We still have a lot to tell you about our whirlwind "Lucy and Ethel take on the LA Fashion District" trip (Liz shared part I yesterday) and I will be back with another round of that (including fabric pics) on Thursday....but in the meantime I have one of the easiest dresses on the planet to make---3 seams and NO hemming. Yes! Seriously, the perfect for summer.
At the end of our pattern drafting class, both Liz and I got obsessed with caftans. She made the Endora top using the caftan principle, and I decided to make summer maxi dresses for me and for Hannah.
The best part about a caftan is....it's basically two rectangles! So there are only 3 seams to sew if you are using knit (which I completely recommend). Because most knit doesn't fray, the arm holes, the neck and the hem are all left unhemmed and they still look super cute!
They also can be made in any length! I am planning a kelly green knee-length one, and the directions are EXACTLY the same.
Do you want to make one (or 5) for summer?
Here's what you need.
Supplies:
For mine I used 2 yards of knit.
Elastic Thread (optional--I used this to pull the waist in on Hannah's; but didn't on mine.I will always wear it with a belt)
Hannah's was a scrap so I am not sure how long it was....but I am guessing a yard would do most girls.
In the tutorial I am showing you how I made the little girl's one, but it is EXACTLY the same for a woman's. All you need is a width measurement and a length measurement.
And you are ready to start!
Here's what you do......
And you are done!
On my maxi dress, I decided to leave it unshirred (that's not a word, but you get the idea) and just pull it in with a belt....which is an even FASTER dress to make!
So, what you do say, are you going to be wearing a million caftan dresses this summer too?
I totally am. Comfy and cute....and I think one of the easiest things I have ever sewn.
~Elizabeth
PS --If you make one...I would love to see it. Will you put it in the flickr group on the right-hand side bar?
I LOVE this! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteLOVE!! It's so simple and pretty!! I love the color you chose too! Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing. I think as a beginning sewer I may actually be able to accomplish this. Your tutorial is fantastic. :)
ReplyDeleteJess @ The Delightful Crafter
I love this dress and I think it's one of those that looks even better in real life than it does in the photos.
ReplyDelete-liZ
I love this! So simple and I would totally wear this!
ReplyDeleteOMGosh!! That looks so comfy! THANK YOU!! I am definitely making 1 or 10.... ;)
ReplyDeletehttp://stacysewsandschools.wordpress.com/
MADE AND LOOKS like the caftans I wore back in the late 60s and 70s.. like wearing a tent.. very comfy.. hide a multitude of sins. GREAT FOR HOME WARE..... I do hope they will not be worn in stores and on the streets again. I would look like very one was in their pjs.
ReplyDeleteNONNIE
Just call me old fashion, I miss the days ladies wore dress in public.
Me too, Nonnie......
DeleteThis is great, going to look for some fabric this weekend :D thanks so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWOMEN POWER AT WORK!! Great job. If we have women run the government, I do not think we would be in the mess we are today.
ReplyDeleteAMEN......EVEN WITH ALL THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE FROM THE KITCHEN TO THE BOARDROOM, THEY (THE GOOD OLE BOYS) STILL BELIEVE WE WE CAN'T HACK IT! SERIOUSLY, WE NEED TO GET A WOMAN IN THERE COME 2016..........
DeleteAMEN,and AMEN!!
DeleteCan you explain the part where you fold it width wise for the neck whole. I guess I am not understanding why you folded it.
ReplyDeleteE Arts....I fold it in half width-wise for the neck hole for two reasons. First to find the exact center of the caftan and also to make sure the neckhole is even on both sides.
ReplyDelete(If you cut it on the fold, your neckhole will be even on both sides.)
Hope that helpe!
This is so cute and easy! I am going to make more then one to take to the beach! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteglosews
Love it!
ReplyDeleteI want to make this tonight! Will you please explain step 4, though? What exactly is the "right side"?
ReplyDeleteBrenda,
ReplyDeleteIf your fabric has a print (on the front and not on the back) it has a "right side" and a "wrong side"---when you sew step 4 you want the "right sides" (the side with the print) facing each other. When you sew you will be looking at the "wrong sides."
