A long time ago, someone very close to me went to Kenya with Free The Children and brought me back a Masai Shuka, which is an African blanket that the Masai Tribe of Kenya would wear.
It was so beautiful, but SO big. Like there was no way I could wear it as a scarf without drowning in it. I tried styling it a few different ways but always felt like I couldn’t get it to work…so I debated cutting it and turning it into something wearable for months, but I was nervous I’d screw it up and ruin the entire thing.
Let’s fast forward to almost a year and a half after receiving the Shuka. My skills as a badgyal seamster had grown, so I decided to pull the Shuka out of my stash…and just go for it!
My skills as a badgyal seamster had grown, so I decided to pull the Shuka out of my stash…and just go for it!
So I settled on making a dress with two layers of skirt and pattern matched the entire thing. It was my first time doing that and I was pretty happy with how it turned out! Even the shoulder seams are pattern matched! I left the edges raw because I thought it looked cool (and was also one less thing to do ha!).
To piece the entire thing together, I used pieces of various patterns I had lying around:
Skirt – McCall’s Stitch N Save #3287 (shortened to 20″ length for the longer skirt and 17″ for the shorter one)
Bodice – Simplicity #1827
Sleeves – Simplicity – inspired by Project Runway #1650
Shoes: Zara | Watch: Skagen | Fabric: Shuka
Photographer: Ahilan K.
The Shuka Dress
6 Comments
Lovely material and savy way of puting it together, nice work.
Thank you!
Gorgeous! And impressive pattern matching on the double skirt.
Thank you! was my first time so I’m happy you like!
Ooh the layered skirt is very on trend this season. Love your dress btw, looks really good on you 🙂
Yes it is! some good forecasting there haha thanks so much for the love!