Project Day: Beach Kaftan Dress

This is my favourite time of year. It's October in Australia! The days are warmer and I spend alot of time in my bathers. This means my wardrobe changes to mostly kaftans and slip dresses. This week I made one from a vintage seersucker tablecloth and some old doileys. Here's what you will need:

• A rectangle tablecloth works best. Mine measured approx 60 inches x 40 inches.
• 2 rectangular doileys, at least 20 inches each in length.
• Pinking shears.
• Sewing machine.

1. Fold the tablecloth so each end comes to the middle BUT leave a gap of about 3 inches [pic # 2]
2. Cut your doiley in half.
3. Lay your cut doiley pieces down the center opening. This will become the front of your kaftan. Pin in place [ pics # 5 ].
   
4. Sew the doileys onto the tablecloth [ pic # 7] and make sure you sew the doiley join too! [ pic #8]. Sew the ends up of each doiley once you get to the bottom [ pic #6 ]. It looks a lot tidier!
   
5. You should now have a piece that looks like pic # 9. This is the top and bottom of your kaftan. The crochet feature runs down the center of your torso.
6. Now we need to make some shoulders and armholes.
   
7. First lets make shoulders. Whichever is the top of your dress measure in about 8 or 9 inches and pin. Repeat for other side. Sew each end in to that point. There now should be an opening for your head to slip through.
8. Now for armholes. You will notice at this stage there are no armholes. So we need to measure down the dress approx 20 inches and make a pin.
9. Get your pinking shears and cut down to that mark on each side of the dress. No seams required!
   
10. You now should have 2 armholes and a head opening.
11. Turn the whole thing inside out. Tidy up any edging with a few stitches here and there.
    
12. Slip it on and RELAX!
    

I guess this is what I will be wearing most weekend. Take care, see you next week. Simone xx