How to Cut and Sew a Kaftan Dress - Simple, Step-by-Step Tutorial
In this tutorial, I'll show you how to cut and sew a kaftan dress. If you’ve been dreaming of exotic locales and loose breezy kaftans, this DIY kaftan dress pattern is for you! The hardest part will be choosing the fabric.
If you know how to sew a straight stitch, you can make this easy kaftan sewing pattern at home. Let’s get started so you can wear this tonight!
Tools and materials:
- Fabric - 3 yards
- Ruler
- Clips
- Pins
- Measuring tape
- Marking chalk
- Sewing machine
1. Measure your body
Measure your hip size, shoulder width, and bust. Keep the measurements handy.
2. Fold the fabric
Fold the fabric widthwise and then lengthwise so you have 4 layers. Clip it in place.
3. Make the pattern
Mark the fabric with these measurements:
The width of the dress is your hip size divided by 4 + 4 inches. So for example, if your hip width is 36 inches, then that is 9 inches. Add 4 to mark 12 inches for the width.
The shoulder width is your shoulder measurement divided by 2 + 2 inches. Mark the shoulder measurement at the start line.
Then mark 1 inch down for the shoulder slant.
Mark the neck depth for the front and back on the fold: the back is 2 inches and the front is 3 inches.
Then mark the neck width of 3 or 4 inches.
Draw the shoulder slant. From the shoulder slant, measure 9 inches for the armhole and connect the two lines.
Add the bust measurement: your bust is divided by 4 + 3 inches. For me, that is 10 inches.
Find the midpoint on the armhole to use as a guide to draw the armhole.
Then curve out the neck area. Add seam allowance to the entire pattern. The length of the dress is up to you!
4. Cut out the pattern
Cut the pattern following the drawn lines. For the back cut all 4 layers.
Cut the front neckline on the upper layer only.
5. Make the sleeves
The sleeve width and length are 10 inches with a ½-inch seam allowance. Make a slant to fit at the shoulder seam.
Cut out the sleeves.
Use the first sleeve as a guide for the second sleeve.
6. Add facing
At the neck opening, mark 5 or 6 inches on the center front. Then mark ½ an inch on either side of the center line and connect in a V shape, as if you were making a dart.
Cut a piece of fabric for the facing and place it under the front neckline. Pin it into place. Sew it along the neckline, excluding the shoulders.
Once it is sewn, cut off the excess fabric.
Cut through the center line. Trim the corners on the seam allowance. Make little snips in the seam allowance on the curved edges so it lays flat.
Then turn the facing to the wrong side.
You can leave it as is or topstitch.
7. Add facing to the back
Repeat the same steps for the back facing but without adding the V. Add the facing fabric. Pin and sew. Cut off the excess. Make small snips in the rounded seam allowance.
8. Add pockets
To add pockets, measure 8 to 9 inches from the armhole and put a snip or notch there.
Pin the pocket pieces, right sides touching. Sew on the seam allowance.
9. Sew everything
Pin the shoulders and side seams. Sew the shoulders and the sides up until a few inches under the pockets for the dress side slits. For the sleeves, sew the side seams and hem. Pin the sleeves to the dress and sew on the wrong side.
Hem the side slits and the bottom and you’re ready!
How to cut and sew a kaftan dress tutorial
This is an easy stylish maxi kaftan you can make at home! I hope you enjoyed this kaftan maxi dress tutorial. While I don’t have fashion school experience and don’t do things the standard way in sewing, my dresses work for me. I hope they work for you!
Please let me know in the comments what you think and if you plan to make this!
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Comments
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What a wonderful, well-thought out tutorial, Deola! I am going to enjoy following your instruction instead of trying to copy an old caftan. Don't fret over unconventional sewing methods. It's part of the joy of sewing!
Love it!!!