Feminine Tunic Tutorial

By Sypha of Tal Dagore (Becky Diaz)

This tutorial assumes you already know how to make a standard fitted tunic. It is NOT going to teach you how to make a tunic, but rather how to adapt a tunic to be more fitted and feminine.

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This tunic adapts the Lady Armstrong fitted tunic in order to give it an even more feminine shape.

Measurements

These measurements and conversions are from Lady Armstrong’s tutorial. You will want to use them for this tunic construction method, as it is based entirely off of these numbers and the shape they create. This excel can be used to automatically convert the numbers for the basic tunic

In order to create a properly sized tunic:

Leave Measurement 1 as is. ��Take Measurement 2 and add 1”. ��Take Measurement 3, divide in half, and add 3” (for example, a chest measurement of 42” would give a result of 24”.)��Take Measurement 4, divide in half, and add 3”. ��Take Measurement 5 and add 1”.

Leave Measurement 6 as is.

Take Measurement 7 and add either ½” for a faced tunic or 1.5” for a hemmed tunic. ��Take Measurement 8 and add either 1” for a faced tunic or 2” for a hemmed tunic.

You will use the resulting numbers, referred to henceforth as Modified Measurements, to lay out a pattern for a fitted tunic.

These measurements and their placement are important to additional measurements in this tutorial:

Measurement 3, Measurement 4

Additional Measurements

These measurements are specific to making the extra feminine tunic:

• Mid sternum to middle of side boob (Measurement A)
• Mid sternum to outside of boob (Measurement B)

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Please ignore my goofy faces, these pictures did not want to cooperate being taken

Measurement A

(on me, 8”)

Measurement B

(on me, 6”)

1. Measure out a Lady A tunic using the standard measurements

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• Cut out the tunic

Unfold the cut out tunic, then refold it hot dog style

1. Pick a side of the tunic to be the Front and the Back

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• On Front, measure 1” below Measurement 3

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• From fold, measure out Measurement A along the new line
1. Mark it

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• Along Measurement 4, measure out Measurement A
• Mark it

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• Draw a line to connect the 2 marks

Measurement 3

1” Below

Measurement A

Measurement 4

Measurement A

These pictures were taken as I was figuring out the process, so they don’t match the directions given in the previous slide. Sorry!

1. On Back, measure and mark Measurement 3 and Measurement 4
2. Measure 1” below Measurement 3 and mark
3. From fold, measure out Measurement B along the new line
1. Mark it

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• Along Measurement 4, measure out Measurement B
• Mark it

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• Draw a line to connect the 2 marks

Measurement 3

Measurement 4

Measure-

ment B

Measure-

ment B

1” Below

1. Cut along the lines you drew on the front and back with the tunic still folded hot dog style

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• A rotary cutter is really nice for this, but not required

Cut

1. Mark out where you want the loops to go
1. I used pins, chalk, etc can be used too

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• I’d recommend about 1” to 1 ½” between loops

1. Start sewing the loop seam

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• Start the stitch ~ ½” to 1” above the top of the cut

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• Start as close to the edge of the fabric as possible

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• Angle the stitch into the fabric so the seam allowance is ~½”

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• Stop when you get to your first loop marking

Starting point for stitch

1. Sew in the loops

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• Put the needle down

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• Insert the loop so it’s about ¼” past the presser foot
1. Raise presser foot if needed

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• Triple stitch in the loop
• Forward, reverse, forward

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Loop placement

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NOTE: The loop needs to be INSIDE the 2 layers of fabric.

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Picture shows it on top of fabric to help visualize placement

1. Continue sewing to the next pin/mark

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• Repeat the process for all marked loops

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• After the last loop, sew towards the edge of the fabric

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• Press open seam and loop tails

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• Trim loop tails if needed

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1. Press all loops to one side of the seam

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• On the wrong side of the tunic, place a piece of bias tape on top of the raw seam

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• Sew down the side the loops are NOT on

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• Sew across end, put needle down

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• Lift presser foot, push loops to opposite side

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• Lower presser foot, continue sewing down bias tape

NOTE: While sewing second side of bias tape, bull the tunic fabric taut underneath to avoid puckering

1. Repeat slides 12-15 for all 4 seams

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• Construct the rest of the tunic normally

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• Insert ribbon or lacing of choice in loops

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• Learn from my mistake and do NOT put ribbons/lacing in until the whole tunic is finished, Just trust me :)

Put on your tunic, tighten down the laces to your preference, and enjoy a more feminine tunic shape than the traditional square potato sacks!

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I did have a different skirt that I put on this tunic rather than just doing a traditional one, but the fit should work for regular tunics as well!!

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If you have any questions while using this tutorial, feel free to reach out!