We still have a lot to tell you about our whirlwind “Lucy and Ethel take on the LA Fashion District” trip (Liz shared part I yesterday) and I will be back with another round of that (including fabric pics) on Thursday….but in the meantime I have one of the easiest dresses on the planet to make—3 seams and NO hemming. Yes! Seriously, the perfect for summer.

At the end of our pattern drafting class, both Liz and I got obsessed with caftans. She made the Endora top using the caftan principle, and I decided to make summer maxi dresses for me and for Hannah.

The best part about a caftan is….it’s basically two rectangles! So there are only 3 seams to sew if you are using knit (which I completely recommend). Because most knit doesn’t fray, the arm holes, the neck and the hem are all left unhemmed and they still look super cute!

They also can be made in any length! I am planning a kelly green knee-length one, and the directions are EXACTLY the same.

Do you want to make one (or 5) for summer?

Here’s what you need.

Supplies:

For mine I used 2 yards of knit.

Elastic Thread (optional–I used this to pull the waist in on Hannah’s; but didn’t on mine.I will always wear it with a belt)

Hannah’s was a scrap so I am not sure how long it was….but I am guessing a yard would do most girls.

In the tutorial I am showing you how I made the little girl’s one, but it is EXACTLY the same for a woman’s. All you need is a width measurement and a length measurement.

And you are ready to start!

Here’s what you do……

And you are done!

On my maxi dress, I decided to leave it unshirred (that’s not a word, but you get the idea) and just pull it in with a belt….which is an even FASTER dress to make!

So, what you do say, are you going to be wearing a million caftan dresses this summer too?

I totally am. Comfy and cute….and I think one of the easiest things I have ever sewn.

~Elizabeth

PS –If you make one…I would love to see it. Will you put it in the flickr group on the right-hand side bar?