We have a brand new sewing project tutorial for you today from my sewing friend, Debbie! We are going to show you How To Make A Tunic Top With Free Tunic Top Sewing Pattern! This super cute top is easy to dress up or down to match your style with any occasion. Plus, this top is light and airy so it is super comfortable. The included free printable pattern makes it simple to cut out your fabric to the right size, taking the guesswork out of making your own clothing. If you have wanted to try you hand at making your own cute tops, this is the sewing tutorial you’ve been waiting for.
With short dolman sleeves and a longer hip length, this tunic is sure to make you feel like you are always in style. They give a relaxed, easy fit so you will always feel comfortable whether you are dressed casually with leggings or out on a special evening. Pick out some cute printed fabric and lets get started!
What You’ll Need:
- 1.5 Yards of 60″ Wide Fabric – Lightweight cotton and cotton blends, silks, charmeuse, challis, rayon, gauze, georgette, lightweight linen.
- 2 Yards of 44″ Wide Fabric – same material as above
- 1 yard of store bought 3/8” or ½” double fold bias tape (or you can make your own with the pattern piece provided)
- Iron
- Pins
- Scissors
- Optional Rotary Cutter & Mat
- Measuring tape
- Thread nippers
- Sewing machine
- Matching Thread
- Fabric marker
- Free Printable Pattern
Pattern Printing Instructions For How To Sew A Tunic
This pattern has layers, so that you can choose to print only the size you need. To achieve this Adobe Reader must be installed on your machine or device. Adobe Reader allows you to click on the layers icon which will show you each size with an eyeball beside it. Click on the eyeball beside the size you do not want to print.
Before printing check that your printer is set to No scaling or Actual size. Set the Page orientation to Auto or Portrait. And then print page 1. Measure the 2” test square to see if it measures exactly 2”. If it does, print the remaining pages.
Make sure you cut off the right and top margins of each printed page before assembling the pattern. You can use tape or school glue to adhere your paper pattern together.
We’ve included the following size chart. These sizes match the corresponding lines on the printable pattern so you know where to cut.
Size Chart:
| Imperial (inches) | Small | Medium | Large |
| Chest ** | 34 | 36 | 38 |
| Waist | 28 | 30 | 32 |
| Hip | 38 | 40 | 42 |
** This pattern is drafted for a B cup bust size and a height of 5’ 4”. Is this sewing project not in the size you are looking for? Then check out our tutorial on Pattern Grading.
Finished Measurement Chart
| Imperial (inches) | Small | Medium | Large |
| Chest | 38 | 39.5 | 40.5 |
| Approximate Length | 29 | 29 | 29 |
All the pattern pieces are provided for you to print. However, if you prefer to cut the binding and the belt / sash from measurements, use the chart below:
| Imperial (inches) | Small | Medium | Large |
| Bias Binding x 1.5” wide | 27 | 29 | 30 |
| Belt / Sash x 5 “ wide | 56 | 60 | 64 |
Pattern Assembly
After the pages have been printed and trimmed as instructed above, use the quarter circles located at the corner of each page for perfect alignment. When done your pattern should look like this:
Once you have printed and assembled your pattern, you will cut the following pieces. (The elastic length is provided in a cut chart and is not a pattern piece).
| Front Bodice | Cut 1 on Fold |
| Back Bodice | Cut 1 on Fold |
| Bias Binding | Cut 1 (not required if you are using store bought bias tape) |
| Belt / Sash | Cut 1 on fold (optional) |
Use a 3/8” seam allowance unless otherwise instructed for this sewing tutorial.
How To Make A Tunic Top With Free Tunic Top Sewing Pattern
Lay out your pattern piece onto your fabric. Fold your fabric in half right sides together and place the pattern piece with the folded edge along the fold of the fabric. If you are using a fabric with a one-way print, ensure that the print is facing the right direction. Cut out the back bodice piece first.
To cut your tunic’s front bodice piece, trim away the back bodice neckline from the pattern piece. Fold your fabric in half right sides together and place the pattern piece with the folded edge along the fold of the fabric and cut out the front bodice piece.
Open your bias tape and unfold the two ends that are folded towards the centre. Fold the bias tape in half wrong sides together in half. Press and set it aside for now.
If you are making your own bias tape, your fabric needs to be on the bias grain. Fold your fabric at a 45-degree angle. You will know it is on the bias because the fabric will be stretchy. Cut your fabric along the 45 degree angle. Place your pattern piece on the fabric and cut out your bias binding. Press the bias binding in half lengthwise and wrong sides together. Set aside for now.
Place your front and back of your tunic right sides together, pin and sew the shoulder seams. Neaten the hem by finishing the edges with a zigzag stitch or serger.
We are now going to attach the bias binding to the neckline.
Choose a shoulder seam and pin your bias binding to the right side (i.e. the side that will be worn) of tunic neckline .
With the bias binding still folded, you will pin it so that ½” of the bias binding is behind the shoulder seam. Pin the bias around the neckline until you get back to your starting point. You will see that the binding is longer than the neckline.
Unfold both ends of the bias binding and overlap them. Pin both ends right sides together to perfectly fit the opening.
Sew along the area that was pinned, trim off any excess bias binding leaving only a ¼”. You should now be able to refold the bias binding flat on the neckline. Sew the binding to the neckline.
Trim the seam allowance down to a ¼” . We are about halfway through this how to make a tunic top with free tunic top sewing pattern sewing tutorial!
With your tunic wrong side out, fold the binding over to the wrong side of the tunic. It should lay flat against the neckline of the tunic, pin in place.
Starting from one of the shoulder seams, stitch the binding all the way around the neckline 1/8” from the edge of the binding.
