29 Sep Silk Tunic #2
Hubs and I were among the passengers of some 2,000 cancelled flights to Chicago this past weekend………. The only upside of missing our friends’ wedding was the unexpected weekend of sewing time, and I resumed my tunic mission.
Better?
Many thanks for providing such great suggestions for raising the bar on tunic sewing. I especially enjoyed receiving this Pinterest link loaded with tunic inspiration! Like many of you said it’s in the details and I got busy modifying the Simplicity 4149 tunic pattern I made last year.
Relaxing the fit of my existing muslin allowed for a better drape which is easy to see when compared to my first top from this pattern.
My fabric, a lightweight silk twill from Mood Fabrics is one I selected last November at the store from hundreds of silk prints. The contrast is a deep gold silk shantung given to me by a friend.
Instructions for contrast are not provided in the pattern, but a contrast is easy to achieve by reversing the application of the placket and neckband to the inside of the garment and folding them over to the outside.
French seams were used everywhere except in the sleeve inset.
I added two inches to the length of the tunic which includes the contrast band.
I also lengthened the sleeve.
After experimenting with various widths I found an appealing uniformity in keeping the placket, sleeve and lower band equal widths.
As I enter the 9th month of the year-long Ready-to-Wear Fast, I plan to focus on what I intended to do in the first place – sew stylish e v e r y d a y clothing. My closet is suffering in this area as I became sidetracked sewing several special occasion garments.
A couple of more tunics are in order for sure 🙂
Until soon!
Mimi
Posted at 09:50h, 29 SeptemberCute mom – go terriers! 🙂
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 09:53h, 29 SeptemberRuff ruff!
Nancy
Posted at 09:52h, 29 SeptemberLove this on you – much better!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 09:53h, 29 SeptemberThank you, Nancy!
Nana
Posted at 10:17h, 29 SeptemberThis is very pretty and inspiring. I have never been successful in making tunics that I feel comfortable in. I may give it another try with something for fall.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 10:20h, 29 SeptemberThank you, Nana! Why is it that the easy patterns can be the most difficult to perfect? 😉
jaj
Posted at 10:27h, 29 SeptemberThis is just lovely! It might be too heavy for your climate, but for winter I’m thinking of trying a tunic in some beautiful Linton tweed, quilting a silk lining to the wool a la Chanel, and using fringed fabric as trim. Let’s see if I get past the “thinking” stage!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 10:29h, 29 SeptemberThank you, Jaj! Good luck with your tunic – sounds lovely 🙂
Tina Spear
Posted at 10:35h, 29 SeptemberVery nice, Sarah. So when you do french seams do you need to adjust the SA any in order to have the same fit as if you did standard 5/8ths SA? I have done french seams on home dec projects which I didn’t need to worry about fit, but was always curious if it effected fit anywhere on garment construction. Now that I am thinking about it, I guess it wouldn’t especially if you sewed 1/4″ seams each time, right?
BTW did you embark on sewing your daughter’s veil?
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 12:17h, 29 SeptemberThank you, Tina! I did not sew Katie’s veil, but should have after seeing how lovely your’s was 🙂 When sewing French seams, I sew 3/8″ trim then sew a quarter inch. It’s easy in unfitted garments but I didn’t want to risk sleeve issues. Next time I’ll give it a try.
Alicia @ Pandora Sews
Posted at 10:42h, 29 SeptemberI like this tunic much better. If I am being completely honest, I really like it paired with the white pants. When I first saw it with the leather pants, I thought it looked fussy, but I adore it in the last pic with the white pants.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 12:18h, 29 SeptemberThank you, Alicia! I too love it with the white pants 🙂
Art Attack
Posted at 10:46h, 29 SeptemberReally cute tunic, Sarah! I love the fabrics you combined and great tip on reversing the fabrics for contrast. I’m totally with you on needing everyday clothes. Once I get all the contractors out of my house I intend to focus on just that. Oh, and finishing my FJ started in Susan’s class in August. What can I say? Life has been crazy! XO Dorcas
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 12:19h, 29 SeptemberHI Dorcas! Contractors in the house will turn anyone’s life upside down – but the results are generally well worth the headaches and mess. Cannot wait to see your FJ 🙂
Olive
Posted at 10:46h, 29 SeptemberYou are an inspiration. I’ve just started sewing and I’m looking forward to having more time to do it; especially when I see what you are doing with the patterns.
ME
Posted at 10:50h, 29 SeptemberAnother great job Sarah !! I love the colors you chose . You have been such an inspiration to stretch my skills !
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 12:20h, 29 SeptemberMany thanks, ME! We pull for a college team whose colors are black and gold, hence lots of b/gold garments 😉
Elaine
Posted at 11:10h, 29 SeptemberYou nailed it this time. I too love it with the light pants.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 12:21h, 29 SeptemberThank you, Elaine! I do like it with the white pants 🙂
maryfunt
Posted at 11:15h, 29 SeptemberLove this on you. Tunics are so easy to dress up or down. I know what you mean about working on everyday clothes. I also tend to do fussy, complicated projects and find myself in dire need of some simple things with this ready to wear fast. Saw Samantha this weekend and she says Hi.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 12:15h, 29 SeptemberThank you, Mary! The RTW Fast certainly highlights the shortcomings in one’s wardrobe 😉
Hope the cute couple is doing well!
lauriesannie
Posted at 11:19h, 29 SeptemberBeautiful. Great fabric pairing. You mentioned French seams. I used to use that nylon seam binding on my armhole seams and cursed throughout the process. I first tried French seams on a toile armhole. I will never go back. It’s way easier than I thought.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 12:13h, 29 SeptemberThank you, Lauriesannie 🙂 You’ve convinced me to give it a try next time!
