How to Sew a Kaftan Dress With a Boat Neck Without Using a Pattern
This DIY kaftan dress tutorial teaches you how to sew a kaftan dress with a super simple kaftan dress sewing pattern. You just need to know how to fold fabric and sew a straight seam. That’s it!
This beautiful dress can be worn for any special occasion and is so comfortable. You can add a glitzy applique to make it even more glamorous! Purchase your fabric and let me show you how to make a kaftan maxi dress.
Tools and materials:
- 2.2 yards (2.5 meters) of 60-inch wide fabric
- Matching thread
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
- Pins
- Measuring tape
- Tailor’s chalk
- Appliqué (optional)
- Fabric glue
- Cardboard
1. Make the pattern
Fold the fabric in half so that the folded measurement measures 60 inches or your desired length and the width is 50 inches.
Cut the side of the fold so you have the front and back panels. Each piece should be 60 X 50 inches.
2. Make the neckline
Place the pieces right sides together. Fold the fabric in half (along the 50-inch line) to find the center. Mark the center.
Measure your shoulder length and mark half this amount on either side of the center neck point. For example, in this tutorial, the shoulder length was 14 inches, so I marked 7 inches on either side.
Extend these lines with the chalk and then pin into position.
At the top of the fabric, create a 1-inch fold along both sides of the fabric. Pin to secure.
Press these folds as flat as possible. After pressing, recheck the center and shoulder measurements to ensure they haven’t shifted during pressing.
Once everything is nice and smooth, pin the sides on either side of the neckline itself back, keeping the neckline pinned down.
3. Make the sleeves
Measure down 10 inches on either side from the top down.
Mark with a pin.
Hem from the top down to the 10-inch mark for the armhole on either side.
4. Sew the dress
Once you’ve hemmed the armholes, stitch along the fold line up to the neckline pins on either side. Do not stitch the neckline yet. Use the creases you made previously to guide you.
Measure your hand circumference to determine the width of your sleeve opening.
Measure from the top shoulder down, folding the measuring tape in half. Mark this measurement down the sides. Pin to secure in place.
Stitch down the sides of the kaftan, with a ½-inch seam allowance. Hem the sides of the armhole with the new measurement.
Check to make sure your hand fits through the opening.
Keep the katan right sides together. Find the center of the kaftan by folding the kaftan in half so the side seams are one on top of the other. Mark the center on the neckline.
5. Make the waist ties
Measure your shoulder to waist length. Mark on the fabric.
Measure your waist and mark half of that measurement. Mark on the fabric, dividing the measurement equally on both sides. Those two points are where you’ll attach the waist ties.
Cut the fabric 60 inches long by 5 inches wide. Fold in half, right sides together. Sew as close to the end as possible along the long side.
Once they’re sewn, turn them inside out.
Fold the tie in half, cutting it right on the fold.
Keeping the dress with the right sides together, place the ties on the marks on the waist. Pin in place.
Stitch with the tie going in the opposite direction.
6. Add an appliqué (optional)
Turn the dress to the right side. Place your appliqué in the center between the two waist tie seams.
You can choose to hand stitch or glue in place. If gluing, use a piece of cardboard underneath. Be very careful not to spill glue on the fabric and don’t use tissues to clean up any glue spills!
7. Hem
Once the glue has set, remove the cardboard. Hem the kaftan at the bottom. Tie the ties on the inside.
How to sew a kaftan dress
You’ve made a beautiful DIY kaftan dress! Please let me know in the comments what you think of this tutorial on how to sew a kaftan dress and if you're thinking of making this dress yourself. Thanks for joining.
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