Ah, these Poppy Tunics…they are becoming a very addictive sew! I made another two yesterday – one for me and one for Chelsea.
We both wanted black, so I bought some Kaffe Fassett shot cotton in “Coal”. It looked black on the screen, but when it arrived it turned out to be a very dark navy. So I dyed it using some black Rit fabric dye (using the washing machine method inside the packet because I had so much fabric to dye). It went pretty dark, but not the blackest of blacks. Still has a slight blue tinge to it but only noticeable if you are looking for it.
Fabric before and after dyeing
Chelsea got an all black tunic – it looks really funky, has all the detail of the tunic but with no pop of colour. I was planning on an all black tunic for myself too but I couldn’t say no to this lovely Liberty of London print I’ve had stored away for a special project. I really shouldn’t have bought it because now that I’ve sewn with it and worn it, I’m hooked. Will definitley be saving up for some more of this stunning fabric in the next few weeks. I’m thinking of making a tunic using a small-scale Liberty print for the main part of the tunic and a solid for the chest and hem pieces – what do you reckon?
I should also mention that I added an extra 3″ to the length of this tunic because I wanted it to hit just above my knees. The shot cotton is perfect weight for the tunic, I do promise to blog more info about it next week. For those who have asked what fabrics are best for the tunic, so far I’ve tried with cotton voile, linen and shot cotton – they are all lovely. Anything with a softer drape will work well. A regular quilting weight cotton would work, but will be a little stiffer than these fabrics. Although with a bit of wash and wear it would definitley soften down a bit. One of my testers made hers using a ponte knit fabric – it looked awesome too!
Now, before I forget – I’ve drawn the winner for the pattern giveaway – congratulations Meika! I’ll send you an email with more info!
SUPPLIES: Make It Perfect, Poppy Tunic pattern Kaffe Fassett, Shot cotton in Coal (dyed to black) Liberty of London, Tana Lawn Classics, Misti in Green
I was going to wait a few more days before I released this new pattern, but I’m too excited about it and can’t hold out any longer!
The Poppy Tunic is sure to become as familiar as an old friend with it’s great, everyday shape and soft, relaxed fit. With front and back chest insert panels and a stylish bottom trim, you can easily incorporate a “pop” of your favourite printed fabric, combined with a steady solid to tone things down.
A modish tunic that will carry you all the way from Summer to Winter, the Poppy Tunic boasts versatility and style. Wear it with jeans and boots during the day then dress it up with heels in the evening – with your choice of longer or shorter lengths, the Poppy Tunic can be worn as a tunic over jeans or leggings or as a dress on it’s own!
I’m getting myself all geared up to layer the Poppy Tunic over a long-sleeved top with leggings and boots this Winter. And I like the fact that I can keep wearing the tunic when the weather warms up again – win!
I always have this issue with sewing tops/dresses for myself…I love patterned fabric so much that I want to use it for clothing but when I do it is often a bit “too much” for my style. The Poppy Tunic solves that problem, allowing you to choose your favourite patterned fabric and showcasing it on the hem and top insert pieces and then toning things down a bit with a solid. I’ve used Kaffe Fassett’s shot cottons for the solids in these tunics – they have a slight variegation in the weave and a lovely, soft drape. (I’ll blog more info about these in a few days). In Australia, they are distributed through XLN Fabrics.
Thanks once again Chels (Chelsea Parsons Photography) and her stunner of a sister, Sarah for the beautiful photos – love them girls!!
The Poppy Tunic really is a quick sew and is very beginner-friendly. I’ve made quite a few of them over the last couple of weeks and love coming up with different fabric combos and playing around with a range of fabric types.
The Poppy Tunic includes sizes 2x-small to 2x-large in the one pattern. You’ll find more information about the Poppy Tunic on the Make It Perfect website. If you are looking for a place to purchase a copy of the pattern for yourself, take a look at our stockists or ask your favourite store to order one in for you.
If you would like to win a copy of this new pattern, simply leave a comment on this blog post! (Please make sure you leave an email address with your comment. Giveaway will close Saturday 14th April and winner will be drawn at random).
