About fifteen years ago, I became the owner of possibly the best garment on the planet. I was wandering around British Home Stores in Woking, on a break from my job testing taxation software to destruction (yes really!) when my eye lighted upon a strangely compelling sight. It was a grey, fleecy thing, part dressing gown, part kaftan. I immediately saw its potential. Unlike a more ordinary dressing gown, it would never gape at the front, so a goose-bumpy bosom, and flashes of thigh would be a thing of the past. It was longer than most dressing gowns, had long sleeves and the V-neck was shallow. There were no buttons or fiddly sash to tie, just warm, all- encompassing, comfortable, low maintenance, maximum coverage, soft, grey loveliness. I had to have it. What I paid for it I don’t remember, but it was worth every last penny.

The original Monk (left) and the Mad Monk (right. Well it would be, wouldn’t it?)

The colour was less than inspiring, and its resemblance to monastic garb led to it being dubbed my ‘Monk.’ On winter mornings I would pull it on over my head before venturing out of bed, and when I got home from work, I would change into it for a warm and comfortable evening. It could be washed and dried in a matter of hours. Forget those daft blankets with sleeves! They are only marginally successful, even if you are prepared to stay stock still so they don’t come adrift. My Monk was all I had hoped for and more. It not only offered better coverage whether seated or moving around, it also had spacious pockets. I could wax lyrical for hours, but in short, I loved it to bits from the first moment I put it on, and have worn it more than any other garment I have ever owned.

Glamorous garb for Christmas morning

After five years, I realised that my beloved Monk could not last forever, so I bought some fleece fabric and set about using it as a pattern to make another. It was a rather garish blue and red check design, which led to the copy of the original being dubbed my Mad Monk. Since then, I have made numerous copies for family and friends. It is surprisingly quick and easy, doesn’t cost a fortune and it’s fun choosing a fleece fabric to suit the recipient.

The original Monk is still going strong, but as I prepare to make some new Monks for my beloved and me, it occurs to me that there may be readers of El Perro who would benefit from owning their own Monk. If you can find a big fleece blanket, or buy some fleece fabric by tomorrow, I’ll tell you how you do it.

It’s dead easy, because fleece doesn’t fray, so you can just zig-zag over any raw edges, and because of the pile of the fabric, you hardly even see the stitches.

See you tomorrow!