Ally - DesignRewindFashions on Etsy
Posted at 11:26h, 29 SeptemberThat looks amazingly comfortable. I like the bands all the same with – it looks very polished! I see a tunic in my future. BTW, a while ago I mentioned never having ordered fabric off the internet. I finally ordered some swatches from Mood and LOVED what I received. I won’t say how much I ended up loving my swatches but lets just say a large box arrived on my doorstep last week. Time to get busy 🙂
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 12:12h, 29 SeptemberOoh you’re going to have fun with your new fabric! It gets easier and easier for sure 🙂 Many thanks for the comment, Ally!
Laura Casey
Posted at 11:35h, 29 SeptemberAre you happy with the neckline…..for some reason I think the neckline facing should be as wide as the placket in front….but I may be wrong about that…..but love your self tuning till your happy. Since Waechter’s closed I only need casual stuff…….Happy Sewing, LAURA
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 12:11h, 29 SeptemberHi Laura! Were you reading my mind? If I could have redone the neck facing without making a mess I would have. I completely agree with you. The other change I plan to make will be lengthening the placket one inch. Many thanks for your comment…… I bet the Asheville community really misses Waechters 🙁
CheraleeS
Posted at 11:54h, 29 SeptemberI love it! As cute as tunic #1 was, this one is leaps and bounds more tunic-y! 🙂 I think keeping the consistent widths was a really smart choice. No individual piece is drawing my eye, so the garment as a whole is so harmonious. Love, love, love what you did! I am over here, mentally going over how to make suede structured for a handbag… Maybe I should make a tunic instead. 😉
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 12:09h, 29 SeptemberThank you so much, Cheralee! I like Laura’s suggestion above regarding widening the neck facing to the same width……. and I definitely recommend sewing a tunic over a structured handbag 😉
Peggy Lobello
Posted at 11:56h, 29 SeptemberLove the tunic. How do you treat your silk fabric. Thanks for the inspiration. Peggy Lobello Cartersville. GA
Sent from my iPhone
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goodbyevalentino
Posted at 12:07h, 29 SeptemberThank you, Peggy! The tunic will be dry cleaned 🙂
David
Posted at 12:32h, 29 SeptemberReally gorgeous, particularly love it with the white trousers and flat brown shoes, the combination is pure perfection there 🙂
Vicki
Posted at 15:53h, 29 SeptemberLovely!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 15:56h, 29 SeptemberThank you, Vicki!
Joan
Posted at 15:55h, 29 SeptemberHi Sarah,
Your new tunic is lovely — I particularly like it with your white jeans and TB flats.
One more suggestion on “taking it up a notch” that I did not see in other comments: piping the outside edge of all your bands in a contrast color. Would add a fair amount of work, but it would add elegant detail.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 15:57h, 29 SeptemberThank you, Joan! I too like it with the white jeans and TB flats. I agree with you regarding the piping and hope to take this additional detail on in a future tunic 🙂
Amanda
Posted at 16:12h, 29 SeptemberThey look lovely , gorgeous fabric and styling!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 20:02h, 29 SeptemberThank you, Amanda!
Rachel
Posted at 16:55h, 29 SeptemberThis looks spot on. The colours are so flattering on you, particularly with the white trews. I cannot believe we are entering the 10th month – I feel like a changed woman, thank you! “Sewing several special occasion garments” has got to be the understatement of the year… How many beautiful dressing gowns did you make again? 😉 Rachel ☺
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 20:03h, 29 SeptemberLOL ! Thank you for your nice comment, Rachel…… and for being a 2014 RTW Faster!
Ebi Poweigha
Posted at 17:27h, 29 SeptemberThis one’s a winner! Keeping all the bands the same width is definitely the right move, and I love the classy fabrics you sew with.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 20:10h, 29 SeptemberThank you so much, Ebi!
Sue Bateman
Posted at 17:45h, 29 SeptemberLovely Sarah, looks great I adore the colors and the balance of the contrast works really well. You’ve inspired me yet again I think I will have to give a tunic a try.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 20:10h, 29 SeptemberThank you, Sue! I’m going to try one more too 🙂
justineabbitt
Posted at 19:13h, 29 SeptemberGorgeous Sarah! I really want to try this pattern as well as the one you made last week. I love them both!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 20:11h, 29 SeptemberThanks so much, Justine! You’ll whip these up in no time 🙂
Denise Thompson
Posted at 19:14h, 29 SeptemberLove that! I have some tunic patterns that I still haven’t made. Now you’ve inspired me!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 20:11h, 29 SeptemberMany thanks, Denise! You will make some gorgeous tunics, no doubt 🙂
Julie Starr
Posted at 19:42h, 29 SeptemberYour fall colors and beautiful silk make for an ultra luxe tunic here, Sarah. This pattern gave the best result of any I’ve tried, although that cute Simplicity with the scalloped placket is a wonderful one, too. Here’s to tunics!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 20:12h, 29 SeptemberThank you, Julie 🙂 Here’s to tunics and French Jackets 🙂 🙂
Myra
Posted at 20:40h, 29 SeptemberOh my Sarah, I’m not sure if I have a favorite, they both a beautiful! Very stylish and a great look on you too! This looks so RTW (actually better than RTW!) Great job on both tunics!
Anna O'Day
Posted at 21:37h, 29 SeptemberI think it looks wonderful. It looks stylish and comfortable. I agree with Myrna. They both look great but I can see why you let out the seams. The “drape” in the front is gone. Or maybe it was the fabric. At any rate, I think you may have gotten where you wanted to be.
Tomasa
Posted at 22:09h, 29 SeptemberIt’s beautiful. The contrasting fabric goes perfectly with the print.
Barbara
Posted at 02:06h, 30 SeptemberLove that tunic on you. Your modifications really make it beautiful, the drape and the fit.Great colours too.