Floral CLUB print Minky Robe with Chloe of No Idle Hands

September 16, 2021 1 Comment

Hi, this is Chloe of @no.idle.hands and I’m on the blog today to share with you my newest RCF make – a minky robe perfect for the cooler weather just around the corner here in North America. 

Here in Virginia, fall is my favorite season with the crisp air and blue sky. As soon as I spot the first change of color in leaves, I start making sewing plans of cozy layering pieces in soft French Terry and sweater knits – way before that pumpkin spice latte becomes seasonally acceptable!

This year though with a new little one on the way, my autumnal wardrobe thoughts are less about flannel shirts on a hayride and more about comfy lounge wear while snuggling at home. While browsing for project inspiration on the RCF website, I found myself keep clicking on all the minky CLUB prints. And when I spotted this gorgeous watercolor floral, I instantly knew it’s meant to become a minky robe. With RCF’s super-fast shipping, I was ready to get sewing in just a few days! 

First of all, let me tell you that although I’m always impressed by the quality of RCF, I was still pleasantly surprised when I opened the package and set my eyes/hands on this lovely minky. The colors are even more vibrant and joyous in person than on screen! And the base is sooooo silky soft with amazing drape. Although made of synthetic fiber, it is fluid, breathable and not static at all. What I love most is the fact that it’s double-sided, with soft minky pile on both the printed front side and the white back side. What’s more, the pile on the back side is longer, perfect for going against the skin. This is so much better than the single sided minky you get in big box stores where the back side is flat – takes all the fun out of minky when it’s not hugging you directly!

I chose the Love Notions Compose Robe pattern for a classic dressing gown style with waist belt. It comes with 2 length options, and can be made with all round collar band or hood. I like my robe knee-length and without hood for quick layering around the house. But a full-length robe with hood would be perfect for just lounging! The pattern has only a handful of pieces, thus a very straightforward make for all skill levels. The simple shape and positive ease also makes it a breeze to fit, and adjust if needed. In case you want to twin with your littles, it does come in kid’s size!

1. Have your vacuum at hand! All minky fabrics shed somewhat, so do expect some fuzz during your project. I tossed mine in the dryer at low heat first, which helped. Fortunately the RCF minky only sheds at the cut edge so once your garment is sewn there’s almost no shedding/pilling afterwards.
2. Plan out your cutting, paying attention to the direction of pattern pieces. The RCF minky is listed as a woven fabric but it does have about 15% stretch cross grainline, much like a stable knit. I placed the direction of stretch around the body for maximum wearing comfort. Also, if you observe the pile carefully on the printed side, they fall to one direction along the selvage. When you run your hand along that direction it feels smoother than the other direction. Because of this directional pile, the fabric has a slightly different look depending on which way up you hang it. Decide on the way you prefer, and stick with it for all your pattern piece placement. So when the garment is sewn, it has a consistent shading throughout.
3. Minky is slippery and shifts more than regular fleece, thanks to the long pile. Pinning and clipping diligently definitely helps. I like to use wonder clips so I don’t have to pin through thick layers. If you have the larger size clips it’s even better! Use a serger whenever you can to help provide a more even feed. If you must use the sewing machine, considering using a walking foot. On both my serger and sewing machine, I slightly increased the tension and used longer stitch lengths to offset the resistance of the pile for a smooth feed. Experiment on scraps first to find the best setting for your machines. 

I am beyond pleased with my new minky robe in this stunning CLUB print and feel pampered every time I wear it. The vibrant florals are simply gorgeous with the subtle sheen of the silky minky and will surely brighten up a chilly winter morning (or a midnight feed 😉). I can’t wait for cooler weather to be here so I can cozy up in my new robe with that pumpkin spice latte!

Thank you for reading! Until next time,

Chloe @no.idle.hands

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