After the Bath: 4 Best Robe Sewing Patterns in 2 Designs

The bathrobe on the back of the bathroom door is either too short to keep your knees warm or so thick it takes two days to dry. The one you loved at the hotel stayed at the hotel. A robe sewing pattern lets you choose the length, the fabric and the collar, and a robe is a forgiving first garment because it wraps and ties instead of fitting closely.

This is a short list on purpose. Creative Fabrica has few real bathrobe patterns, and the four cards represent only two designs from one maker, TakeAndSew, each sold in a women’s and a men’s size listing: a robe with a piped shawl collar and a hooded robe. After the cards come fabric behavior, collar or hood, belt loops and how the size listings work.

Two Robe Sewing Pattern Designs in Four Size Listings

Both designs also come in other three-size listings, which I left out to avoid near-identical cards. The size you need decides which listing to buy, so the size chart in each gallery comes first.

TL;DR: Two designs from one maker in four size listings: the Caroline and Christian shawl collar robes (women's XS to M, men's S to L) and the Adelina and Adam hooded robes (women's L to XXL, men's S to L), each with video lessons.

• Shawl Collar Bathrobe Pattern, Caroline – Best classic robe
• Shawl Collar Bathrobe Pattern, Christian – Best unisex robe
• Hooded Bathrobe Adelina – Best hooded robe
• Hooded Bathrobe Adam – Best hooded robe for men

Quick Comparison

One Shawl Collar Design, One Hooded Design

Caroline and Christian share one description: a straight robe with a piped shawl collar, mid-calf length, a wrap belt, patch pockets on the front and cuffed sleeves. Adelina and Adam are the hooded design; their descriptions cover the hood but not the length or pockets, so check the gallery for those.

The listings give two reference points for the shawl collar robe: a 164 cm model in size L, with a garment length of 114 cm and a 55 cm sleeve, and a 188 cm model in size XXL, with 130 cm and 69 cm. Both are described as mid-calf, which is shorter than an ankle-length robe.

Terry, Waffle, Flannel or Fleece

• Cotton terry: loops that soak up water, which is why it suits a robe worn after a shower or the pool. It gets heavy when wet, and cut edges shed loops, so finish the seams with a serger or a zigzag.
• Waffle weave: lighter than most terry and usually quicker to dry. It frays, so finish the edges soon after cutting.
• Cotton flannel: soft and warm but less absorbent, more a robe for lounging than for drying off.
• Polyester fleece: warm and it does not fray, but it absorbs little water.

Cotton terry, waffle and flannel can all shrink, so wash and dry the fabric before cutting, the way the finished robe will be washed. On a long robe the numbers add up: 3% shrinkage on a 120 cm length is 3.6 cm. The descriptions do not name a fabric; the fabric amounts and accessories for each size are in the gallery.

Shawl Collar or Hood

A shawl collar rolls from the back neck down both fronts in one smooth line, with no notch, and on these robes it is trimmed with piping. In thick terry the seam allowances, piping and facing create several layers, so trimming and grading the seam allowances there helps the collar roll flat.

The hooded listings make the case for a hood themselves: it keeps the warmth in while your hair is wet. It also adds pattern pieces and a curved seam at the neckline.

Belt Loops and an Inside Tie

All four listings mention a wrap belt but not belt loops, so loops and an inside tie are optional additions of my own, not features the listings promise. Without loops a belt can slide down or go missing in the laundry, which is why many sewists add a pair at the side seams.

• Placement: try the robe on, tie the belt where it sits comfortably and mark that level on both side seams.
• Fabric loops: a narrow strip with both long edges folded to the middle, folded again and edgestitched, then caught in the side seam or topstitched on.
• Thread loops: a chain of thread or a few strands covered with blanket stitch, lighter on a thin fabric.

An optional inside tie, a short tie at the inner front edge and its partner at the opposite side seam, holds the underlap at the front of the robe in place so it stays closed while the outer belt closes the robe.

FAQ on Bathrobe Fabric and Sizes

How much fabric does a robe need?

Use the size-specific fabric chart in each listing’s gallery. A mid-calf robe with long sleeves, a wrap front and a collar or hood takes a generous amount, and more again in a large size or a fabric that has to be cut in one direction.

Is there a plus size robe sewing pattern here?

The women’s sizes run to XXL and the men’s to XXXL, in the L to XXL and XL to XXXL listings. Of the four cards, Adelina already covers women’s L, XL and XXL.

Can I change the length?

Yes. Every listing includes instructions for changing the height and length of the pattern. Measuring a robe or coat you already own from the back of the neck to the hem gives you a number to compare.

Buy the Listing That Holds Your Size

Each listing holds three sizes, so the size chart decides which one to buy, not the name on the card. If your measurements span two separately sold size ranges, for example between women’s M and L, blending between sizes would mean buying both listings, and the same goes for men’s L and XL.

That is the one real limitation of this robe sewing pattern lineup, and it costs nothing to check the gallery chart first. Lighter layers to wear under a robe are in the tops and blouses section.

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