I then spent months and months looking online and in shops at RTW dry robes. I made sketches measured etc and if you really wanted to make these the actual Dry Robe website gives you all the measurements and info you need. You can just screen shot their diagrams to work this out. So there is no pattern for this other than for the hood. I used the mens jacket pattern hood from Burda Style 08/99. I was just looking through it at the time of making and I am sure there are tons of similar hoods that could be used. You need one that zips right up to the chin to keep you warm but I have seen a couple of bloggers use a hoody type hood instead. That would be less warm and its not what the commercial dry robes have but would be ok rather than no hood.
All they do not say of the Dry Robe website is their sleeve measurements are taken from neck to wrist. I never understood at the start of making so ended up shortening them on both robes, but now you know this, it will be an easy thing to make. I would encourage anyone to have a go at this one rather than waste cash buying this. Its such a basic easy shape.
If you use a heavy weight fabric like this waterproof polyester canvas then it does get very heavy to hold while sewing so is best done on a reasonable sized table. Otherwise, this is easy to make and you could use patch pockets rather than welt. Some versions of dry robe copies do this. Adding pockets into the side seam is not a viable option though due to the width needed to use this as a changing robe. I went with welts partly because I need to get my head round making them and stop faffing around avoiding patterns that have welt pockets. It seemed a good way to deal with this personal fear head on. It would not cost too much if it went wrong but would really make me happy to achive it and I have.
I underestimated how much fleece I needed so had to buy more. This is a budget fleece which is £7.50 for 2m. Botht he outer and lining are from Pound Fabrics. The fleece comes pre-cut into 2m lengths. I began with 4m of purple so 2 if these lengths. But when I started to make I realised I will need a bit more and the purple has sold out so I had to go with royal blue. That's the reason the pockets have a contrast.
Clamp edges for a while to encourage to be flat. Unfortunately never took the next photos but I masking taped zips in place, sewed on right side and left masking tape there.
I already had most of a whole roll of bright blue velcro so thats what we had to have. It looks OK though I think.
The insides on both robes are purple but the pockets are royal blue because I had to buy more and they had run out of the purple. I do not think it actually matters and the fleece pockets are so warm!
This was quite crushed up in the camper but the thick waterporrof fabric should hang out quite quick I think.
As explained above the main problem with these is my dislike and total incompetence at welt pockets. It put me off making for months! In the end I watched lots if YouTube and realised the bag making version is better for my purpose because of the bulky fleece pockets and the video I watched they have a facing then add the pocket after.
So I decided stuff it and went for it.
As you can see my zippy welt pockets are very far from perfect. Also, the video I watched made a huge point you need a half inch for the welt. This meant my original zip choice won't work and I needed wider zips. I have these khaki metal zips in my stash that I bought years ago so I used them. I just hoped the metal zips work, don't catch hands or hurt when it's cold. It's what I had so I used them and got very wobbly zippy pockets. But they are fine as it turns out.
I made the pockets as follows:
Sew on line, then cut
turn inside out
This is how the reverse looks after sewing:
So very messy, but maybe the tape may even help stop water coming in? No idea to be honest, but don't want to risk messing up my zippy opening by removing so it's staying put on the reverse.
I reckon it's better than attempting this with this fleece. And the budget stuff is very thick. It's like normal fleece one side and almost sherpa on the other. I used the sherpa side as the side you can see.
In the end I had just two and a half weeks to make both of these so I missed out the inside pockets. It was a hard slog getting them finished, but I did it and with a day to spare. I made the welt pocket linings huge to make up for that, and I think in all honesty I do not need to carry a hot water bottle on the beach and thats apparently what the larger pocket is designed for. I do not surf in the middle of winter. We did one year go in, in October, but I probably will not do it again. I live in the middle of the UK as far as possible from the sea so there is really little opportunity do go in the sea unless I go away on holiday and I cannot do that as often as I would like to.
These will double as warm winter coats, though my other half says no way will he be wearing his as a coat. I probably will.
This was quite crushed up in the camper but the thick waterporrof fabric should hang out quite quick I think.
Bearing in mind the dryrobe is £180+ each and these come out around £70 for us both including the fabric I have bought as extra I think slightly miss-shaped pockets is not so bad. And if I make again they will be better because I now know, yes, adjust for width of zip being used.
Maybe I am being too perfectionist about my welt pockets? I had a look around town the other day at RTW clothing and much of it has pockets no better than these. I do aim for perfection though, or as near to perfection as I can manage. I do not feel happy with these realy but they do function well so I suppose thats a major thing.
If we decide we hate dryrobes it's not much money lost and they will easily make into dog coats. Though I actually bought more of the camo waterproof fabric for dog coats as well. It's probably my project for November now I can hopefully get sewing again.
Thanks for popping by and have a lovely week and if you decide to make a dry robe and need any info please do ask because I have tons of diagrams and workings out and am happy to share.
Have a great week,
Bracken
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