Good morning! I had a productive weekend including consigning some fabric at the stash place I’ve mentioned before and organizing K’s room. How was yours? I have quite a few thoughts on the stash place which was so very interesting, and will expand on them at a later date!
For today, I have yet another tunic for you – with my class coming up, I’ve been “practicing” to be able to provide clear instructions so I’ve been making this tunic over and over. It’s a good thing K loves this style!
Of course, I always like to try things a little differently, so instead of a facing, I tried a bias binding for the neckline. I know that just rocked your world, it’s such a significant modification. I actually think the bias binding looks too pucker-y, and wish I had stuck with the facing. Oh well.
This is the ever popular Anna Maria Horner voile (Little Folks Pastry Line). Such a charming fabric! I purchased it forever and half ago, and though I love voile, I find that I have a hard time getting wrinkles ironed out, and it was very uncooperative when it came to button holes, so I just added snaps.
These tunics are the best. And when it’s made in K’s favorite color, is comfortable and stylish, well…you can’t go wrong. The pattern is from this book, and because the largest size for this book is 120cm, I better get cracking on all the patterns I haven’t tried yet. K will be outgrowing this size soon! I suppose I should also learn how to grade up…
Incidentally, K whipped up that little ribbon wand as a prop. It’s made out of a chopstick and some discarded ribbon from a gift. Resourceful, that girl.
I also made a 90cm (approximately 3T) in a beautiful natural linen with embroidered brown polka dots as a sample for the store – it is so stinking cute:
I painted a li’l illustration last week, but realized I haven’t shown you my very first attempt at covered buttons. It got a bit hairy at some points, and I wouldn’t call them stellar, but I love the way they look with the tunic. Happy, happy!
LOOKS GREAT! I especially love the grey&brown number you made for the store. Covered buttons are something I haven’t made time to try. Maybe I’m just hesitant about buying another kit from the sewing store to add to my ever growing sewing supplies. 🙂
Mae
Thank you, Mae! The covered buttons seem like they would be straightforward, but it was tricky for me to get a smooth finish. By about my sixth one, I was starting to get the hang of it though…they add a fun touch for sure!
I love the tunics! That Anna Maria Horner fabric is so pretty. Probably a silly question but did you make K’s leggings too? I like the cropped look and the color of the fabric. Great outfit!
I did make the leggings! I used this thicker ponte knit to make them a few months ago, and they’re awesome except K is really going through a growth spurt so she said they’re a bit too snug. Thanks for your sweet comment, Meghan!
These are wonderful! And yes, I *love* the sample tunic you made. I wish I could take your class! Have fun and good luck. I’m sure it will be a blast.
Thank you, thank you Gita! I wish you could take my class too 🙂 I know that it’s going to be so much fun – deep down inside, I had a feeling that I would try my hand at teaching sewing one day (except I imagined I would be a lot more accomplished than I am right now…).
two new skills nailed: covered buttons and bias binding! Nicely done:) Both tunics are, of course, just perfect. That polka dot linen . . . love it! And it makes the cutest looking tunic. This class of yours is going to be so amazing:)
Eager to hear your thoughts on the stash store. I think it’s a great concept, though I suspect I would be purchasing more than consigning there. Most likely it would become my “I’ve had a rough day . . . perhaps I should head down to the stash fabric store for some fabric therapy”:)
Isn’t that polka dot linen fabulous? I just love embroidered details and I also made an Ayashe blouse using the cream/gold polka dots colorway. Love this stuff! The stash store was great and I was regretting declaring my fabric fast enormously! 🙂
I love that fabric. I usually prefer a facing or lining too, because of the puckering. I suppose it’s probably as much in the way I sew it lol
Thanks Bernadette! I do think my technique could have been better with the bias binding since I’ve done it enough without the puckering but the voile was not ironing out nicely for me. Oh well. It’s always helpful to try new things 🙂
Great job Sanae! It is so good that you are trying new techniques, it is amazing how different could look the same outift if you use different finish details. The people attending your class are very lucky!
Thanks so much, Maria! Well, let’s hope the folks taking the class feel like they’re getting their money’s worth 🙂 I’ll certainly have a lot of tunics because of this class!
whoa lady! these are adorable!
Oh, thanks Tara! I’m just a tunic-making machine here in the Pacific Northwest. 🙂
Lovely tunics, as always!
I have that same striped fabric on my wish list…
The Pastry Line comes in coral too, and it’s so cute! I would want to make myself something with the coral, I think…ugh, fabric fast…
You know when you type ‘natural linen with embroidered brown dots’ I almost pass out with envy?!
These tunics are beautiful and I love the cropped leggings too.
Coincidentally my kids have been amusing the cats with a homemade chopstick and curling ribbon toy!
ah, AMH pastry line… my favorite fabric! I love how you cut the fabric for the yoke going the other way… very smart.
i have the same voile in the same color! it’s one of my few purchases without an intended project–i just loved it so much. what a lovely tunic! and i know how comfortable it must be, too.
It’s a fantastic fabric and one of my all-time faves! Can’t wait to see what you make with it!
wow, i love this so, so much. must buy the book! 🙂
I’m in love with your endless tunic! Love it all!!!
I tried connecting to the book including the pattern w your link but I can only see it on the Japanese version of amazon. :-/
Can you tell me which book so I can order on the English website?
Can’t wait to try it!
Thanks so much!!!
Gretchen