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Unleash your inner fashionista and sew your own stylish kaftan dress with this easy 4-step guide.
Embrace the freedom of creativity as you choose the perfect fabric and notions for a truly unique garment.
Take precise body measurements to ensure a flawless fit, then cut out the pieces with precision.
With simple yet empowering sewing techniques, you’ll effortlessly bring your kaftan dress to life in no time.
Get ready to showcase your mastery of style and create a wardrobe staple that exudes confidence and liberation.
Table Of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Use rayon challis, silk, or cotton voile fabric.
- Cut two rectangles according to desired length and width specifications.
- Sew shoulders of kaftan, attach sleeves, sew side seams, and hem garment.
- Finish neckline with a narrow hem and add a belt to cinch the waist.
Choose Fabric and Notions
When making your kaftan, opt for light, flowy fabrics like rayon challis, silk, or cotton voile in fun prints and colors.
You’ll need 2-3 yards depending on your size and kaftan style, as well as matching thread, pins, scissors, and a sewing machine to construct it.
Refer to any additional notions your chosen pattern may call for before heading to the fabric store.
Yardage
For your kaftan, you’ll need about 2-3 yards of lightweight woven fabric like rayon or cotton voile, along with matching thread and optionally, iron-on hem tape or ribbon for finishing the edges.
To determine yardage:
- Measure your body
- Choose a pattern
- Allow extra for movement
Having enough fabric ensures your caftan will drape beautifully as you walk, dance, or lounge in bohemian style.
Fabric Type
Another key component you’ll need for your kaftan dress is some light, flowy fabric like viscose or rayon.
These fabrics are perfect for creating a garment that’s lightweight, breathable, and drapey. They’ve a beautiful fluidity to them and allow for ease of movement. Additionally, they often have a bit of stretch which adds to their comfort and versatility.
When selecting your fabric, look for one that embodies the essence of liberation and power while still maintaining an air of elegance.
Notions Needed
To sew your own fashionable kaftan dress, you’ll need the following notions:
- Fabric
- Thread
- Elastic (optional)
- A sewing machine
Gather your tools:
- Thread
- Needle
- Scissors
- Pins
- Iron
- Ironing board
- Tape measure
- Fabric marker
Don’t forget the fabric itself and a trusty sewing machine to stitch it all together.
With these essentials, you’ll have everything you need to cut and sew this breezy dress.
Take Body Measurements
Starting with accurately measuring yourself, take body measurements to ensure a proper fit for your fashionable kaftan dress.
Begin by noting down your height, full bust, waist, and hip measurements. These are important measurements that will guide you in selecting the right size and making adjustments if needed.
To measure your height, stand against a wall and mark the highest point of your head with a pencil while looking straight ahead.
Use a flexible tape measure to determine your full bust measurement by wrapping it around the fullest part of your chest.
Measure around the narrowest part of your waist to get an accurate waist measurement.
For hips, measure around the widest part of your hips or buttocks area.
Don’t forget to also decide on desired dress length as this will help achieve that perfect look and feel when wearing it.
Cut Out the Pieces
Now that you have taken your body measurements, it’s time to cut out the pieces for your kaftan dress.
To ensure precision and accuracy, use a rotary cutter to cut the fabric on the bias.
Start by cutting two rectangles according to your desired length and width specifications.
Next, carefully cut out any facing pieces that are required for the neckline or armholes using scissors. Take extra care when cutting these smaller details as they play an important role in achieving a polished finish for your garment.
Once all the necessary pieces are cut out, you’re ready to move on to sewing them together and bringing life into your fashionable kaftan dress!
Sew the Garment
Sew the shoulders of your kaftan dress.
Attach the sleeves.
Sew the side seams.
Hem the garment.
Sew Shoulders
With your two pieces of fabric cut out, you can now sew the shoulders of your caftan.
Use knit fabric and press seams flat.
Sew with right sides together and add elastic to the waist.
Sew sleeves separately.
Attach Sleeves
After sewing the shoulders, attach the sleeves to the caftan.
- Measure the sleeve length and width.
- Cut two sleeve pieces out of fabric.
- Hem the sleeve edges.
- Placket the sleeve.
- Sew the sleeves to the caftan.
Sew Side Seams
Sew the side seams of the caftan dress together with a 1/2-inch seam allowance.
Pin side seams together.
Sew side seams with right sides together.
Press side seams open.
Finish side seams with serger or zigzag stitch.
Hem Garment
Hem the garment to finish the edges.
Use a 1/2-inch width hem and a short stitch length.
Finish the hem with a serger or by hand-stitching.
You can also add hem tape for a more visible hem or double hem for stability.
Add Final Touches
To add final touches to your kaftan dress:
- Finish the neckline with a narrow hem.
- Add a belt to cinch the waist.
Neckline Finish
Next, finish the neckline with a narrow hem.
To add the final touches to your kaftan dress, follow these steps:
- Choose a facing or binding: Decide whether you want to use self-fabric facing or bias tape for the neckline finish.
- Prepare and attach the facing: Cut out your chosen fabric for the facing and sew it onto the neckline edge, right sides together.
- Trim and press: Trim any excess fabric from seam allowances and press open.
- Topstitch or hand stitch in place: Depending on your preference, either topstitch around the neckline edge using a straight stitch or hand-stitch it down for an invisible finish.
Now that you’ve completed this step, move on to adding a belt as another stylish detail!
Belt
A belt is a great way to add a final touch to your caftan dress.
Use any leftover fabric to create a matching belt, or find a belt that complements the style of your dress.
| Width | Length | Fabric | Notions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36 | 1 yard of fabric | Sewing machine, thread, needle |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I use a different type of fabric instead of knit fabric?
You can use any fabric you desire for your caftan, but knit fabric is the most common and easiest to sew.
How do I determine the length of the dress?
To determine the length of the dress, measure from your upper shoulder down.
Can I add pockets to the caftan dress?
Yes, you can add pockets to your caftan dress.
Use another in-seam pocket pattern from a pattern you already own.
Try the dress on after you sew the shoulder seams to see where you’d like your pockets to be.
How do I sew the front yoke piece to the gathered area?
To sew the front yoke piece to the gathered area,
- Pin the yoke to the front pieces matching all the notches together.
- Sew and press the seam downwards.
Is it necessary to use interfacing for the neck facing pieces?
Yes, you need to use interfacing for the neck facing pieces to give them structure and prevent them from stretching out.
Conclusion
With your custom-made kaftan dress in hand, you’ll be ready to:
- Strut your stuff
- Confidently walk down the street
- Be the envy of all your friends
