06 Aug New Twist on The Tunic Bible
I overdosed on making tunics………after 50 I lost count……..and then an image went floating down my Instagram feed…….
“Oh my gosh – it’s a wide-split placket, with a band collar AND a ruffled neck! Why didn’t we think of that? Wait…… we did, just not combined with one another!”
TUCKERNUCK is a favorite retail and lifestyle website. My daughters love it and I do too. Cute clothing, accessories, jewelry, gifts for the home ….. and wonderful inspiration!
I studied the four “Palmerston Dresses” and pulled out The Tunic Bible. I had forgotten how much fun tunics are to design and sew. Once you have the fit worked out, you’re good to go for as many as you can make – unlimited possibilities!
Tuckernuck’s Palmerston Dress features a bib placket, a ruffle around the neckband and a trapeze bodice with a ruffled hemline. It’s adorable, but I knew The Tunic Bible’s A-line silhouette with a ruffled hemline would work fine for me.
The polyester or rayon floral fabric is from my remaining stash and I believe it came from Mood Fabrics. Its medium weight has lots of body and needs no lining. I began with the bib placket and piped around the border using same fabric on the reverse side.
For the collar I attached a 1 1/2″ ruffle between the collar band and its facing.
The ruffle is doubled fabric since it is seen from the inside and the outside.
I cut the tunic just below the hips and added a 9 – 10″ ruffle, which I cut double the width of the lower edge.
To keep the dress free flowing I did not add darts to shape the back.
Sleeves or no sleeves? As tempted as I was to keep it sleeveless for summer weather, I added short sleeves – still not sure about this choice 😉
The good news is my “Tuckernuck Tunic” pulled me out of a rut, and now I see tunic plackets all over the place! I’m going to make this version one once more to tweak a few details, and I envision many tunic variations using various plackets, sleeves, necklines, dress lengths and more!
Amazing what a little inspiration can do 😊 Thank you Tuckernuck!
Next Up: Making The Cut
Fancy Frocks Discount Code in Today’s Email!
Caroline Lazzara
Posted at 07:35h, 06 AugustAdorable! I love Tuckernuck designs but have found they are too short for me. I’ve had to return dresses twice.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:58h, 06 AugustThank you, Caroline! At 5’2″ nothing is ever too short on me 😂, but their dresses do appear very short – great inspiration however!
Pam Foster
Posted at 09:36h, 06 AugustGood Morning Sarah,
Great post! I have my copy of Tunic Bible in hand. In going through my stash it’s been fun to reread and look at all the possibilities. Hard to narrow down the next project. That’s definitely not a bad thing!
I vote for good choice on using the short-sleeved version-it seems to balance out the ruffle. And blue….can’t go wrong with that either.
Glad to see your posts again. I’m finding that in nearing retirement I’m organizing my sewing area and all the goodies that have accumulated. Very anxious to have more time to enjoy creating.
Have a wonderful week!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 09:53h, 06 AugustThank you, Pam for your comment and buying The Tunic Bible! That was my thought on the sleeve too, however, I think the sleeve could be slightly fuller…… next project! Good luck with your organizing 😊😊
Scarlett Tatum
Posted at 10:03h, 06 AugustSarah,
What an amazing detail … matching the design of the flower at the bodice and the dress front seam lines!!! This is a detail that Tuckernut does not offer.
Time to pull out my Tunic Bible … well after I finish making my dining room drapes. The list is endless, but oh so fun.
Thank you for the inspirations!
Scarlett
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:12h, 06 AugustThanks, Scarlett! It was a really fun make 😊
Dara Harper
Posted at 19:00h, 06 AugustBeautiful as Always! Thanks, Sara.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:12h, 06 AugustMany thanks, Dara!
Janet Mitchell
Posted at 23:36h, 06 AugustWelcome back, Sara. As expected, your new dress is a stunner. I must dig out my Tunic Bible and do some imagining. You are so inspiring.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:15h, 07 AugustJanet, Thank you for your comment. Giving The Tunic Bible a rest opened my eyes to many possibilities I never imagined when we wrote the book 😊 Hope the same is true for you!
Beverly
Posted at 14:44h, 07 AugustWhere do you get fabrics locally and online?
Where is the blue fabric for the latest tunic dress from?
Thank you!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:23h, 07 AugustBeverly, I do not buy fabric locally, sadly. I ordered this fabric from http://www.moodfabrics.com
Jennifer Mariel Shaw
Posted at 18:26h, 07 AugustI do adore your new dress! I really love your fabric that you had in your stash to make this dress. I am about your height, but I am not as petite as you are. I am more of an hourglass shape with a sway back. Now the tunic made as a short top with some shaping in the back would really work for me! Thank you again for sharing your beautiful adventures in sewing!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:50h, 08 AugustThank you, Jennifer! Short tunics are IN right now 😊 Send me a pic if you give one a try and good luck 😊😊
Pamela
Posted at 07:58h, 09 AugustI originally discovered you via the Tunic Bible and love this version of it! Your descriptions of pieces used and construction are invaluable. My cotton versions sometimes come out stiff and boxy due to my mature, plump size. What would be the best fabrics to use.? I don’t wear polyester.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 08:28h, 09 AugustThank you, Pamela for your comment 😊 Have you tried cotton lawn and cotton voile? Neither should be boxy!Silk also makes nice tunics and has a great drape. I discovered along the way, that shaping the back with darts when the tunic appears boxy helps the shape. Maybe try making the tunic a little shorter as well. Hope this helps!
Ginger Wise
Posted at 10:06h, 09 AugustLove this dress. You did an amazing job. I am also a big fan of Tuckernuck. I have a few pieces from there. A lot of their tops and dresses have the banded collar with a ruffle. I have the Tunic Bible. I am in the process of arranging my sewing room. I commented on a previous post that I loved the neckline and you suggested I checked my stash and that this neckline was in the Tunic Bible. I haven’t unpacked the box with the Tunic Bible but found several patterns with the banded split neckline. Looking forward to getting my sewing room unpacked and organized and sewing again. Years since I have sewed but I never stopped collecting patterns and sewing books.
Joan
Posted at 00:23h, 16 AugustThanks for the inspiration, Sarah! Love your fabric and your Tuckernuck-inspired dress: very fresh for summer! I have yet to use the pattern that came w/ your book, but am definitely more motivated after being reminded of its versatility. You really have an eye for detail: the piping adds a lot and looks terrific.
Britiney
Posted at 21:09h, 02 DecemberI love this so much and am finally making my first Tunic Bible top! I’m absolutely adding the ruffle. Mine will be pink sequins for the ERAS TOUR!!! I’ll wear it with black leggings. Would you think that cutting the tunic length at the dot for the side slit would be about the right length? Wish me luck!!! I have two days to get it done. I also think I’m going to add a lining to make the sequins less scratchy and help it hang freely and not catch on my leggings. Cannot wait to wear it and so many more tunics after this first one!!!