Sneaking in under the wire with a lounge-on-the-lanai caftan in honor of the #WerkFromHomeAlong being held on Instagram...
This fun sewalong, focused on sewing the work from home wardrobe you deserve and hosted by Christine, Haley, Alexia and Devon, was a good excuse to sew up something that was both comfy and a little bit over-the-top for our current (permanent?) work from home life. The day it was announced I began perusing my stash and plotting my pattern choice...
Ultimately I went with the Closet Case Patterns Charlie Caftan pattern, which I haven't made since I tested the pattern several years ago. I love, love my pink version, and had the perfect fabric in my stash for another one.
My fabric is a rayon challis I bought in Singapore several years back (I think at a shop on Arab Street, but it's a little bit fuzzy).
I was immediately drawn to the bright colors, big florals and the phoenix-esque birds that I'm 100% sure I cut upside down on the front of the caftan. I don't think you can tell, though. The print's so busy it's hard to even tell that there are birds on it at all.
This swishy fabric is so fun and bright. I've been trying to force cheer myself up during these tough times by wearing bright colors, so this fits well in that theme. Plus the Charlie Caftan is so fun to wear and swish around in!
I'm fake drinking a martini (quarantini? too much?) here for fun and because I had the perfect coordinating martini glass, although I will fully admit that I've considered day drinking during this pandemic several times. But it's frowned upon, so I've abstained. Conveniently, though, with no commute from the office, happy hour starts immediately after I turn the computer off!
Back to my caftan: for this Charlie, I went by my current measurements and cut a size 18, which worked out great. I opted for the higher cut sleeve since the larger sleeves on my other Charlie tend to show my bra at the underarm a bit.
Like my first Charlie, this is View C, the maxi caftan with the gathered front.
It's just so perfect for work from home. It's both a lot of fabric, but keeps you cool. It's cinched at the waist but not restrictive.
It's just so perfect for work from home. It's both a lot of fabric, but keeps you cool. It's cinched at the waist but not restrictive.
Rather than following the instructions for the gathered front panel, I took a cue from Coco's Loft and used her simplified construction method. It involves some topstitching, but is significantly less fiddly! The topstitching is barely noticeable with this busy print, plus the facing is topstitched down, so why not?!
Other than the front panel part, and maybe taking it slow with the neckline so as not to stretch out the V-neck, this is a really quick sew - instant gratification!
I am pretty much in love with this caftan. Comfortable, swooshy, dramatic, a little bit ridiculous and a lot loud... everything you could want in a work from home outfit!
Thanks and cheers to the team organizing the #WerkFromHomeAlong! It definitely helped to brighten my spirits and my wardrobe.
