The abaya is a versatile piece of fabric that may be worn as anything from a coat to a dress. This floor-length gown with long sleeves is common for Muslim women in North Africa, the Middle East, and the Arabian Peninsula.
In this lesson, I’ll show you how to make an open abaya out of transparent fabric, so you may wear it like an open-front kimono while still covering yourself respectfully.
Materials Needed
- A sixty-inch-wide cloth
- Scissors
- Fabric
- Ruler
- Elastic
- Pins
- Tape
- Machine for sewing
- Scissors
- Thread
- Chalk
Making an Abaya
1) Creating a new silhouette for an abaya to wear.
- A one-yard broad by a sixty-inch wide piece of cloth should be folded in half and then again. A design may be made from an existing kaftan by folding it in half and placing it on the fold.
- Add at least 7 inches to the specified dimension when dividing the total length by the arm. This might be used to get the puff sleeve effect. Continue to slash your present kaftan.
- Folding the abaya in half and pinning it together should help you find the precise center of the neckline.
- Then, like a letter, fold one of your kimonos in half. When draped freely, the front of the abaya will look like this. Cut the front in half along the center, where the pin would go.
- Fold it in half again, and then cut a 3.5-inch-long slit along the pinned edge.
- Bring the tape measure 15 inches down from the nape of your neck and cut it diagonally.
- At this point, you are free to put the finishing touches on your kimono.
2) Check that the abaya is completely buttoned
Make sure you use pins to attach the sides. Because this is an open abaya, the front is divided into two halves; pin one to the right side of the back and one to the left side.
3) Establish the perimeter dimensions.
You may figure out how much fabric you’ll need for the border by measuring the front of the kimono.
4) Remove any forms that serve as borders.
You may produce a border with a width of precisely 4 inches by folding the border fabric in half. I’m working with a nice, versatile, neutral silk. It is critical that the quantity you cut is proportionate to the width of your abaya opening.
Put the correct sides together first, and then pin the short ends together.
Stitch the strips together once you have one long strip.
5) Sew the two sides together to form a square.
Put some closures on the sides of the abaya that are presently hanging open. While you’re at it, close the gap in the open hem of the abaya. You may soften the rough edges by sewing them together with two stitches.
6) The framework of the fabric
Folding the border fabric in half lengthwise and sewing the raw edges together will make a wrap for the abaya’s open front.
To finish the border, fold the fabric so that the right sides are together at the short ends and pin them together. Sew these two edges together so that they are linked.
When you’re completed, open it up to see the lovely border fabric you’ve been working on.
Sew a hem all the way around the abaya with care.
7) Each one was secured in place by an elastic band wrapped around the wrists.
Cut two strips of elastic the same length as your wrist and leave them aside. After that, fold your handmade abaya so that the wrist is open. Fold it in half to allow the elastic to pass all the way through. Simply fold the material in half lengthwise and sew the two pieces together, stopping the needle about 2 inches from the folded fabric’s edge.
After that, you’ll need to thread the elastic band inside the tube. A safety pin may be used to provide assistance.
Begin by stitching the ends of the elastic together, then continue to seal the tunnel. Take extra measures to avoid repeating the same mistake on the other side.
8) Make the belt.
To construct the belt, cut a strip of silk fabric that is eight inches long and fifty inches wide. Stitch all of the short ends as well as the whole length of the fabric after folding it with the right sides together. If you leave one end open, you will be able to turn it inside out at a later date.
First, twice wrap the belt around your waist, then flip it inside out and stitch up the open side.
It’s vital to remember that the belt may also be used as a long scarf.
Conclusion
Did you discover that creating your own open abaya wasn’t all that difficult? It’s true that committing so much time to a single project is a difficult endeavor but consider the benefits. This is money that was well spent. When I wear this out in public, I can’t wait to show off my open and see-through abaya.