Planning a seaside journey or simply want one thing comfortable and cute to kick round in? A caftan cover-up might be your new finest pal this summer time! Be a part of Spoonflower Ambassador and artist Danika Herrick as she guides you thru the planning and stitching course of for her favourite caftan kinds.

Danika: Summer time is lastly right here and I like the benefit of this season. Every thing turns into extra relaxed, together with my wardrobe. I stay in Boston, and we really feel like we freeze for almost all of the 12 months and may’t wait to shed the layers and sweaters as soon as the temperature lastly begins to rise.

One among my favourite wardrobe staples is an effective caftan cover-up. I like to have the ability to toss one on and go from the seaside to the grocery retailer or out for drinks. I can merely change the temper by tossing on some enjoyable equipment to decorate it up or down. They’re additionally extraordinarily straightforward to stitch, and with so many designs and materials accessible on Spoonflower you possibly can create a whole summer time wardrobe.

A number of years in the past, I used to be in search of a cover-up and I couldn’t discover the colour I used to be in search of. I rapidly realized that I might design my very own cloth and make one via Spoonflower. I had a number of sloppy makes an attempt (my background is in inside design and I can sew an honest sq. pillow, however I couldn’t learn a sample) so I sought out an professional. 

My youngest sister went to high school for style design, has her personal child’s line of clothes and may sew something, so I enlisted her assist and requested her to indicate me the best approach to make a caftan cover-up. We’re speaking about stitching squares and rectangles collectively—proper up my alley!

After just a few trial runs, two completely different kinds emerged. These designs will be personalized into limitless appears to be like by merely adjusting the size, neckline and whether or not you desire a pull over or an open entrance look. You may also change the look by utilizing completely different cloth sorts. 

I’m going to display this utilizing Natural Candy Pea Gauze, a light-weight open weave that can hold you cool, however I can even present some examples with Poly Crepe de Chine, a semi-transparent poly mix that feels a bit dressier and could be very “wash and put on.” The important thing right here is to make it your individual and have enjoyable carrying it!

Let’s go over a number of the kinds you may make…

To start, first decide:

• The sample’s structure orientation (multidirectional, vertical or horizontal)
• The neckline you like (V-neck or boat neçk)
• The size, discovered by measuring out of your higher shoulder all the way down to the place you’d prefer it to finish and add 1-1.5” (2.5-4 cm)
• The width, discovered by measuring across the widest a part of your physique and add a number of inches (8-16” relying how free you need your caftan)—divide this quantity in half to estimate the width of every aspect (face)

Proven beneath are three frequent orientations for sample layouts with examples of tips on how to minimize your caftan faces. The Natural Candy Pea Gauze is 56” (142 cm) vast and can shrink barely after washing. Two yards will yield a most 70” vast x 54” lengthy (177 x 137 cm) completed caftan if you happen to select a multidirectional or horizontal design, or a narrower caftan with a most 52” width x 70” size (132 x 177 cm) on a vertical design. 

If you need a caftan wider than that utilizing a vertical sample, use 3-4 yards and minimize every face to your required width. I want to make use of multidirectional or horizontal patterns as a result of it saves cloth and I can get a pleasant flowy completed caftan as much as 70” vast with simply two yards of material and little or no waste. I do it so usually that I’ve truly created a assortment of railroaded structure prints particularly designed for caftans right here. I’ve even added ornamental bandings to some.

If designing your individual structure is one thing you want to do, simply make your canvas 36” vast x 56” (91.5 x 142 cm) excessive and create your caftan face. Rotate your canvas counter clockwise and save earlier than importing to Spoonflower. Now you can order two yards and the design will print horizontally as two caftan faces that can measure 36” (91.5 cm) vast!

The V-neck caftan is absolutely easy and consists of 4 rectangles sewn collectively. This design got here from my failed makes an attempt at placing a V-neck right into a single face. Regardless of how arduous I attempted, the underside of my V all the time appeared wonky, so after I found this technique I used to be hooked.

The boat neck is comparatively easy and a pleasant possibility for these not wanting a plunging neckline. I’ve created a printable template right here! Merely print it at “precise measurement,” hint the neckline onto cloth and minimize.

Now that we now have the fundamentals lined, let’s make a caftan cover-up! All you want is your cloth, some scissors, an iron, pins and a stitching machine with matching thread. The beneath tutorial contains separate steps for every neckline model, so take note of these indications when the time comes.

I extremely suggest overlocking or ending all of your unfinished seams, which I can even point out in each units of instructions. It simply makes completed openings a lot nicer, and the Candy Pea Gauze will fray, so it’ll additionally hold issues tidy. 

Begin by washing and urgent your cloth. The gauze will come out of the dryer with a crinkled grid texture. To make sure straightforward stitching and slicing, press rather well with an iron.

Decide your required width and size and add about 1.5” (3.8 cm) for hems and seams. This design could be very free and forgiving, so that you don’t must be as strict with measurements. Lower two faces/items out of your cloth, then fold each in half size sensible.

V-NECK: Lower each items in half alongside the folded edge. You’ll now have two stacks and a complete of 4 rectangles. Overlock or end all the perimeters, then pin collectively every higher high space (these shall be your shoulders) and stitch throughout every part.

BOAT NECK: Place the neckline template in opposition to the folded edge at high of material and hint. Use a straight edge alongside the flat shoulder to hook up with the periphery. Lower the shoulders and necklines, then overlock/end the outer edges. Unfold each side and lay one on high of the opposite, proper sides (the printed sides) collectively. Pin the shoulders collectively and stitch. 

Measure and mark the arm holes with a pin. You possibly can select the dimensions to your liking by draping the part over your shoulder to estimate. I discover someplace between 8-13” (20-33 cm) works. 

Sew the edges collectively from the armhole pin down in direction of the underside edges. If you want to open the underside slits alongside your sides, decide the peak first and mark the place you will want to cease with one other pin.

Sew the again collectively, beginning 6-8” (15-20 cm) from the highest. Should you want a again slit on the backside, mark the peak the place you need that to begin and finish your seam there.

Now shut the entrance seam. Decide the place you need your V-neck to finish and pin the entrance items collectively. This may be wherever from 6-12” (15-30 cm) relying how deep you need the neckline. Sew the entrance items collectively similar to the again seam.

Professional Tip: For an open entrance V-neck, don’t sew the entrance seams closed. As a substitute, fold and press the entrance seams and flat sew to create a completed edge.

Press the aspect seams and shoulder seams flat. Then fold the armhole seams over and press flat, in addition to the necklines. You possibly can depart the overlock seam seen on the within or double fold to cover.

Pin the folded edges from step 5 in place and flat sew them to complete the perimeters alongside the neck and armholes. Strive on the caftan to examine openings and the hemline. Lastly, fold in and press the hemline on the backside of the caftan and stitch in place.

For the V-neck, you possibly can add a bar throughout the again if further assist is desired. I used a bit of ric-rac proven beneath. For both model, be happy to make use of any leftover cloth to make an identical belt!

Listed here are some completed designs I’ve made exhibiting variations on the 2 necklines. A giant because of my household and pals for entering into the spirit and modeling for me!