I was gifted this kantha, made in Bangladesh, a couple of months ago (I won’t go into the long story of how it came to me). The quality of both the kantha quilting and the embroidery is exceptional. I can’t imagine the hours it took some woman to execute it. All hand work, done for pennies!

I can’t see using it as a bedspread, although it would fit my queen bed. Instead, I intend to make a spring/summer loose coat from it.

What you see is half the kantha, the half beneath is identical. There’s certainly enough fabric to make a gorgeous garment – I see the half medallion (at the top centre) at the neckline with the large embroidery below at the centre of the back. I could then cut the two fronts from the other side, same thing – medallion at the neckline, same embroidery below. I visualize loose sleeves with the border along the edge. I think the half may be long enough for the border to be at the hem of both front and back, as well.

In my patten collection I just found this garment by Sandra Betzina –

Fitted at the top, flowing through the bottom. I like the folded neckline although I would fold it to the inside (otherwise, the way Betzina constructs it, that folded neckline would expose the unfinished back of the fabric). The other thing I could do is make that “scarf” element separately, attaching it to the front, then top stitching it underneath. It would do that same thing – provide heft and shape to the neckline and the front edges. I might actually be able to find two pieces of the kantha border to do that!

I would also straighten the hem – I’m not a pointed hem kinda gal. That would mean lengthening the centre front and back/removing the points. I do want pockets – probably not inserted in the side seams but added using a welt opening closer to the front edge.

Also, because this is an unlined garment, I would bind the seams on the inside using some batik fabric.(Betzina suggests pressing the seams open and adding a Hong Kong finish on the raw edges.) At the moment I don’t see any other adjustments except I might put a couple of hidden hook/eye closings just above the waist so I can close the coat on a windy day.

I think I’m ready to start working on it – our weather is just warming enough that I’d get to wear it a few times before it becomes too warm to warrant even a light coat.