FINALLY! a lovely double gauze garment just for me!
i’ve bought double gauze fabric a few times, and i’ve always ended up using it for those pesky kids. haha. i actually intended on making something for E with this too, but it was just perfect for my next self-sewing project….even though i had only 1.5 yards of it, about half a yard less than the pattern calls for. there was a lot of planning before i cut.
the pattern is the Make it Perfect Shearwater Kaftan. it was my first time sewing a Make it Perfect pattern, though Toni’s patterns have a great reputation. my friend Gail has sewn many and one of my favorite quilting bloggers, Ashley from Film in the Fridge, went on a spree where she sewed, like, four Shearwater Kaftans in a week!
i had heard the Shearwater Kaftan was a quick sew, every version i’d seen seemed to fit well, and i’d never seen people mentioning any major struggles with it, which is always a good sign. the reputation was right! it was super quick and easy to sew! just a couple hours for me, and that included a break to get the baby back to sleep in the middle.
i made the small and the fit is just a tiny bit tight through the chest, but what isn’t these days? it’ll be fine after the little fella is weaned, so i’m not sweating it. all these tops i’ve been making lately have been nursing-friendly (i wear a nursing cami underneath, then a flowy/knit/button up shirt over the top) but not specifically modified for nursing because it’s such a temporary state of being. so other than the “temporary body shape making something tight that normally wouldn’t be” issue, i love the way it fits! the top is loose but not overly voluminous, and feels really flattering.
the one thing i did see from others was that the neckline facing shows when it’s worn, so rather than just serging the facing edge, i turned it under and topstitched, then tacked it down at the center with a few hand stitches. i also turned my bias tape all the way to the inside rather than keeping it visible on the outside, which made my neckline a bit wider than designed.
the fabric is dreamy, right?? it’s Nani IRO Pocho in light gray with subtly glittery white polka dots. it’s double gauze, as i mentioned, which makes it so soft and drapey (double gauze is two layers of gauze tacked intermittently so it acts as one fabric). i bought it at Bolt, but your friendly internet purveyor of fine Japanese fabrics, Miss Matatabi, has it online along with quite a few other color ways of the Pocho! Nani IRO month = every month, you guys.
sewing with double gauze is a bit like sewing with knit – the weave is so loose, you can stretch it to fit along curves (like sleeves to armholes) and i find a walking foot is very helpful to keep it feeding evenly. it’s hard to get sharp points and it likes to shift, so use plenty of pins when you sew and steam when you iron.
i love the sleeve tabs on this shirt and probably won’t ever wear them full length! i just like to roll my sleeves. it’s a cute, summery look. btw, i added interfacing to the inside of the sleeve tabs so the double gauze would support the tiny buttonhole.
one thing that tripped me up a bit was the PDF pattern piecing – i prefer a consistent margin around all four sides so i can chop off two sides and overlap them easily (this method), but this pattern had varying margin widths so i couldn’t do that. since it was only a front, back, sleeve, and a couple little pieces though, it wasn’t too much extra work to trim the pages individually, and the rest of the pattern instructions were clear and easy. i think this would be a nice starter pattern if you’re looking to sew for yourself, since the fit is forgiving, it’s fast, and there aren’t any closures.
i should mention that i’m also wearing my chambray maritime shorts – i actually tried a few different pairs of storebought shorts on with the shirt but these were my favorite fit! love that.
OKAY! giveaway time. Toni has generously offered one Make it Perfect PDF pattern of your choice to one lucky winner! i set up a rafflecopter for ya…click through to enter.
> > > ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE < < <
and be sure to follow along the Make it Perfect Pattern Parade!
The Make It Perfect Pattern Parade Virtual Catwalk introduces…
P.S. the usual disclosure about receiving a free pattern and being honest in my pattern review.
P.P.S. thanks again to the ol’ ball and chain for taking my photos! :*
skirt as top 
So pretty! All these posts on Nani IRO lately are really getting to me. I’m going to have to get some!
love this shirt! when i finally sew for me one day this will be on the list!
my favourite summertime dessert? home-made ice-cream. yum!
