Glamorous Caftans

SomethingDelightful.com

Skill Level:

This is an ideal first sewing project that is easy to make and without difficult design details.

Size Range and Fitting:

It comes in Misses’ sizes 8 to 26 for busts 31-1/2 inches to 48 inches, waists 24 inches to 41 inches and hips 33-1/2 inches to 50 inches. A forgiving garment, the caftan fits a range of sizes.

Fabrics:

Choose breezy, lightweight, sheer fabrics. Stiff or heavy fabrics are not suitable. Select silk muslin, georgette, silk or polyester chiffon, linen gauze, rayon challis, cotton lawn, voile, and novelty sheers.

Style and Sewing Details:

The design is perfect for a casual and tropical environment, as a beach cover-up and loungewear. What sets it apart are the fabric choices and how you choose to finish and/or embellish the neckline and hem edges. All three views have a V neckline finished with a facing. View A has a wide neckline flounce and a pointed hem that dips to 6 inches above the knee at center front and back. The other two views have straight hems. View B ends 4-1/2 inches above the knee, while view C is maxi length.

• Self-fabric ties and elastic in separate partial casings are used to control the fullness at the waist. The back casing has elastic, and the front casing has adjustable fabric ties that emerge through buttonholes at center front.
• The waistline casing level is important. It should be planned to sit at the wearer’s natural waist.
• Since the designs are recommended for sheers, our tester suggests eliminating the facings and instead finishing the necklines with a self-fabric bias strip.
• Cutting is tricky because the pattern pieces are so big. The view C maxi caftan requires 5 yards of 60-inch-wide fabric.
• The sides are partially stitched for 4-1/2 inches, where there would normally be a side seam.
• Neat baby hems are worth the effort on this project.

This review was originally published in Threads #222, Summer 2023. Have you made this pattern? If so, be sure to share pictures in our Readers Closet gallery.

Photos: Jack Deutsch. Illustrations: Kelly Keenan.