If your knit is a solid....you don't need to worry about "right sides" or "wrong sides."
Oh Yea!!! I am going to make several of these. Thanks for showing me how easy it can be!
ReplyDeleteOh my... Saw this on Facebook yesterday and fell in love with it! I ended up on crutches yesterday as well but I have a wedding to attend tomorrow. I did not think what I had planned to wear tomorrow wouldn't work with crutches. This is excellent! I used tube knit (I don't know what else it call it) so it cut out the side seams. I made two in about 11/2 hours.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry about the crutches! Hope you have a quick recovery and enjoy the wedding!
DeleteThis is so cute. I do embroidery and I have some lace necklines so I'm going to do one with one of those. Thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMany Blessings
Terri
This is a wonderful idea! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIs there no hem and no armhole facings or neckline facings?
ReplyDeleteMost knits don't fray so it's not needed. You could forward fold over or do facings if you want. Or even edge it on a server or with an edging stitch.
DeleteI'm also a beginner sewer and though I've made a few dresses I can see this is going to be so simple to make. I also haven't tried shirring yet so this is going to be my first shirred project!
ReplyDeleteIn ancient Rome, this was called a tunica.
ReplyDeletehttp://goo.gl/FDC8v
Love this! Just added to my favorites. Hope to be making a few very soon!
ReplyDeleteWow!! Wow!
ReplyDeleteJust became your newest follower, (you have so many!) and you've inspired me to get off my duff and start sewing again! Going down to the LA District with my daughter in law next time she's out!
Thank you for sharing - I'm really excited to have found your site!
Blessings,
Donna
When you pick the knit fabric you want to use for this dress, be sure you pick a DOUBLE knit. Single knit fabric will "curl" across the cuts at the top and bottom of the dress. Don't be discouraged, however, if you just fall in love with a single knit fabric. You can still make the same dress but you'll need to do some kind of neckline and hem treatment to tame the "curl". To keep "stretch" in the neckline, you might consider applying a strip of coordnated swimsuit knit ...or you could just cut a strip of self fabric to apply, turn under, top-stitch, and trim close to the topstitching so the "excess" inside is never going to roll or peek out.
ReplyDeleteGreat advise; Thank you.
Deletehttp://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/review/readreview.pl?ID=486
DeletePlease check out link above. It explains how to use clear elastic to stabilize necklines. It is very easy and works great.
http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/review/readreview.pl?ID=486
DeleteCheck out link above. It explains how to stabilize necklines on knits using lightweight clear elastic.
So cute! Have some knit fabric I was wondering what in the world I would do with it...now I know, without a doubt.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Went out today and bought fabric to make two. Was looking for additional colors, like a nice Tomato Red, Burnt Orange or Rust Knit, since I intend to make about 5. Will let you know.
ReplyDeleteIf you do want to make a neck facing and hems, I am working on a cotton one and will show you how to do that soon!
ReplyDeleteYea! I bought some sarongs in Mexico and the Caribbean and will use your pattern to make some swimsuit coverups out of them. Thanks so much!!!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhere did you find the knit material?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if a cotton blend would work as well.
Great job btw.
Where did you find knit fabric? Its kind of hard to find. At least it has been for me.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of using clothes to make patterns.
What do you make your patters on?
by the way, great job.
Rhyanna
So super cute! I am going to go look for some knit fabric today! Great idea!
ReplyDeleteHannah
handiworkbyhannah.blogspot.com
Did you sew the neckline nd arm holes? Sorry, I am a beginner.
ReplyDeleteYanique,
ReplyDeleteIf you use an interlock (or knit) fabric---you don't have to sew the neck or arm holes. Knit will roll a bit (mine have rolled to the insides which is perfect!) so you don't have to.
I am showing a cotton one soon and will show you how to hem the neck and arms if you want to.
Wow, it's so easy & looks so great! Thanks for the tutorial, I can make this dress as maternity dress.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tutorial! I made it and am really pleased with how it turned out. I blogged about it here: http://willyount.blogspot.com/2012/07/sewing-for-me.html.
