The Tunic ~
A couple of years ago I bought my first tunic. I don't ever remember having such a multi-tasking, useful piece of clothing. Extremely comfortable, the right tunic can also be rather flattering, and a magician at disguising all manner of maturing body blips. It can be worn alone as a dress, with leggings, jeans, shorts or a skirt, and layered up for winter wear. I was hooked. I began searching for the perfect tunic. I looked in stores; I looked in thrift shops; I looked online; I looked through sewing patterns; I looked at Pinterest; and of course I started a Pinterest board totally dedicated to Tunic ideas.
Last year, while participating in the Alabama Chanin workshop at the Edible Schoolyard (read that post here), I finally found exactly what I was looking for. Kristine Vejar, owner of A Verb for Keeping Warm, was wearing it, THE perfect tunic, made up in the Alabama Chanin way in their indigo organic cotton fabric. I felt a deep satisfactory sigh of relief, knowing that my search was successfully completed, and went posthaste to purchase the "Endless Summer Tunic" pattern at A Verb for Keeping Warm.
I happily brought it home, placed it lovingly in my sewing cubby, and there it sat, all ...year ...long. It was a very busy summer, but really, I wanted a tunic pattern with sleeves, and this one did not have sleeves. I had decided I would still make it up, and wear a t-shirt under it if I wanted sleeves. At that time I didn't know how to put sleeves into something sleeveless. I would never have attempted it.
Fast forward 14 months, and I am even more delighted that I purchased this pattern, because it was the ideal project to bring with me to my pattern and alterations class in Alabama. Diane helped me make a sleeve specifically for this tunic. We started with another sleeve, and measured the perimeter of the armhole of the tunic and the existing sleeve. The existing sleeve was a little small, so we just added on to make it the same measurement. There was some fussing with the directions. I did not put the fusible interfacing in the yoke. I did not put the pockets in. I did not hem the bottom, though I think I may go back and hem it to match the sleeve hem.
It was well worth the effort, because I really love the way this tunic has turned out. I felled the side seams, and left the front and back seam open. I may go back in and redo the front and back seam, because I like the extra stitching that the felling provides. I also put a little extra detail on the back of the yoke.
I know I will get a lot of use out of this tunic. I know I'll make more, and perhaps even sleeveless tunics as well. It's nice having such options.
Last year, while participating in the Alabama Chanin workshop at the Edible Schoolyard (read that post here), I finally found exactly what I was looking for. Kristine Vejar, owner of A Verb for Keeping Warm, was wearing it, THE perfect tunic, made up in the Alabama Chanin way in their indigo organic cotton fabric. I felt a deep satisfactory sigh of relief, knowing that my search was successfully completed, and went posthaste to purchase the "Endless Summer Tunic" pattern at A Verb for Keeping Warm.
I happily brought it home, placed it lovingly in my sewing cubby, and there it sat, all ...year ...long. It was a very busy summer, but really, I wanted a tunic pattern with sleeves, and this one did not have sleeves. I had decided I would still make it up, and wear a t-shirt under it if I wanted sleeves. At that time I didn't know how to put sleeves into something sleeveless. I would never have attempted it.
Fast forward 14 months, and I am even more delighted that I purchased this pattern, because it was the ideal project to bring with me to my pattern and alterations class in Alabama. Diane helped me make a sleeve specifically for this tunic. We started with another sleeve, and measured the perimeter of the armhole of the tunic and the existing sleeve. The existing sleeve was a little small, so we just added on to make it the same measurement. There was some fussing with the directions. I did not put the fusible interfacing in the yoke. I did not put the pockets in. I did not hem the bottom, though I think I may go back and hem it to match the sleeve hem.
It was well worth the effort, because I really love the way this tunic has turned out. I felled the side seams, and left the front and back seam open. I may go back in and redo the front and back seam, because I like the extra stitching that the felling provides. I also put a little extra detail on the back of the yoke.
I know I will get a lot of use out of this tunic. I know I'll make more, and perhaps even sleeveless tunics as well. It's nice having such options.
Nice, I have been looking at that pattern too and wondering how it really fits - glad to know it is a good one! Jen
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