When Sir Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web he did it with people like Amy Finlayson in mind. Five years ago architect and crafter Finlayson designed and made a children's kimono pattern. It has since become an internet phenomenon inspiring a virtual community of kimono makers - she emails the pattern out by request and for free.
There's a Flickr group dedicated to photographs of Habitual Kimono Wraps and here the group's 253 members post pictures of garments they've made from this wonderfully simple pattern. These kimonos have also featured on dozens of sites by delighted bloggers around the globe in a cyber Mexican wave of appreciation for Amy's design.
For my interpretation of the Habitual Kimono I drafted the pattern at its largest size for my 8 year old and used Put A Stamp On It cotton fabric from Suzy Ultman's Handle With Care collection for Robert Kaufman (purchased from Fresh Modern Fabric at Etsy). I made my own bias binding (a first!) in the pink spotted Michael Miller cotton I used for this dress earlier in the week.
The resulting robe is beautiful - all credit to Amy for her generosity and vision! Visit Habitual for Amy's kimono pattern and more.