The fabric is glorious. It looks like a shirt made of clouds. Perfect summer wear
It turned out so great! Your photo shoot is beautiful too. You caught just the right light
I definitely need some double gauze for myself now. I’ve used it before on my girls, it’s so lovely. I keep meaning to look up Nani iro…stumbled across a post about double gauze yesterday too…the universe must be telling me something!
I love the combo of the shorts and kaftan. My fav summer dessert is peaches and vanilla ice cream.
Gorgeous–love it! **ice cream is my fave for summer!!**
I love her patterns!
I’ve been contemplating this pattern forever – it looks so great on you! My favourite summer dessert, hmmmm maybe a chocolate mousse.
Awww, the perfect pairing of fabric and pattern! They go perfect together!
Let’s see….probably a drippy ice cream cone!
tiramisu…
I’ve been eyeballing this pattern for a while, it would be the perfect replacement for a beloved shirt I had to retire about 2 years ago and still miss. Your combo with the fabric makes me really want to make it and try out some double gauze too!
Also – my favorite summertime dessert? Cherry Pie. all the way.
Watermelon!!
This looks great! I didn’t think I’d be into a “kaftan” pattern but this looks like a comfy not-too-relaxed top. Thanks for the giveaway!
Also, mint ice cream with brownies. Year round.
Classic summer ice cream. Especially here in the hot south! Love your blog Kristen! Thanks for inspiration to sew.
I’m not really big on desserts, but my favourite for summertime is definitely fruit salad!
Also, I love this kaftan even though I’m not usually the kaftan type. (:
Oooooh I adore eton mess, got to be my favorite summertime dessert 🙂
Love the fabric. That blouse looks so good with those shorts!!!! Thanks you for make this version. The original version is stack in my head and I didn’t imagine it with any different fabric. 🙂
double gauze for you = hooray!!! it’s a great looking shirt, i love the sleeve tabs – and nice to hear it’s a fast sew!
Anything cold. We live in Texas. Your kaftan turned out great! I have this pattern but have not made it yet. Maybe it’s time to take out the sewing machine.
Beautiful!! Ps: i love ice cream… Regardless of season!
My favourite summer dessert, just some fresh summer fruit.
That fabric is really gorgeous.
Love the top! My favorite summer dessert? Ice cream. I’m a purist 😉
Smores. Followed by otter pops. And slushies from Sonic.
So, so pretty, Kristin! I love the way you finished the neckline and turned the notch in instead of using the facing. It looks so professional. Did you decide to stop truncating your posts? I read from Feedly and I was able to read the whole thing on Feedly this morning.
What a beautiful top! I love the fabric you chose; its gorgeous. This would be a great pattern to add to my collection.
I love your shirt and shorts! I like s’mores with my girls!
Watermelon!
Anything with ice cream 😉
Ooh I’ve never seen this pattern before but I love it! That Fabric looks dreamy!
I love ice cream all the way!
Ice cream with chopped up Bing candy bar in it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love it! I’ve been wanting to try Toni’s Waterfall top, so I hope I win! My fave summer dessert is lemon sour cream pie!
it’s so so pretty! you look hot!!! Great fabric choice, you’ll wear it forever
I love watermelon in the summer! I love your top. I’m on the lookout for tops that are nursing friendly too.
I love homemade ice cream and watermelon!
Love this pattern! Old-fashioned strawberry shortcake (the kind made with baking powdered biscuits and real whipped cream) is my favorite summer dessert.
ice cream, ice cream and more ice cream! Oh and frozen fruit…maybe the two together? 🙂
Beautiful fabric
Love it! It would be a good way to keep the sun off without feeling constricted or hot.. and I LOVE DOUBLE GAUZE!!!
Oh and fav summertime dessert has got to be Strawberry Shortcake for sure!!!
