Tag Archive for ‘tunic’ at make something

Tag Archive for 'tunic'

STYLISH DRESS BOOK 2 : DRESS “B”, SHORTER TUNIC

Published

on November 25, 2009

. 19 Comments

I know, I JUST posted this dress pattern. I warned you that I was going to make it again. (and again) It’s a really easy top to wear, since it’s almost like a t-shirt. It’s also really easy to sew and I didn’t want to trace out a new pattern. (lazy!) Also, I find that almost all of my real t-shirts are too short and I prefer a longer tunic length. I cleared out my drawers the other day and bagged up an entire drawer’s worth of clothing, mostly t-shirts that I never wear anymore. (FYI – new class alert for the new year = t-shirts!)

I was given some lovely soft woven cottons from India. This fabric is incredible. It is so lightweight and lovely with just the slightest sheen to it. I had just enough to make a shorter tunic version of this dress. Keeping with my resolution to use more trim, I made a special trip to Mokuba to pick up the grey blue lacey trim. Hemming with trim is actually a time-saver.

With all the unfinished projects I’ve got piled up right now, it felt great to whip up this little shirt and wear it the same week. I’m going to make another, but I promise to try out a new pattern first.

FAVOURITE TUNIC #6, AGAIN

Published

Karyn

on March 6, 2009

in stitchery

. 9 Comments

I don’t often repeat a pattern, but I just love this tunic so much. It’s so easy to make, to wear and it feels great on.

The pattern is from ‘My Favourite Tunic, Dress, Vest Book‘. (ISBN 978-4-8347-2762-3) Perhaps one day I’ll try out another pattern from the book. Until then, I would be perfectly happy making six more of these tunics.

The fabric came from my stash of New York fabrics, likely from New York Elegant Fabrics. It’s a lovely shirting cotton that is so soft and delicate, it feels like gossamer. I can’t wait to wear it on a sunny spring day.

This version is slightly different than the first. I omitted the zipper down the back since the top easily fits over my head. The length of the sleeves was dictated by the amount of fabric I had. These were the longest sleeves I could get out of the yardage I was working with and I quite like them. This time I also gathered the sleeve cuff and finished it off with bias tape binding. The final signature touch is the lace trim around the bottom.

I hear it is supposed to be a balmy 15 degrees Celsius today!

STYLISH DRESS BOOK “O”

Published

Karyn

on March 3, 2009

in stitchery, textiles and the workroom

. 12 Comments

I keep thinking that I should focus on projects for the home this year – quilts, curtains, pillows, roman blinds and box cushions. But then I see a lovely fabric in the shop that just calls to be made into a piece of clothing and I can’t help myself. Sewing clothing was my first love.

This black Lecien floral fabric was hard to resist. I kept eying it and worrying that it would sell out before I had decided what to do with it. It feels and looks like a Liberty of London fabric. So luxurious.

A quick flip through the Stylish Dress Book landed me on style “O”. It’s long enough that I keep considering wearing it as a dress with tights, but short enough that I will likely always wear it with jeans. The sleeves are bell shaped, but not too much. There is elastic sewn around the bodice in a casing and for some reason I really enjoyed sewing in this part. It adds some nice shape and gathering to the standard loose tunic silhouette.

Since many of these patterns from Japanese craft books are so simple, they are usually rather quick to complete. It satisfies my clothing craving quite quickly. I popped over to Pomadour’s Craft Cafe earlier and noticed that there is now a Stylish Dress Book 2! I will try to be good and not order it just yet.

I finally took a day off this weekend! The glory of two days off was so delightful, it felt like a mini vacation. I will try to do this more often.

FAVOURITE TUNIC #6

Published

Karyn

on December 12, 2008

in stitchery and textiles

. 15 Comments

I’m in love with the new tunic that I made earlier this week. (Yes, somehow there is time to make a new tunic but not time to start holiday gifts. I am able to rationalize this by saying it is good for my mental state to make myself a pretty top.)

I’ve been dying for a top or dress with a nice yoke and gathering, a la Wiksten for ages. I noticed a very simple one in my new book, ‘Favourite Tunic, Dress, Vest Book’. The fabric is a men’s shirting fabric from DFO. I absolutely adore this grey, stripey fabric, it has such a soft, vintage-y feel. I had bought it a few years ago for some ties and just realized that I should pick some more up before it was gone for good. I got the last 2 yards on the bolt.

The fit and cut of the tunic is really lovely and also roomy. It has a zipper in the back, but I don’t even need to use it to get the top on and off easily. Next time I make it, I’ll just omit the zipper and cut down on my production time! The sleeves were so beautiful that I decided to leave them full, rather than put in elastics. I used my 1/4″ Clover bias tape maker to trim the neckline and sleeves. The really skinny bias tape looks really great. (I take it back, Ayalah. It’s not that hard to work with and it looks amazing.)

To add a little extra sweetness, I trimmed the bottom edge of the tunic with lace. Anabela, I hope you approve!

13 DRESSES : DRESS 4

Published

Karyn

on July 8, 2008

in stitchery and textiles

. 6 Comments

Dress 4, originally uploaded by the workroom.

Dress 4 – Burda Easy 7969
Fabric – Anna Griffin Floral Catalogue from the Blythe Collection

If you’re looking for a simple and quick dress pattern, this is a good one to try. There are no sleeves, no zippers and no darts in this dress. But even still, it fits very nicely. The encased tie around the waist cinches the fabric into pretty little gathers across the back side. The tunic has a very Grecian look, in my opinion.

I made three adjustments to the original pattern. When cutting out the fabric, it seemed like the skirt was going to be way too long, so I shortened the skirt pieces. Once I finished the dress, I realized I had shortened it a bit too much. I would have preferred to have a couple more inches in length. Next time I do this pattern, I’ll cut it out exactly as they have it printed.

After I put the dress together, the skirt was a bit too a-line for my liking. I felt that the silhouette would be better slightly straighter, so I ended up bringing the skirt in a few inches around the bottom.

The pattern also called for store-bought bias tape for the neck line and the arm holes. I made my own bias tape using the Anna Griffin fabric. Bias tape is the easiest (and dare i say, funnest?) thing to make. The key is using the right tools, the most important being a bias tape maker. I promise a little tutorial very soon on bias tape. I want you to love it as much as I do.

The Blythe line from Anna Griffin is filled with fun prints like maps, calligraphy, engraved drawings and botanical studies. I especially like this fabric because it feels like I’m wearing a vintage flower catalog.

What are your thoughts on the ‘proper’ thing to wear under a dress with no lining? Do you wear/own slips? Do you have another solution? Do you care? For me, it usually depends on the show-through factor of the fabric, especially on light-coloured ones. I’m thinking that I’d like to make a few simple cotton slips to go with my growing dress collection. Hmm… foundation garments may be the next personal sewing challenge.