Purple and Turquoise Patterned Wool Blanket Robe (Large)
This shawl collared dressing gown is made from two glorious single woollen blankets 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.
***This gown is slightly paler in real life than the photos. It was hard to photograph and came out brighter than they actually are. They are still totally luscious colours.
THE DETAILS
*Each blanket is fully sanitised in wool wash and eucalyptus oil before it is cut and sewn.
*This particular gown is made from two single blankets, both dating back to the 1970's that have been lovingly up-cycled and repurposed into this wonderful dressing gown. It is a one-off bespoke piece.
*The actual colours of this gown are paler, less vivid, than in the photos. For some reason I had trouble photographing this one and getting the colours spot on.
*The lining is a 100% cotton purple/turquoise floral brand new sheet set from the 1980’s which I purchased from someone else’s stash.
*This robe is extremely heavy, similar to the weight of a coat. It is incredibly warm.
*This robe is a VERY generous Australian size 14 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.
*In the photographs, the cuffs are turned up to expose the lining but you can easily turn them down when it is cold or you need extra length.
*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)
Length of the gown is 54" (138cm), measured from the back of the neck to the bottom hem
Shoulder measures 20.5" (52cm) across the back. It is a slight drop shoulder.
Sleeve length is 22.5" (57cm), unfolded.
Chest is 51.5" (131cm) with the buttons done up.
Waist is 51.5" (131cm) 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.
Hips are 54" or 137cm, with the robe buttoned up at that front.