ReplyDeleteI am a TOTAL newbie at sewing but even I THINK that I just might be able to do this. I do, however, have a question. I don't totally understand what you mean when, in your instructions, you write, "Now cut two rectangles to these two measurements." Could you please clarify that for me? I understand which measurements you're referring to but I don't quite follow the cutting the rectangle part. Thanks! Michele
ReplyDelete(PS- I'm also kinda new at posting and/or receiving comments,too. So could you possibly reply to my question via my email? It's lotsokittycats@gmail.com. Thanks again!)
Thanks for this tutorial! I love it, it will be great for me as I am pregnant and it can allow for my belly!
ReplyDeleteI assume the shirring is done right around and not just at the front??
And would it still work the same if I used one long rectangle, folded it and cut the neck hole, instead of sewing two rectangles together and cutting the neck hole...or would it sit funny??
Thanks again!
I am going to try this soon...
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a neat project. Do you mind if I pin it up on Pinterest? I'm keeping track of the projects I want to tackle that way, and hey, it means others will come and see it too :).
ReplyDeleteI am a true beginner. I haven't made anything yet but this seems like its simple enough to be my first. I have been watching several tutorials and considering classes but in Atlanta the classes are very expensive. Hoping for a little luck with this ..thanks for detailed instructions.
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome. Thanks so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAmazing tutorial! So easy to follow! Saw this, this morning, went to the store and found knits on sale 50% off! Bought 3 different colors, came home, had a completed caftan in under an hour! I got my 3 year old's approval with a simple, "it's pretty!" Quick, easy, beautiful! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteJust finished making my second one. Can't wait to wear it for date night tonight. It's actually my first time wearing a belt too.
ReplyDeleteI just found your site and I am loving it! LOVING IT! I can't wait to make this dress!
ReplyDeletejust stumbled upon your blog and am so excited!!! such cute ideas and they don't seem to hard so I'm not intimidated. Thanks!!! xoxox
ReplyDeleteWonderful! Thanks for the detailed and graphic instructions. Makes it a lot easier to follow. I suspect i'm going to make about 5!
ReplyDeleteGoing to be planning and sewing my next summer wardrobe this winter and definitely going to make a few of these only shorter for every day wear around the house. Love dresses in the summer, so much cooler. Thank you for the tutorial. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI am going to make this double thick and reversible for winter weight. Thanks for the brilliant pattern!
ReplyDeleteInstead of cutting and sewing it at the top, over the shoulders, could you just leave it folded in half, and cut out the neck hole --therefore having no shoulder seams?
ReplyDeleteThis only works on solid fabric. If you have a contrasting weave or print it will be upside down on the back. The two rectangles are so the fabric is right-side up on both front and back. If you want to match the print you also need to get extra so you can cut the second rectangle near the pattern repeat.
DeleteWhat if I wanted to make it long sleeved? Any idea on how I would go about that? And also how about fitted sleeves? Thank you. Been wanting a caftan but to purchase and pay shipping it winds up being at least $75!!
ReplyDeletecute lovely and smart. im sewing it!
ReplyDeleteInstead of shirring, how about a few rows of clear elastic. It will help me keep the material belted in evenly.
ReplyDeleteDo you think this would do well in a woven? Going to St. Lucia in Caribbean and trying to put together a quick new wardrobe.
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful. Thank you so much! I was searching for a caftan tutorial for absolute beginners. I'm so not into sewing but I wanted to stitch a caftan. This tutorial was really easy to understand and is perfect for me. Thanks again. :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is perfect for the summer! Love the color you chose!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Just made a this dress in less than 2 hours!! My next task will be to make a shorter one!! Thank you so much! This is so great and easy to do!!
ReplyDeleteThere is so much you can do with this pattern, It is years old. Use your imagination, try changing out colors and patterns. Make it your style and have fun with it!!!
ReplyDeleteI just bought a sewing machine, and haven't even turned it on. But this is definitely going to be my first project. Thank you for the great tutorial.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the great tutorial, this is going to be my first sewing project ever.
ReplyDeletemerci
ReplyDeleteHas anyone tried this with Joann's Jet Set Knit? It's on sale but I have no experience with the fabric or it's texture.
ReplyDelete