You may remember that a few weeks ago I showed you some brightly coloured linen that I bought from Calico Laine.
I made this Vogue designer Summer dress from the ‘Pool Blue’ and blogged about it here.
The gorgeous ‘Leaf Green’ was destined to become a tunic top of sorts, but I couldn’t find an off the shelf pattern that I liked enough so I decided to draft my own.
I had several features in mind from other tops I own that I wanted to incorporate, so I played around awhile until I came up with this: –
A one-piece front with a centre front pleat and two horizontal partial pleats running parallel to the hem.
The back was also to be one-piece and would have some added shape in the form of external darts.
It was also to be shorter than the front and there would be slits on both sides.
This is the finished tunic which, from the creases, you can see has been worn quite a bit already.
The inverted centre front pleat was reinforced with a line of top stitching….
…and a couple of coconut shell buttons.
The parallel pleats at the bottom were designed to lift the tunic in the middle leaving the sides to drape lower.
To acheive the desired effect, the pleats were only partial and I only sewed between the pins as shown below.
I like the darts from the dress I made but was happier after securing them flat against the back, so I did the same with this tunic.
Much better!
French seams and narrow hems were used throughout.
The front pleats hang exactly as envisioned….
…and I added a gathered pocket at the last minute, matching the style with a pleat and another coconut shell button.
It’s a little bit stiff at the moment but will soften after the first wash.
I love it – the perfect loose, linen tunic to throw on over a pair of comfy linen trousers and mess around in the garden.
So cool and easy to wear and a lovely cheerful shade of lime green!
I could have brushed my hair for the photo though – I look like a tree with a bird’s nest on the top:)
June 26, 2015 at 11:13 am
LOL at your last sentence! All the pleats are fab, and those buttons are just perfect aren’t they! I hope you get a lot of wear out of it. Now to use the hot pink linen before the sun disappears 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 11:16 am
Thanks, it’s a bit different to anything you can get in the shops, isn’t it? I think the pink has got to be another dress, although I don’t have a pattern in mind yet. I may have to draft my own again:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 11:22 am
Hehe, that is the sort of thing that I would do, get so busy photographing what I have made and forget everything else 🙂 lets hope the good weather holds. You inspired me to buy some linen myself, I just need to get on and use it. x
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 11:24 am
Oh good, did you play safe with neutral or go bold with colour?
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 12:06 pm
Played safe I’m afraid!! I love my neutrals 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 12:09 pm
Neutrals have their place in my wardrobe too! I’m impatient to see what you make with it now:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 11:51 am
Stunning! Love all your top stitching and finer details, it’s definitely nothing like anything in the shops cos it’s so well made! Maybe in some ridiculously expensive shop they’d have something nearly as good.
Have you thought about putting your pattern on Etsy? Some patterns are sometimes in just one size (not normally mine!!) . Not sure how difficult it is but might be worth thinking about. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 12:08 pm
Thanks Ali! It’s the quality of the fabric too, you just don’t get linen like this on the high street. I hadn’t thought about selling the pattern – maybe I should design a few and get you to test them for me?!
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 12:13 pm
Ooo! I’d love to! You’d need a new logo for your line of clothes patterns…. You could have your big cock on it ….lol…. !! 😂 I’m sat at work in the car – if anyone walks past and sees me laughing they’ll think I’ve gone mad!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 12:15 pm
Ha ha! I could draft the pattern in sizes suitable for small, medium or liar!
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 12:16 pm
Hahaha!!!
