Skip to main content

Made by a Fabricista: Charlie Caftan

Image
By


It's official, I love Closet Case Patterns! Eventually I believe I will make all of them! I've already made the Clare Coat, Fiona Sundress and Amy Jumpsuit. I also have the Ginger Skinny Jeans, Sasha Trousers and Kalle Shirtdress in my pattern collection, but my latest make is this mini length Charlie Caftan.

Charlie Caftan Pattern / Kaftan Pattern | Closet Case Patterns

It was difficult to decide which view to make. I like the architectural look of View A and knew Fabric Mart's designer quality linen would provide the perfect structure. On the other hand Fabric Mart typically stocks a lovely assortment of challis and it is one of my favorite fabrics. Ultimately I decided that flow-y would beat out structured (this time). Despite the fact that fall is approaching I decided on the shorter version (but added the ties) and will just wear the heck out of it for the next several weeks.




I used this beautiful gray and white diamond print challis which has a super soft hand! This is going to be so comfortable to wear. The listing accurately describes the fabric as translucent, but with the loose floaty feel and front gathers I am not concerned about anything showing.



I'll be honest I was a tad concerned about installing the panel. Looking over the instructions reminded me of welt pockets instructions, which I've never sewn because they seem tricky. Thankfully the instructions were clear and installations was a success (though not perfect). I followed the sewing machine instructions for enclosing the panel on the inside of the dress because I hate hand sewing, but the instructions walk you through both options. Closet Case also has a blog post on the panel installation which includes step by step photos in case you need extra help.



Everything else is really a breeze. I'm super pleased with how it turned out and now I know I need Views A and C too.



See you next month!

Tiffany
TipStitched.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made By A Fabricista: Falling for Knits

By
We are now well into Fall, even though the temps are still relatively warm here in Texas.  I love the fall season and dressing for Fall.   When it comes to the conversation of knits vs. wovens I typically sew mostly wovens. So for this post I decided to sew completely knits!  With the holiday season right around the corner I saw these three dress styles as perfect for Friendsgiving/Thanksgiving gatherings.  The first look is a tried and true pattern Simplicity S9372.  Using this gorgeous burgundy ponte knit , I like how this pattern fits throughout. I chose this color to add to my typically neutral palette in my closet.  I also wanted something I could wear to my sorority meetings and found this color perfect.  It's an easy sew with back fisheye darts  and invisible zipper to add to the tapered style.  The neckline and armholes are finished with bias binding giving it a clean finish on the inside.  I used a universal needle to sew a...
5 comments
Continue Reading »

Made By A Fabricista: Closing 2025 with a Lined Jacket

By
Hello again, sewing friends! It seems we have arrived yet again in the grandest season for layering, all this oncoming cold weather. I like ending the year with something warm and very useful. Seems based on my past Fabricista posts, I love to sew year-end outerwear, and this round is no different!  I challenged myself with a new lined coat (wait, jacket? Coat? I feel like the presence of wool changes things?). Anyhoo, since the lovely Chalk & Notch Den Jacket has been in my queue, I proceeded ahead. I like the large pockets, the option to line or not, and the extra bodice and sleeve seams for topstitching.  Sewing this coat is not at all difficult, but the many pieces and loads of topstitching will take a bit of time. My version took me a few multiple-hour sessions to complete. I sewed a size 2, which matches my measurements, and I made no alterations. Hint: for a quick size test, just employ the lining pieces.  Gorgeous, muted blue as a soft wool flannel ? This is ...
1 comment
Continue Reading »

Made By A Fabricista: Chalk and Notch Wren Dress: My Buffet dress for the Christmas season!

By
  I recently sewed the Chalk and Notch Wren dress using a beautifully soft black voile from Fabric Mart, and it turned into such a satisfying, enjoyable project. The pattern itself is very easy to understand and straightforward with clear instructions, intuitive construction, and a relaxed fit that makes the sewing process easy. A buffet dress in the sewing community is a dress that is loose fitting, so you can eat at the buffet without your dress being uncomfortable afterwards, lol! Because the voile I chose is extremely thin and transparent, I opted to line the bodice and first tier. Adding a lining not only provided modesty but also gave the delicate fabric a bit more stability, especially around the neckline and button placket. A helpful tip when sewing a lining into a lightweight bodice is to treat the lining and the main fabric as one. I sewed the bodice as you would for a lined bodice, and the first tier I sewed the pieces together with a basting stitch to make the process...
2 comments
Continue Reading »