21" (53cm), unfolded.
-Measurement at the bust of the robe is 45.5" (115cm) with the buttons done up.
-The total measurement around the waist is 45.5" (115cm) 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 at the hips is 51" or 129cm, with the robe buttoned up at that front.
