From Dashiki to Kaftan!!! DIY!!

When I was in ATL earlier this spring I came across this Dashiki and I fell in love with the design and color. It was way to big for me but since it was a great price I couldn’t pass it up. Once I arrived home I became way to busy and never really got a chance to figure out how I wanted to design it to make it fit best on my shape….. So it sat in my closet for almost 2 months before I laid eyes on it again.

With a new perspective I decided that the best way to make it fit was turn it into a Kaftan which would accentuate my shape and still keep the original style of the Dashiki. WIN, WIN!!!! First, I opened the sleeves and sides of the Dashiki and removed the pockets!

Then I cut the sleeves off, and measured about 15 inches down from the top of the garment and 6 inches inward on both sides to know where I needed to stitch. I then made a 6 inch straight stitch through the front and back of the garment on both sides. After that I made a button hole on both sides of the Dashiki and created a belt out of the extra material that I cut off the bottom of the garment. And Voilá!!!!!!!

Here is my simple Dashiki to Kaftan!!

And by the way I also fringed the hem of my jeans as well!! It was extremely simple!!

First, try your jeans on and see where your ankle is and make a mark with chalk or eyeliner. Then, Cut the hem off!!  Measure about 4 to 6 inches up from the bottom of the jeans and place a piece of clear tape there so that you know where the measurement is exactly. Next, use fabric scissors and make thin cuts up to the piece of tape all the way through the front and back of the jean. Loosen up the strands of the jeans with tweezers so that they begin fraying. Lastly, throw the jean in the washer and dryer to complete the look…. and you will get something like this!!!

Hope you love and enjoy this simple DIY!!!

I’m Wearing

Dashiki: From my trip to Atlanta but you can find one at an African Shop in your town!

Jeans: American Eagle (Vintage)