I have some double gauze that’s burning a hole in my fabric stack. This pattern could be just the excuse to use it on myself. 🙂
I really need to make myself something with double gauze – and not just a scarf!
Oh, lol. We’rd supposed to comment on summer dessert. It’s got to be ice cream! Either DQ soft serve, Jeni’s, or homemade Jeni’s.
Your new shirt looks great on you! 🙂
hm, I think my favorite summertime dessert is macarons!
Ice Cream!!! Although it’s an all year favorite (yes even in the freezing, snowing, blowing winter). Thanks for the chance to win- love this pattern!
Favorite summertime dessert? Strawberry shortcake. Yum!
Fresh strawberry pie!
Peach or blackberry cobbler are pretty delish..
Definitely ice cream!
Frozen fruit / fruit-ish bars. I have some lime ones right now and am trying to spread them out, but it’s hard; I just want to eat them all in a short time.
perfect combination of fabric & pattern = magic! it does look stunning!
I love that fabric!! And my favourite dessert is a tie–fresh strawberry pie or rhubarb crisp.
Love your version and double gauze tips! I love berries and cream.
Icecream is the best!
popsicles – not an ice cream girl – but frozen desserts are great in summer!
oh my gosh. the MINUTE summer starts to roll around (and i live in texas, so it’s pretty much year round), my freezer gets stocked with toasted almond fudge ice cream! it’s been my #1 since i was a kid and it doesn’t look like that will be changing anytime soon! lol
your top is cute, perfect for summer! I just finished a nani iro dress for myself, the fabric is adorable!
I love fruity lemony desserts for summer!! 🙂
LOVE this fabric, so subtle so nice.
My fav summertime dessert is definitely a bowl full of Norwegian strawberries and cream.
Great shirt btw!
My fav summertime dessert is definitely a bowl full of Norwegian strawberries and cream.
Really nice shirt btw!
strawberry milkshake made with real strawberries
I love ice cream sandwiches. And peach pie a la mode. And just ice cream heaped in a bowl, maybe with some Grape Nuts for added crunch (and nutrition! HA!!)
Cute! I’m just about to make a poppy tunic for myself. Would love to try this too!
Wow I love it! Ok I know what I’m making’
Oh and my favorite summer dessert is orange sherbet!
You look so fresh and summery in this top, it’s very lovely!
Love this top, really must buy some double gauze. My favourite summer desert is homemade apple cake and toffee sauce with a bit of ice cream!
I would love to win a pattern! I also love fresh fruit with vanilla yogurt.
What a great fit on you and it looks so comfortable! Anything w strawberries in or on it in summer, yum 🙂 thanks for the chance to win.
Love the whole outfit – both the kaftan and the shorts! Must try both!
Great look with that pattern! I love soft billowy styles.
My favorite summer dessert is ice cream…chocolate of course!
Popsicles all the time please! That looks like a great summer pattern, I have trouble finding great easy shirt patterns so I am happy to see this!
Definitely ice cream in this FL heat! Love that top. Looks comfortable too!
Anything sweet 😉 very flattering top!
Favorite summertime dessert…peach cobbler with a big scoop of ice cream. Yum!
Nothing beats ice cream for summer! 🙂
Btw I’d just like to say that I really love this top! I’d love to try sew with double gauze, it seems like the perfect fabric for summer top 🙂
Homemade ice cream sandwiches.
This looks comfy and easy! Something to keep the sun away while nibbling watermelon, perhaps?
I absolutely adore this super summery top (and it looks great on you)! Sewing for myself is on my to-sew list – I think I’ll need to add this pattern to my board! 🙂
😦
I clicked on the link for her page/shop and couldn’t get it to load. I googled just in case there was some typoese going on, and went thru the Google link. It seems Google thinks her domain is non-existent.
Any suggestions?
