During a trip to Japan 4 years ago, my darling told me he wished for a pretty yukata. I thought it was a great idea to make one for him in the coming months but... covid arrived and my schedule became very busy in my previous role as hospital manager... in short, the yukata project was put on the back burner and then the shop opened... until recently when I thought it was time to keep my promise!
And what better occasion than its birthday on January 2nd to give it!
So, ready to discover my first sewing project of 2024?
Let’s go!
What is a yukata?
The yukata (浴衣) is a Japanese garment that resembles a kimono. It is a garment that covers both the upper and lower body. It has a clean, straight cut and long sleeves. Unlike the kimono, which is made from very noble fabrics (silk), the yukata is a lightweight version usually made of cotton, sometimes with linen and/or hemp.
In the past, the yukata was reserved for baths and home. It was an indoor/intimate garment. Today, it is worn outside, especially in summer and during summer festivals called matsuri.
There’s nothing better than strolling through the festival and enjoying the fireworks dressed in a pretty colorful yukata. It has really become a fashionable garment, and young girls and boys choose theirs carefully to look their best at the festival!
Usually made of cotton, this traditional thin and lightweight garment is ideal to wear in summer when the weather is hot and humid. Just like the Japanese kimono, the yukata is accessorized with a belt. Women wear it at the waist and men on the hips. It is worn directly over underwear.
The yukata comes in many colors and patterns. Some feature stripes, geometric shapes, flowers, and traditional Japanese designs (cherry blossoms, wagara…), while others focus on simplicity. While yukata for young women and children are particularly colorful and decorated with motifs, men and older people prefer simplicity and darker tones.
What is the history of this garment?
The yukata appeared in onsen: Japanese hot spring baths during the Heian period. Originally, it was a linen garment called yukatabaria that nobles used to dry themselves after their bath. This custom was adopted by samurai during the Edo period. Later, with the development of thermal tourism in Japan, this robe became widespread in public baths. Its name literally means "bath garment." Today, this lightweight kimono is often offered in hotels and ryokan (traditional Japanese inns) where it serves as casual indoor wear.
My boyfriend’s yukata
My boyfriend wanted a traditional yukata in more sober indigo tones but with a little touch of whimsy. So, we chose together a plain indigo blue fabric and a fabric featuring a traditional pattern mixing seigaiha (waves), rabbits, and sakura flowers.
We both liked this pattern:
- the rabbit symbolizes dedication and intelligence
- sakura: renewal, vitality, and beauty
- seigaiha: calm strength and good fortune
In short, this pattern was perfect for our project.
To create the pattern, I was inspired by haori patterns and a Japanese book I had on different yukata (for women). I also thoroughly examined the yukata I brought back from Japan to see how they were constructed. Of course, I took my sweetheart’s measurements carefully to adapt the pattern to his size.
In the seamstress’s basket
The yukata is a long and wide garment; it therefore requires a large amount of fabric.
Count about 4.2m to 4.5m for a woman and about 4.5m to 5m of fabric for a man.
For my part, since my sweetheart wanted a two-tone yukata, I used about:
- 1.5m of indigo blue fabric
- 3m of usagi fabric.
For the rest of the materials, you just need good thread, a bit of fusible interfacing for the facings, and a serger for a clean finish inside.
My sewing experience
I really enjoyed taking on this challenge! I love sewing new wardrobe pieces; it challenges me. Here, the biggest challenge was creating a pattern adapted to Gaëtan’s measurements and including all the specifics of a yukata.
I think I did pretty well, even if I can still improve the assembly of the facing.
As for the rest, the assembly is quite easy because the lines are clean and straight. The technical difficulties are more related to the assembly, which breaks away from our usual "European" assembly habits.
I'm really happy I was able to give him this pretty piece in time for his birthday. I hope he can wear it this summer and maybe even in Japan. That would be great!
And you, does it make you want to create this kind of piece?
How about a yukata workshop? It's true that with all our beautiful Japanese fabrics, it’s tempting!
Let's get those needles moving!
