Tag: tunic

Maria’s Rose Tattoo Tunic

Maria's Alexander Henry tunic

This is my usual raglan tunic/mini dress pattern, in Alexander Henry’s “The Rose Tattoo”. It’s hand bound with black bias tape. Simple as that!

Maria contacted me after I’d made Chloe’s cupcake dress, originally asking for a dress of her own in the same style. I don’t take on custom dressmaking any more (and the pattern’s been discontinued), so I would have had to say no, but in the meantime I’d started making these tunic dresses. Maria decided that this was the perfect style, and sent me a piece of fabric that she’d been hiding away in her stash.

The fabric turned out to be this Alexander Henry quilting cotton in one of my favourite prints – The Rose Tattoo. Perfect!

I’ve also had an order for a top-length version in another novelty print quilting cotton – this Beatles Yellow Submarine print. I might have accidentally ordered enough of the Sea of Holes fabric to make a little something for myself as well. While I wait for it to arrive, I just need to decode what it’s going to be…

The smocked tunic – finished.

Smocked tunic dress

Here you go – the completed blue dress.

I showed you the smocking yesterday, and I’ve just finished the binding and the belt.

This is my usual raglan tunic dress pattern, with the neckline, sleeves and hem all finished with navy blue bias binding. I was hoping to be able to find a navy broderie anglais lace for the hem, but my local fabric shop only had white or black.

The fabric is lovely soft organic cotton from Bishopston Trading.

I’m not certain whether I’ll be making the tunics with smocking to order. Because of the amount of time it takes to do all of the hand sewing, it can make the resulting dress very expensive. In the organic cotton I think it would work out to something like £150, which is three times the price of the same dress without the smocking.

Smocking on organic cotton

Smocking

This is what I’ve been up to all weekend – working panels of smocking on the front, back and sleeves of one of my tunic dresses.

From top to bottom, the stitches are Trellis, Wave, Honeycomb, Chevron and Van Dyke.

I’m really, really pleased with how the smocking’s worked out.
Unfortunately, I over-estimated how much fabric the smocking would take up in the pleating, and I’ve ended up with a dress that’s much too big for me.

I’m going to be wearing the dress to the Albert Hall next weekend anyway, because I need to wear something blue, and I don’t have anything else. After that though, it’ll go up for sale.

(Best fit bust up to 42″, hips up to 58″, if you’re wondering!)

I’ll take some proper photos once it’s finished.

Diane’s second tunic dress

Diane's 2nd 1970s tunic

This is the second dress I’ve made for Diane, using recycled 1970s print bedding. (The first one is here.) This one’s a very pretty, girly design with plenty of hearts and flowers. It’s made from half of a duvet cover, and Diane’s kept the other half to turn into a quilt.

If you’d like to order a pretty tunic dress, the sizes are here, and the prices are here.

There’s also one on Etsy, and I’ll be making more over the next few weeks!

Seventies Style, and Size Charts.

1970s print tunic dress

I think this one might even be my favourite tunic so far.

It’s made from a brand spanking new thirty-five year old bed sheet. Check out the fabulous 1970s print!

In the interests of encouraging you all to buy a lovely tunic dress or top… I’ve now put together a size chart. It runs from UK size 2 (bust 29½”) to UK size 30 (bust 54″). If you fall outside of that range, fear not! I can still make a dress or top for you. All I need to know are your bust and hip measurements, and I can draw up a pattern in your size.

It Has Begun.

Teacups Tunic

The first tunic dress is now up for sale on Etsy.

All I need to do now is make more. Lots more.

Taking over with Tunics.

It occurred to me that it would probably help me in my plan to take over the world, if I told you how I was hoping to get there.

This is how:

Raglan tunic tops and dresses

I’ve been working on various incarnations of this pretty little tunic dress and top over the past couple of years, and I have great plans for their future. But that can only happen if I tell you how you can buy them – so that’s what I’m doing now.

I can make these in just about any fabric you can think of. Pictured above are knits and wovens, patterns and plain, recycled curtains and bed linen, brand new fabrics and an old t-shirt.

Because I sew each tunic by hand, I can make them in any size you need. Just send me a couple of simple measurements, and I’ll send you a dress which will fit.

All the information you need is here.

Know somebody who you think might like one of these?
Please feel free to pass on the details.

Thank you!

Dennis the Menace dress…

Dennis the Menace dress

I made this for Dott, the proud owner of a matching corset!

It’s made from a vintage duvet cover, except for the stripy bits which are new.

I have a moderately-sized stash of vintage children’s duvet covers and curtains, so I’ll be making a few more of these.

My Little Pony dress…

My Little Pony dress

No, not a dress for a My Little Pony, a dress with My Little Ponies on it!

I’ve made various incarnations of a simple raglan tunic over the past couple of years. I’ve added a matching belt to this one, and a pleating detail at the shoulders and centre front.

Look out for more of the same coming soon…