Also, my favorite summer dessert is fresh fruits… watermelon, peaches, plums, all kinds of berries. And if I want something more than fruit, I’ll make Pioneer Woman’s fruit pizza. Omgosh it’s good!
i just tried and it took a while and a few refreshes, but it’s loading now. maybe give it a few minutes and try again? 🙂
oh i need to try that fruit pizza! my kids would probably think it’s hilarious, too.
anything ice cream is my fave dessert
Really lovely–I’ve been wanting to try sewing with double gauze for ages!
and peppermint ice cream or pb/chocolate ice cream is my favorite dessert.
Love this! Also my favorite summer time treat is seasonal fruit with real cinnamon whipped cream.
Pistachio ice cream for me 🙂
Ice cream
Thanks for the giveaway. Love the top.
Banana pudding!
Thrifty Ice Cream!
Have been eyeing that top for a few years now…plus that fabric – I hope I win!
ooh that really IS lovely!! 🙂 And you are lookin’ good, mama!!
Nice job on your blouse! When we were all younger my sibs and I loved my mom’s strawberry jello pie. She’d bake a pie crust. Then inside she’d mix together partially set strawberry jello, whipped cream and berries then freeze it! With a family of 7 kids it was gone in minutes! Loved it then and love it now 🙂
Strawberries and cream of course
Absolutely gorgeous top!!! My fave summer dessert is blueberry pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream 🙂
Ice cream – maybe with some strawberries….
My favorite summer desert.. Mm… Peaches and homemade fruit icecream
Very Nice tunic. I tried the water-ballast blouse and like it a lot…
My fave summer time dessert are Popsicles. We have a stash in the freezer all summer.
Love your Shearwater! We consume boxes and boxes of Blue Bell Popsicles for our summertime dessert.
I really like light desserts in tHe summer. By put they MUST include whipped cream …so there goes “light”. Hahaha! Triple berry fool is a favorite.
Lovely shearwater. Thanks for your review.
Jennifer in kansas
“by put” ???? That is the strangest auto-correct I’ve had in a while! “But”… ☺️
My favorite summer dessert is watermellon. Thanks!
I love ice cream!
I have some double-gauze that needs a pattern–this looks so comfy and easy for summer! I can’t choose: my two favorite summer desserts are lemonade pops and strawberry-rhubarb pie. Love!
Strawberry shortcake!
watermelon!!!
Lovely! And my favorite summertime dessert is blackberry pie with ice cream. Yum.
Looks super comfy! My favorite summer dessert (or just dessert really) is this pineapple/Cool Whip cake concoction my mom makes. Reminds me of childhood 😀
Strawberry Shortcake! Thanks for the giveaway!
This is just downright dreamy! I was very tempted by the kaftan myself because I love living in summer tops like this. Yours looks so beautiful (as are your amazing photos.). I finally bought myself some Nani Iro and can’t wait to use it. Maybe I need a shearwater kaftan after all.
I love making something with whatever is in season at the time. Strawberry shortcake, peach cobbler, blueberry buckle…love them all!
I love eating grilled peaches a lot during the summer.
Ice-cold watermelon!
Definitely ice cream!
Nice Cool Seedless Watermelon.
I love it! I’ve always wanted to try that pattern, but have never gotten around to buying it. I really hope I win, but if I don’t this may give me the impetus to do it 🙂
watermelon 🙂
This is so good. I really need to get more Nano Iro for myself…it’s so dreamy. Can’t wait to shop at Bolt when I come out! I’m so jealous of your great self-photography skills! You do such a great job on the selfish-sewing posing. Also totally feel ya on the tight tops from the nursing body. So glad my top section is returning to normal proportions as our nursing journey wraps up. And my fave summer dessert is ice cream 🙂
Smores over the fire – yummy chocolate gooey-ness!
I never saw anything that I thought cute enough that would fit and warrant the effort of making it myself. Now, I am obsessed with your tops. I am marking them for my birthday wish list.
My favorite summertime treat is homemade sugar cookies or pig cake!
*** giveaway is now closed – thank you to all who entered! the winner (Nancy) has been contacted. ***