The Tunic, A Verb for Keeping Warm pattern



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.





2 comments

  1. 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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