Tutorial ~ Faux Button Down Tunic

I realized that I had several guest tutorial posts I did for others, but haven't reposted here. Since I am working on a couple "secret" projects right now (and you won't see them till Spring/Summer), I thought it would be the perfect time to repost one. I am planning to repost different tutorials here and there in case you have missed them. :)

This is a very simple-to-make tunic and no major pattern is required. This particular tunic I made is for size XS and S, but if you need to make it larger, you can always add fabrics on the sides or join two pieces of fabrics at the front and back to create the same look. :)

* You will need

1 yard of main fabric
2/3 yard of contrast fabric
1 Strip of interfacing
8 3/4" Buttons
Matching thread

* How to

* I soaked the fabrics in the washer over night without detergent and lightly washed them the next day. After I let the fabrics air dry, I ironed them to prepare them for sewing.

1. Cut the main fabric 25" by the width of the fabric, and cut the bottom trim fabric 7" by the width of the fabric. I am short and have a short torso, so if you are a tall girl you might want to add an inch or two to the measurements.

2. Put two fabrics right sides together and sew on the width length. Treat the edge with your preferred method to prevent fraying. Fold the seam toward the bottom trim and press with an iron.

3. Add 1" wide x length of the fusible interfacing on one side of the side seam and fold.

4.Lay the fabric flat; wrong side of the fabric up. Bring both sides to the middle to fold. Over Wrap the seams by about 1" and match up the design and pin in several places. Make sure that you don't pin the other layer of the fabric.

5. Sew the edge with 1/8" seam then sew 1" in parallel to that line. Now, you have created a faux button down front. Again, make sure not to sew the fabric in the back with it!! ( I do stuff like that when I am not thinking...)

6. Now you have a giant "tube". Lay it down on the table flat to determine the center of the tunic. Make sure that what you have created in step 5 comes right in the middle of the fabric and both sides of the fabrics are equal width from the center. You can download the PDF template I have created for the top edges for the tunic. Print, cut then you can trace the outline onto the fabric and cut to create a curved line. You can use same template for the front and back, the back is 1" higher than the front.

7. Use the largest stitch length and sew 1/4" and 3/4" from the top edges. Pull the threads to gather the fabric. I shrunk mine to about 9" wide, you could do slightly more or less. Press with an iron.

8. Make bias tape. Cut the rest of the contrast fabric diagonally 2" wide. Sew them together, open the seam, press with an iron. Fold both seams to the middle and press with an iron. You will need this for the seams for the tunic and to use it as a belt, so you will need at least close to 4 yards.

9. Sew the bias tape to the front and back gathered seams. Open the bias tape and pin the bias tape, sew on the folded line.

Fold the bias tape to the back, pin and top stitch to finish it.

10. Sew the bias tape to create armholes with same manner as step 9. Mine is 23" circular, but it is best for you to try it on and find out what is the best fit for you.

11. Sew the bottom edge. First, fold 1/4" from the edge and fold at 1" then sew.

12. Sew ribbon belt with rest of the bias tape. Mine is 32" long.

13. I sewed the ribbon belt in the back of the tunic. I think the best position to sew this on is about 1" or 1 1/2" above the waist line. If you prefer not to, you can skip this step.

14. Sew buttons. Mark 1" from the top edge for the first button, mark 3" apart each for rest of 7 buttons. Sew them on.

15. Guess what? You just completed the tunic, hooray!

I had to try it on and do a test run. The fun and cheerful design of the fabric really made me long for the arrival for the Spring. :)

Three Way Tablier ~ Getting Ready for Fall

It has been a while since the last post! Before I start writing about the Tablier, let me share where I am in life (just a part of it) a little... I feel like I finally got the rhythm back in my life, since the kids went back to school. Some people asked me the ultimate question.

"What do you do all day, now that your kids are all in school??"

I asked myself the very same question once. Though, I really don't have "all day". After I send my family off in the morning, I start working on the house work. Because I get busy after I pick up kids, I prefer to start working to prep the dinner. Sometimes I need to go places to run some errands, and the day after my kids started school two of the kids got sick, so I was tending to them for the first week.

Well, getting back to the subject... So, usually, I think I have three hours or so for me to do whatever I want, if I don't have other obligations. The first thing that popped in my head was to "SEW" and next was "BLOG". Years ago when I started blogging, I had no idea how long I would keep blogging or what I wanted to do with it. At one point I was so into blogging, coming up with tutorials constantly, up dating 3, 4 times a week. It was fun, but with the move and other happenings in life, I needed to re-evaluate myself and my life and decide how I would distribute my time.

I know some people are very focused and energetic, and can do it all (at least it seems that way) but I am not one of those people. I don't think I am a multi tasker. If I spread myself too thin, often times I catch myself being frustrated and people I love the most, my family are the ones who feel that the most.

