I'd seen this beautiful silk chiffon at Hancock and I knew that I must own it. I was hesitant at first because silk chiffon is not my favorite fabric to work with and I hadn't a clue as to what I would make with it. So it ended up taking me a few weeks to pull the trigger on that purchase. And I'm glad that I waited: the fabric was originally $19.99/yd. When I bought it, it was on sale for $9/yd!
I knew that I wanted to make something that would allow the fabric to be the star and with minimal seaming. So I decided to make a caftan.
I used New Look 6051. I've had this pattern for a while now and had never gotten around to using it.
I started this project with the intention of it being a quickie. Well, it wasn't exactly. My way of taming the silk chiffon was to use Sullivans' Fabric Stabilizer. I sprayed the fabric and allowed it to flat dry on my cutting table. When it was completely dry, it felt almost paper-like. This made the silk chiffon a lot easier to handle. And since this is silk, I used French seams and narrow hems. Simple, but pretty time consuming nevertheless.
Since my venue for the day was a park, I layered the caftan over a white cami with white shorts and paired with sparkly sneakers for an added touch of casualness.
Wearing: caftan: New Look 6051; cami: Target; shorts: Old Navy; sneakers: Converse: purse: Street Style from Lotus Boutique
Hi Erica,
ReplyDeleteLove this look! The fabric is TDF. Question about the fabric stabilizer. I have heard about starching a difficult fabric like silk chiffon before, but what do you do afterwards? Does the starch/stabilizer just flake off or do you have to wash it off? What if you don't intend to wash the finished garment, but dry clean it?
Thanks!
Sewn, I wouldn't advise using on something that is dry clean only. The point is to wash the garment afterwards. Thanks!
DeleteGorgeous Dahling!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kelly!
DeleteAbsolutely beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Aline!
DeleteTHIS is stunning! I picked up this pattern a while back and now I'm ready to make it lol.
ReplyDeleteThanks Adrienne!
DeleteBeautiful top.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sheila!
DeleteThanks Florencia!
ReplyDeleteYou have been working it all summer long with fresh and colorful outfits that are to die for. This is just another one to add to the list. Love it.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Andrea! This is another beautiful garment in your summer of color. I love this!
ReplyDeleteThanks Carolyn!
DeleteGorgeous! What a great pattern for this fabric! It's so bright and flowy! Love it!
ReplyDeleteHi Erica,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, white pants would look fantastic also! How did you do the hem. I have been trying to enlarge the pictures, not sure if you used a specific foot on your machine or serger. I want this look on the edges of my fall scarves and know the look, just not how to achieve it, thanks Erica, Leanne
Leanne, I used my edgestitch foot on my machine. Thanks!
DeleteGorgeous! You could not have paired that chiffon fabric with a more perfect pattern. The french seams and narrow hem were the most logical choice to minimize any distractions from the fabric. You look amazing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan!
DeleteThanks so much for the link to the stabilizer! I have silk chiffon that i'm nervous about working with so this is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI hope it works for you Sara.
DeleteWhat beautiful silk chiffon, this caftan was perfect as you said for letting the fabric be the star! Too bad we don't have a Hancock's around here and I never got to see this fabric!
ReplyDeleteThanks Bri!
DeleteAbsolutely stunning caftan. I adore that fabric, it is amazing. I bet you were on a natural high when you saw the reduction, practically skipping to the till with joy. Love that feeling.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sassy T!
DeleteWow- you can even work a caftan! Lovely combo of fabric and shape. Thanks so much for the chiffon sewing tips!
ReplyDeleteThanks Charl!
DeleteBeautiful as always! Love the colors and the casual look.
ReplyDeleteThe fabric is smashing...well done...thanks for mentioning "Sullivans' Fabric Stabilizer" I will be investing in a can or two :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Monica!
DeleteGorgeous. Stunning but simple and suprisingly slimming.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sassy Sensible Style!
DeleteErica - the perfect pairing of fabric and pattern. You look great (as usual).
ReplyDeleteThanks Rosie!
DeleteI shy away from chifon too. I never thought to use fabric stablizer I'll have to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteJoen, I had great success with it!
DeleteThanks Sing!
ReplyDeleteVery cute Erica! I was so surprised when I saw this post...I am currently working on a different project with the exact same fabric! I agree your top will look gorgeous paired with white jeans or white slacks too! Great job!
ReplyDeleteThanks Myra!
DeleteI LOVE this!
ReplyDeleteThanks MushyWear!
ReplyDeleteHi Erica, I made this last year to wear to my best friends birthday party ... I used a satin material .. I love this pattern and love what you did, I might go make another one.
ReplyDeleteThanks SherriC!
DeleteI love that blouse! I would even like to have a dress with that fabric! OMG!
ReplyDeleteErica,
ReplyDeleteI bought this pattern months ago waiting to find the perfect fabric. I did today. I was wondering how you shortened yours. The instructions say to shorten on the lines, but there are no lines on my pattern. I thought about just taking it off the bottom.
Angela, I had to re-read my blog entry because I never shorten ANYTHING. And I didn't shorten (or lengthen) this pattern.
ReplyDeleteThank you Erica!!
ReplyDeleteWelcome!
ReplyDelete