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7.02.2014

A Mini Shearwater Kaftan

When Toni emailed me asking if I wanted to choose a pattern from the Make It Perfect pattern collection to sew for her upcoming pattern tour, I was immediately drawn to the Mini Shearwater Kaftan.  That may seem counterintuitive, being it's a long-sleeved pattern, it's the middle of summer, and we live in Texas.  But what can I say?  I simply couldn't resist making it.  (I was particularly inspired by Gail's version here.)

Mini Shearwater Kaftan

 Given that it is so hot here,  I decided to make the shirt in this voile.  It's lightweight and cool (literally) :) and makes the top wearable both now and when the weather's cooler.

Mini Shearwater Kaftan
 
The voile is quite sheer, so I lined the top with this cotton lawn.  I left the sleeves unlined.  I loved using this lawn as a lining - it's so luxurious and buttery.

Mini shearwater kaftan

I decided to add some color blocking to the sides using this solid in honey.  

mini shearwater kaftan

I cut the sleeves in a size 10, but Indigo is so long-limbed that they were just the right length unhemmed and would have been too short if I had hemmed them.  So I adapted the sleeves to make them 3/4 length.

Mini Shearwater Kaftan


Otherwise, I sewed this in the size 6 width and size 8 length, which seemed to be just right for her.

Mini Shearwater Kaftan

I had originally envisioned turning the shirt into a dress.  I made two muslins to test it out: one a-line dress and another version in the original shirt shape with added length.  I actually cut and sewed this as the latter, but ultimately decided I liked it best as a shirt after all.

mini shearwater kaftan

 If I hadn't taken the long way, this would have been a very fast sew.  Unlined, you could probably sew it in about an hour.

mini shearwater kaftan

 Even though the construction is simple, the results are so professional.  I found myself wishing I had a shirt like this one.  You know, if I wasn't nine months pregnant.  I'm wearing alllllll knits these days.

I chose some mustardy gold buttons, which I had saved after this misadventure.

mini shearwater kaftan


 I love the detail of the sleeve tab.  Some of my favorite chambray shirts have this detail as well.  It's fun to see the ways in which the style of Indigo and my wardrobes are beginning to overlap.

mini shearwater kaftan

I'm wondering if I might have enough voile left over to make a mini mini shearwater kaftan for Iris.  Wouldn't a toddler wearing sleeve tabs be irresistibly cute?  It makes me smile just thinking of it.

I don't want to jinx anything, but Iris has finally been sleeping through the night in her own bed.  She falls asleep in our bed and then Dan moves her into her own bed.  Last night, Dan and I were falling asleep and he was piled under a bunch of blankets, including this one that I got him for Christmas.  He says it makes him feel like a caveman... but in the best way.  ;)  The tables are now turned and with my own personal furnace on board, I can't seem to ever cool off, even when everyone else has goosebumps.   Iris used to cuddle with Dan all night long and it's only been about a week that she's stayed put in her bed.  Dan peeked out from under his mountain of covers and said, "I have to admit, I miss her!  Do you think I should go get her?"  But we both knew we needed to let her sleep.  And she did!

mini shearwater kaftan

 

15 comments:

  1. such a sweet top! I love this fabric and the whole collection that goes with it! I like what you did with the sleeves and color blocink. Your girl has the same figure as mine: she is 8 but I always have to cut in size 6 for her!:) congrats on the good night sleep for Iris!!

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  2. Violet just started falling asleep in her own bed too, but often shows up in the middle of the night to snuggle. She's so cuddly and sweet that when she doesn't show up, we kinda feel like getting her too. Hahaha. Those wild ones sure can be snuggly!

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  3. You are the queen of the mustard yellow accents! I love this shirt! I would totally wear it in my size. I love this kind of shirt for summer because it's nice to have a bit more sun coverage for us pale redheads (the Bay breezes do generally keep things cooler too).

    Yay for good sleep!! Maggie actually sleeps through the night, usually waking up to nurse right before my alarm goes off and then sleeping in with dad and brother. Don't get too jealous bc she goes to bed super late like Joe. She sleeps with me, but I'm in the process of working on setting up a shared bedroom for Joe and Maggie!! WHOA, right?! Craziness. It'll probably be a couple months before it's done. And even then she'll probably keep sleeping with us a little while longer. It's just easier for me to keep her with me if she's nursing at night.

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  4. I just love the detail you've added with the colour at the sides! This is a beautiful style on your girl.

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  5. oh it looks so great on indigo! love those tabs too. i actually allllmost got this voile to make the big shearwater kaftan for my stop on the tour, but i wasn't sure if it might go a bit hospital gown-y in a grown up size. and yay for iris and sleeping in her own bed! that's great since you have a new one comin veeeeerrrrrrryyyyyyy soooooooonnnnnnn,

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  6. How nice is this kaftan ! And you did really choose colors that fit well together. It looks so... soft on your daughter (Indigo is a picture of you !). Jeanne, my daughter, had real nights (without waking up twice in the middle) at the age of two, we were so exhausted. So it is a very good thing that Iris sleept in her bed.

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    1. You know, it is very soft. Lined, I would definitely recommend it! :) Those long nights are tough. Thankfully, Iris mostly sleeps through and is very still when she sleeps so it doesn't bother us to have her in with us - except if she snores - haha! But with the new baby coming, it would be best for her to learn to sleep alone, I think, if nothing else because we might wake her. :)

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  7. If your summer is anything like ours then long sleeves and covering up skin to protect it from the sun is really important! I always see the pretty strappy dresses and think that would never work for summer, you'd get burnt!
    Love the caftan, it looks great and the colours suit Indy perfectly.

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  8. A great beach shirt.. lovely as always!

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  9. Fantastic! The perfect holiday wear if you ask me.

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  10. that is the PERFECT fabric for this top! i love the mustard accents. i wish i could get lila to wear hers...i keep suggesting it but she's all about dresses these days :)

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  11. you've done it again:) Taken a pattern that's already cute on its own, and made it even better! Love the mustard additions both in the sleeve tabs and along the side. You' have such great vision.
    Congrats on Miss Iris sleeping thru the night in her own bed! I'm sure you will miss her the first little bit, but you don't have too much longer to wait for another little Miss to take her place:) Good luck through these last weeks!

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  12. Oh I love this!!! looks perfect for summertime!

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  13. Sweet stuff Rachel - I seriously love everything you sew, you've got great style! Thanks for being a part of the Pattern Parade x

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  14. Love this! I want one in my size!

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