Prepare the sleeve for sewing by pressing the shoulder seam towards the back of the tunic, then start by folding the sleeve hem wrong sides together twice using a 3/8” allowance. Pin in place. (You will not sew the sleeves yet).
Unfold the sleeve that you had pressed in the previous step at the section nearest to the side seam. With the tunic still wrong sides out, pin the front and back of the tunic together starting from the sleeves continuing down to the hem.
Sew the front and back together, pivoting at the corner of the under arm sleeve and continue to sew down the side seam towards the hem. Neaten the raw edges with a serger or zigzag stitch. Snip the corner of the underarm seam so it lays flat.
Refold the hem of the sleeves and sew around the entire sleeve 1/8” from the folded edge.
Fold the tunic top hem wrong sides together twice using a 3/8” allowance. Sew 1/8” from the folded edge.
If you want to make the optional sash / belt to go with your tunic, take your fabric and fold in half right sides together and sew around the entire raw edges of the belt, leaving only a 2” opening in the long side with which to turn the belt through.
Turn the belt through the 2” opening.
Press well ensuring the seam allowance of the 2” opening is tucked in and pressed closed.
Topstitch around the sash to finish it off.
Tie sash around your waist with a single knot or a bow knot and you’re done! Now you have a super cute tunic top you can wear with almost anything! Be sure to check out our other fun sewing projects to add to your own DIY Clothing Wardrobe!
If you liked this how to make a tunic top with free tunic top sewing pattern, make sure to pin it to your favorite Pinterest board or share it with friends on social media. If you decide to make this simple project on your own, make certain that you take a picture afterward and tag us on social media as we love seeing the fabrics and color choices that people use!
How To Make A Tunic Top With Free Tunic Top Sewing Pattern
This cute Tunic Top is always in style! The easy to use pattern will have you making your own cute top quickly and easily. This is a great project to start making your own clothing with!
Materials
- 1.5 Yards of 60" Wide Fabric - Lightweight cotton and cotton blends, silks, charmeuse, challis, rayon, gauze, georgette, lightweight linen.
- 2 Yards of 44" Wide Fabric - same material as above
- 1 yard of store bought 3/8” or ½” double fold bias tape(or you can make your own with the pattern piece provided)
- Matching Thread
- Free Printable Pattern
Tools
Instructions
- Print off the pattern instructions at the link in the description and use it to cut out all your fabric.
- Lay out your pattern piece onto your fabric.
- Fold your fabric in half right sides together and place the pattern piece with the folded edge along the fold of the fabric.
- Cut out the back bodice piece first.
- To cut your tunic’s front bodice piece, trim away the back bodice neckline from the pattern piece.
- Fold your fabric in half right sides together.
- Place the pattern piece with the folded edge along the fold of the fabric and cut out the front bodice piece.
- Open your bias tape and unfold the two ends that are folded towards the centre.
- Fold the bias tape in half wrong sides together in half. Press and set it aside for now.
- If you are making your own bias tape, your fabric needs to be on the bias grain.
- Fold your fabric at a 45-degree angle. You will know it is on the bias because the fabric will be stretchy.
- Cut your fabric along the 45 degree angle.
- Place your pattern piece on the fabric and cut out your bias binding.
- Press the bias binding in half lengthwise and wrong sides together. Set aside for now.
- Place your front and back of your tunic right sides together, pin and sew the shoulder seams.
- Neaten the hem by finishing the edges with a zigzag stitch or serger.
- We are now going to attach the bias binding to the neckline.
- Choose a shoulder seam and pin your bias binding to the right side (i.e. the side that will be worn) of tunic neckline .
- With the bias binding still folded, you will pin it so that ½” of the bias binding is behind the shoulder seam.
- Pin the bias around the neckline until you get back to your starting point. You will see that the binding is longer than the neckline.
- Unfold both ends of the bias binding and overlap them. Pin both ends right sides together to perfectly fit the opening.
- Sew along the area that was pinned, trim off any excess bias binding leaving only a ¼”. You should now be able to refold the bias binding flat on the neckline .
- Sew the binding to the neckline.
- Trim the seam allowance down to a ¼” .
- With your tunic wrong side out, fold the binding over to the wrong side of the tunic. It should lay flat against the neckline of the tunic.
- Pin in place.
- Starting from one of the shoulder seams, stitch the binding all the way around the neckline 1/8” from the edge of the binding.
- Prepare the sleeve for sewing by pressing the shoulder seam towards the back of the tunic, then start by folding the sleeve hem wrong sides together twice using a 3/8” allowance.
- Pin place. (You will not sew the sleeves yet).
- Unfold the sleeve that you had pressed in the previous step at the section nearest to the side seam.
- With the tunic still wrong sides out, pin the front and back of the tunic together starting from the sleeves continuing down to the hem.
- Sew the front and back together, pivoting at the corner of the under arm sleeve and continue to sew down the side seam towards the hem.
- Neaten the raw edges with a serger or zigzag stitch.
- Snip the corner of the underarm seam so it lays flat.
- Refold the hem of the sleeves and sew around the entire sleeve 1/8” from the folded edge.
- Fold the tunic hem wrong sides together twice using a 3/8” allowance. Sew 1/8” from the folded edge.
- If you want to make the optional sash / belt to go with your tunic, take your fabric and fold in half right sides together.
- Sew around the entire raw edges of the belt, leaving only a 2” opening in the long side with which to turn the belt through.
- Turn the belt through the 2” opening.
- Press well ensuring the seam allowance of the 2” opening is tucked in and pressed closed.
- Topstitch around the sash.
- Tie sash around your waist with a single knot or a bow knot and you’re done!
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Thanks so much for a great pattern. For those of us who are, ummm, let’s say…a bit larger, how would you recommend enlarging it to fit us with… say, with over a 40 bust? 😀