YASSSS! It's caftan weather!!! Well... sort of. Man, it's been a rainy summer here in Ottawa! Now - before making this, I had never actually worn a caftan. HOWEVER - I have lusted after them something fierce, and just haven't found the right one. Thank goodness for the amazing Heather-Lou over at Closet Case Patterns. Fabrications (local Ottawa fabric shop) teased this pattern a week before it's release in their IG page, and Gillian over at Crafting a Rainbow commented "please be a caftan!" to which I nearly lost my mind because that was the exact thing I needed to add to my summer sewing list. ANYWAYS! I literally bought this pattern the moment I got the email newsletter announcing it's release, printed it the following day, and had it sewn and ready to wear the following weekend. Behold - the Charlie Caftan!
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Oh my goodness am I in love with this pattern. It doesn't take a crazy amount of fabric like the vintage patterns (as I've been told) and it is a relatively quick & simple sew. I'm going to fill my wardrobe with these!! I already have plans for one in the shorter length in a gorgeous Nani Iro lightweight cotton sateen, and I might make a dressier version in a black floral rayon.
Seriously though, I am so in love with this outfit. Also! I was looking for a sun hat with a stable brim, figuring I could pick one up at the mall for $20 or so. I was stopping in through IKEA on my way home from work and found exactly what I was looking for (yes, at IKEA) for ONLY TWO DOLLARS!
Also, the best part about this fabric? I won (bought?) it for only $10 at my quilt guild's de-stash silent auction! Woo! It isn't normally a print I would have picked for myself, but it's navy and white... which if you haven't figured out yet are pretty much wardrobe staples for me. Because the fabric was so inexpensive, I wasn't too worried about making this version a "wearable muslin". I never really make muslins.... but I honestly wasn't sure if this look would suit me so I used a fabric I wasn't terribly attached to first. It didn't turn out perfectly (the centre panel isn't my best work, I got some puckers in the neckline because I'm lazy and didn't stay-stitch, the hem is kinda wonky) but this is the perfect thing to wear for hot, humid, lazy days around the house (or for any future cottage trips!)
I didn't end up keeping any of the photos from the back, oh well! I was having a bit of trouble with the remote so they didn't all turn out the way I was hoping. Who knew trying to take blog photos could be so difficult? Ugh... I might just resort to taking most of my photos with the clothing on the hangers.
We've painted the living room, and the colour we chose (Benjamine Moore Revere Pewter) makes a fantastic backdrop! I have a great spot to hang things up in place of some artwork :)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgyDPbL-U6YZqk3W4HwRfoQmKk6YIKngl2mE88B8Cx5hwJK47_j-K_YvsPzB_0IoImc6F7NZFGR8Csxy2ta68FPadY1iAnSw1UsWBo-U7AdomtJBKnjvGmkm-hgIWzwh30e84aNyg-ro/s1600/IMG_5924.JPG)
We've painted the living room, and the colour we chose (Benjamine Moore Revere Pewter) makes a fantastic backdrop! I have a great spot to hang things up in place of some artwork :)
Because I am a) lazy and b) hate hand-sewing I just pinned the centre-front panel in place and topstitched. Seems to have worked relatively ok... although I don't really have the nice 90 degree corners I should have... this fabric was slippery! I'll try a bit harder on the next versions ;)
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfg9nOf40jfCHM0r9otV3ltlqHeM3lXmKLvlLn3GghE8BbVQujazhU_ZyE4xPfGDazOXVhz6TFTDy3PTga2cssKM07YepbIc0XNGJrtuuMpJG6fESUTVDvogOGw6RVDSAbnl294Lz3OE/s1600/IMG_5918.JPG)
I really like the back-ties on this pattern too, it makes the outfit that much more flattering by giving a hint of a defined waistline, without being too restrictive.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9g_OD65_7DM5P3vFy-2U-AZsh_TiB-snAOH1OihB29wDeA68Zs51StrMupsNYRR5CrHN3i54m31YH5w22EdQtr2p_ShfWZpnT-TCo95Q6CCCumF0jBppf5cXfHruKAPRaPJzT0BKvNKY/s1600/IMG_5930.JPG)
Also, I would be remiss to not share this link to an article from last summer: How to Get Your Body Caftan-Ready for Summer.
Anywhoozle, I'm catching up on a bunch of things I've made, photographed, but haven't blogged... so you might actually see some more activity on here for the next little while. Or not... who knows. I got through phases where I'm so excited to blog! and times where I just feel like keeping things going on instagram. Either way, I'm still keeping pretty busy with an ever-growing list of things to sew!
I really like the back-ties on this pattern too, it makes the outfit that much more flattering by giving a hint of a defined waistline, without being too restrictive.
Also, I would be remiss to not share this link to an article from last summer: How to Get Your Body Caftan-Ready for Summer.
Anywhoozle, I'm catching up on a bunch of things I've made, photographed, but haven't blogged... so you might actually see some more activity on here for the next little while. Or not... who knows. I got through phases where I'm so excited to blog! and times where I just feel like keeping things going on instagram. Either way, I'm still keeping pretty busy with an ever-growing list of things to sew!
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