I had decided to cut back on sewing and blogging for a while till things calm down. That is why you haven't seen me up-dating my post as often as I used to.

Now, we have been in our house for a year, the kids are back to school and I am not doing a series of procedures right now (though that might start up again).
You know what that means? I. Am. Ready.

I consider myself very lucky to know what I love to do. Thinking about what to make, what fabrics and trims to combine and drawing designs makes me happy. Sharing them on my blog is like icing on the cake - adds extra sweetness and joy! I will still be careful and go at my own pace, but I promise you, you will see me and my projects a lot more.

I just want you to know how grateful I am for those of you who still check back and send me kind emails.

BOY, that was a long intro, but I am ready to share my latest project. I have a lot of Japanese sewing books. For years I have been collecting the books more than actually sew anything from them. I have decided to start making them! The first thing I decided to make was this three way Tablier. "Tablier" is Apron in French. I can wear this three ways as a skirt, or dress as pictured below. Isn't it very interesting shape?

I was going to make it with black at first, but when I saw this deep emerald green linen at Joann fabric, I pictured myself wearing it with some fall items.

There are many ways to coordinate this item, but this is how I wore it one day.

When the weather gets colder, I can pull out my over sized scarf too.

Just like the sewing book, I can always coordinate with tights or leggings too!

Thinking about fall leaves under my boots... are you ready for fall?

Thank you for visiting today, everyone. I am working on a new item right now, hopefully I will be ready to share it soon. :)

Tutorial / Sunkissed Tunic

A couple month ago, I found this boys t-shirt at Target in the kids section. I think it was $ 3.49. For some reason I could not take my eyes off of this shirt, and decided to take it home...


I will share how I made the shirt into a girl`s tunic. The shirt was size M (and that is for an 8 - 10 year old) and my daughter just turned 6 and she is slightly small for her age. If you want to make a bigger sized tunic, you obviously need a bigger t-shirt. I hope this will give you a general idea for the sizing.

{you will need}

a t-shirt
matching thread
buttons (I used 4 small buttons, but you can do 3 bigger size buttons too.)
Lace type elastic

{How to}

1. First, cut rib knit around the neck and both sleeves off.


2. Cut open both sleeves at the seam and lay it flat. Out of one of the sleeves cut out two pockets. I made a template for the pocket out of a cereal box. Draw 4 1/2" X 5" square, when you cut, cut off the bottom corners to round it. Lay it on the sleeve, and add 1/4" seam and cut.


3. Look at the picture closely... from the tip of the shoulder to the marked point, it is 5". Draw a natural curve for the arm hole. From the marked point, draw a straight line to the bottom of the t-shirt. This will create an A-line on the sides.



4. Fold 1/4" seam towards the wrong side of the shirt and sew elastic on. With mine, I cut 2 - 8" elastic for the sleeves.


5. Sew elastic around the neck too. For the neck line I cut 17" elastic, but it is best to measure your child's head to decided on how long you will need.


6. To make the pocket, hand sew around the edge of the pocket with big stitches. Lay the template onto the fabric and pull the thread to gather the fabric. Press with iron. You will have nice curve for the bottom of the pocket.



7. Sew the sides of the shirt. Use your favorite method to treat the seams.


8. Pin the pockets on the shirt and sew. To decide on where to sew them it is best to let your child wear the tunic. That way it is easier to see where it is most convenient for her.


9. Cut up several 1" wide strips from the other sleeve to make ruffles for the front.


10. First, fold both ends and pin the 1" X 4 1/4" strip in the center of the shirt and sew.


11. To make ruffles use the largest stitch on your sewing machine and sew one edge of the strip and pull the thread. Use the pictures as a guide.


12.Pin them on both sides of the middle part and sew them on. As you can see, I used zigzag stitch to sew them on.


13. Add another layer to it using the same steps. I cut the bottom corners of the ruffles to create a more interesting look.



14. Sew buttons on. This was the fun but difficult part for me! I had several choices of buttons and I finally narrowed them down to these...


You want to see the final product?





Rachel had such a fun time taking pictures (believe me it's not like that always, I do not force her to do it, but when she is in the mood, it is so fun!)


Since I make the tunic a little late in the season, I will share one of the outfits planned for the fall.

I took these pictures on different days, but again, she was on a roll! She loved her brother's hand me down hat, maybe that made her feel like she is a "Model". :)

She was laughing, and air guitaring...


For some reasons, "walking"...


Cool dude?


...then my favorites. She absolutely loves her new tunic, she already wore it several times. Yea!




The summer is ending, now is the perfect time to find cheap t-shirts at the sales rack. Enjoy!