Free Patterns for Caftans

Hot weather makes me want to shower early and put on a comfy, cool caftan.  Caftans hearken back to the 70's when they were the rage, and for good reason.  It was (and is) an easy wearing garment reminiscent of muumuus.

Some vintage patterns are available on various websites, but I decided to forgo the purchased patterns and find a tutorial on the internet.

This website by essortment was where I went for general instructions.  Of course, the pattern was tweaked and re-sized, but the general gist of it was used.  I found that after washing my fabric, it did shrink up, so be sure you prewash your yardage, and purchase enough to allow for shrinkage.  And ensure that if you are taller than average that you increase your length.

Weekend Designer highlighted this caftan, along with similar technique instructions.

And here is the finished caftan, with surprisingly little effort:

Can't you just see wearing it on your summer patio with an umbrella drink in hand?

High Water in Colorado

Driving over to Denver for the weekend holiday, I was amazed at the high water levels on the Colorado River.  In Grand Junction, one local walking and biking path has been obliterated by the mountain water runoff.

(photo by Gretchen Daughtery - Daily Sentinel)

Telluride's Daily Planet said:

A Hazardous Weather Outlook published by the NWS for eastern Utah and western Colorado indicates that recent warm weather has accelerated snowmelt in these areas, increasing runoff into local waterways. Many rivers, such as the Arkansas River near Leadville, are surpassing their banks.

As I was driving solo, it was a bit dangerous to take pictures of the Colorado River overflowing its banks, but I did manage a few by just holding the camera up and to my side, then clicking away.  Here are a few shots.

(in Glenwood Canyon)

(Just off Interstate Highway 70 at a rest stop)

(picture by UpthaCreek)

Whitewater rafting was a popular activity on Saturday, July 3.  I saw lots of rafts on the river with adventure seekers galore and honked and waved at a few from the sidelines.

Hope everyone had a safe and fun weekend!

July Pictures - Summer Poetry

"That beautiful season the Summer!
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light;
And the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood."
-  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"And pomp, and feast, and revelry,
With mask, and antique pageantry,
Such sights as youthful poets dream
On summer eves by haunted stream."
-  John Milton, L'Allegro, 1631

"The summer morn is bright and fresh, the birds are darting by
As if they loved to breast the breeze that sweeps the cool clear sky."
-  William C. Bryant

"I know I am but summer to your heart,
And not the full four seasons of the year;
And you must welcome from another part
Such noble moods as are not mine, my dear.
No gracious weight of golden fruits to sell
Have I, nor any wise and wintry thing;
And I have loved you all too long and well
To carry still the high sweet breast of Spring.
Wherefore I say: O love, as summer goes,
I must be gone, steal forth with silent drums,
That you may hail anew the bird and rose
When I come back to you, as summer comes.
Else will you seek, at some not distant time,
Even your summer in another clime."

-  Edna St. Vincent Millay, I Know I am But Summer to Your Heart