LikeLike
June 26, 2015 at 12:49 pm
Your tunic is gorgeous! Lovely finishing techniques too. Your last sentence made me chuckle, I had to scroll back to look at the photo – you could have got away with it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 1:02 pm
Thank you – the finishing touches can often lift an otherwise ordinary garment, I find, especially if it’s something different to the norm:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 1:23 pm
This looks fantastic – loooove green. Thanks for the close up of the buttons you can really appreciate the quality of the linen and could almost ‘feel’ it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 1:29 pm
Thanks! I don’t wear a lot of green because this is the only shade that suits me and there’s only so much lime green you can have in your wardrobe! I use coconut shell buttons a lot – they’re cheap (a waste product) and go with any casual item. I bought loads of the linen and have lots still to use; it’s excellent quality and a great price:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 2:16 pm
What a fabulous tunic!! You are so good at making your own patterns and designs, you need never to buy from a shop again 😉 Love both the dress and the tunic, now I can’t wait to see the creation with the pink linen 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 2:26 pm
No pressure then! I do like wearing something a bit different and the high street tends to be a little too conservative for my taste. Making my own makes sense. Wish I could find inspiration for the pink – it’s my favourite out of the three linens:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 27, 2015 at 7:31 pm
It’s fabulously different and great that you have such abilities to create them! I hope a spark of inspiration jumps out at you soon for the pink linen 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 2:20 pm
LOVE your pattern & tunic ~ agree with Ali: think about etsy! Now must check out your linen source, as I’ve not found a good one over here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 2:27 pm
Thank you – perhaps I’ll think seriously about doing a pattern to put on Folksy (the UK Etsy). The linen is a mix of 55% – 45% cotton and is fabulous quality.
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 10:53 pm
Thanks for the link to CL ~ the fabric does look great. Please dooo consider putting the pattern on Folksy!!! 😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 2:42 pm
This is gorgeous! I love the colour and the pocket! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 2:48 pm
Thanks – I was supposed to add another pocket for the other side but haven’t got round to it yet as I couldn’t wait to wear it….
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 2:51 pm
I think it looks really nice with just the one pocket!! It does look so comfy 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 2:52 pm
Oh, it really is! Brilliant for lounging around or in the garden when you don’t need anything restricting your movement:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 3:12 pm
Oh wow! I love it. It looks so comfortable. I would want to wear it all the time. You are a great seamstress. Is there anything that you can not do? LOL You rock lovie!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 3:45 pm
You say the nicest things Robin! Sewing is easy, it’s sculpting with fabric which is the most forgiving medium to work with:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 3:31 pm
Omg. Love it. If you do do a pattern, I’d buy it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 3:50 pm
Thanks! I’ll think about doing a proper pattern – it’s not as easy as it sounds, especially if it is to be downloaded and printed off in bits!
LikeLike
June 26, 2015 at 6:30 pm
Beautiful. You’re so creative. You should definitely have a go at doing a pattern to sell. I’m sure sorting out the download/printed off bits won’t be too much of a challenge for a smart cookie like you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 28, 2015 at 9:24 pm
I’m a bit afraid of the PDF thingy, if I’m honest. I hate downloading patterns myself so have little inclination to create one to sell:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 28, 2015 at 9:52 pm
I hear were you’re coming from. Are your lads old enough to be webby savy enough? They probably cover these things in nursery now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 28, 2015 at 9:53 pm
Prob not, but No.1 Son is 22 – he might be able to help:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 28, 2015 at 9:57 pm
Oh yes, get him on it. Or failing that, he must have a friend who can.
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 8:53 pm
I’d buy this pattern! It has such a great shape and it looks really comfy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 28, 2015 at 9:25 pm
Thanks – it is super comfy, I have to say, and I’ve worn it lots already.
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 26, 2015 at 9:49 pm
Your attention to detail and sense of style is inspiring! I’m adding my interest in seeing what becomes of the pink too 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 28, 2015 at 9:26 pm
Thank you – the pink dress is now finished and I’m hoping to find time to blog it after my holiday:)
LikeLike
July 8, 2015 at 11:33 am
You are such a fabulous seamstress! I love everything you sew – you do it SO well! Marianne xx
LikeLike
Pingback: Fuschia Linen Tunic Dress | Sewchet
Pingback: this week, close up | Curls n Skirls