Way back in 2016, Sarah Gunn of Goodbye Valentino fame was the guest speaker at a meeting of the Atlanta Chapter of the American Sewing Guild. Sarah and Julie Starr had just released their book, The Tunic Bible, and like a lot of people, I bought the book. Then I set it on a shelf and forgot all about it.
Earlier this year I found the book (on my bookshelf, in plain sight). A few days later I was out with some sewing friends and mentioned that I had the book and had never even cracked the spine. Turns out I wasn’t the only one. A lot of people bought that book and didn’t make a tunic. As a way to pressure encourage myself to sew something from the book, I decided to host a fun tunic sewalong.
Would you like to join me in this sewalong? There are no prizes, this is simply motivational.
The details
Sew a tunic using any pattern (The Tunic Bible, commercial patterns, free patterns, self-drafted pattern) between October 1 and November 15, 2024. As there are no prizes, there really isn’t a deadline. The ultimate goal is to:
- Use The Tunic Bible if you purchased it, and/or
- Sew a tunic – one of the most versatile garments we can have in our wardrobe
You’re welome to post your tunic on Instagram using the hashtag #tunicsewalong24 and tag me so I can see your make! My name is janineerm on Instagram.
What is a tunic?
Tunics have been worn since Ancient Greek and Roman times and the style has endured because it is so versatile. The most simple description of a tunic is:
A loose-fitting garment that hangs from the shoulders and reaches hip level or longer
Tunics are one of the most simple garments that can be sewn. If you’re new to sewing clothes, a tunic may be a fun way to start building your wardrobe. Try one of the free patterns shown below and use a piece of woven fabric such as basic cotton.
Many tunics have a basic opening at the neck; some have quarter zippers or button plackets, others have round necks. Occasionally a tunic will have a full-length zipper or button placket.
Some tunics have belts, others do not. Some tunics have darts or princess seams while many simply hang straight from the shoulders.
Tunics can be made in pretty much any fabric imaginable. We often see tunics in linen or cotton, but you can also use knits, lace, silk, corduroy, lightweight denim … anything!
Free Pattern Ideas
There are many free tunic patterns available online. Here are a few that I found in a quick search.
Commercial Pattern Ideas
There are hundreds of tunic patterns available. I have sewn three of these:
- Simplicity 1461
- Burdastyle 6809 – I did not write a blog post on this top. It turned out well but the front placket is challenging. I recommend the pattern but suggest that it is best for someone with some experience.
- Vogue 8952
Here are a few ideas:
I chat more about the challenge and my plans on my YouTube channel. If you don’t want to watch the full video, there are chapter links in the description. Please take a look!
Thank you for visiting my blog!
Janine Sews 