[Module 8] Creating a Garment | Garment Ideas to Make - Jasmine Tunic Top

Updated: Jul 13, 2018

Design Details

DESIGN NAME – Jasmine Tunic Top

DESIGNED BY - Amanda Goldsmith

SKILL LEVEL – Confident Beginner

SUGGESTED FABRICS – Gorgeous in Drapey and slightly firmer fabrics. Try in Linens, Cottons, Satins, Silks and Chiffon with Lace


Perequisites

The prerequisites for working through this ‘Sew Along’ are that you have made and fitted a Bodice Base Template and created and fitted and Working Template with 2” of ease.


The sewing level required is Basic to intermediate, you will need to know how your sewing machine works and be able to thread and knot a needle and have practiced a straight Running Stitch that you will need for the Facings (or you can stitch them by machine).

Ideally you will have reviewed and practiced the following;

  • Module 4 – Create the Base Template.

  • Module 5 – Create the Working Template.

  • Module 6 and practiced extending a bodice.

  • Drafting Necklines.

  • Manipulating Darts.

  • How to put insertions into a Skirt.

  • How to draft a Sleeve.

  • How to draft a Hem.

  • How to add on Seam Allowances.

  • How to cut bias binding and practiced sewing on bias binding.

You may also wish to download a copy of the Sample Pattern Record Card and a blank version from the Downloads page, it may give you an indication of how you can use the Pattern Record Card to track details for all of your pattern pieces and construction so the earlier you print out a blank version the quicker you can start noting all of your ideas onto it.


Have a look at this overview process for creating a garment, it is very straight forward and logical and will hopefully you can now see how everything flows and pulls together from what you have learned so far.

A Word about the Design Choice for this Sew – A - Long

I have picked a style of top that I think is a simple shape, easy to draft and sew but will still push your knowledge and skills. This is a very basic tunic top with a shaped or rounded V Neckline in the Front. As it has a full Neck width wider than 24” you will not need a closure to get this garment on.




Have a look at the shape of it. Would a shape like this fit into your wardrobe? It is a highly modifiable Flexible Pattern and adapted into different variations and I think it would fit very nicely in any wardrobe and be something you could make again and again in different ways. It could be made in any fabric, colour or pattern and can be worn as is over jeans, leggings or tights, layered over a dress or skirt or cut longer to wear as a longer tunic or dress or Baby-Doll nightdress or shorter as a swing top layered for the beach or a layering yoga top.


You could either copy what I have done here exactly or you can change it up adding your own preferences and personality to it.

  • It can be created with or without a Centre Front/Back seam.

  • The sides in the base could be sewn all the way down or left unsewn to create a split in the side which looks good on a longer tunic

  • You could change the Neckline

  • Change the length

  • It can be sleeveless, with cap or short sleeves or ¾ sleeves or longer (or any other sleeve design).

  • Using a Flexible Pattern Pack you could add Ruffles or Pockets, or add some applique embellishment or embroidery or beading around the Neckline or just keep it simple and clean with nothing attached or added on.

  • It can be cut on the Bias or the Straight Grainlines.

I have used the Design Templates Sheet for tops to show how this top can be altered to make different designs that you might like for your Flexible Pattern and there are many more alternatives that you may come up with.


So you have a few variations that you could make and even though this garment can be made in just 2 pattern pieces you could have many more than this if you want to give yourself lots of options in your Flexible Pattern.


Required Fabric and Notions

Your fabric and other requirements will depend on the design choices you have made including your body size, the length of the garment, the Hem and also if you are using Sleeves, facings or cutting bias binding or if you are cutting this garment on a Bias Grainline. You may need 2 1/2 metres or more fabric to create this pattern, you should also add in a factor for fabric shrinkage.


The garment in this sample is around a size 14 with a D Cup Bust. All of the pieces except the Sleeves, including Bodice, Facings and Bias Binding were cut on the Bias Grainline. It has a rounded V Neckline, with just shorter than three quarter sleeves, with Facings on the Base and the Sleeve and a binding on the Neckline, it has been finished with decorative and functional hand stitching on the garment openings around the Base Sleeve and Necklines.


For a 57” wide fabric after washing and shrinkage I used around two and a half meters of fabric. You would use much less if you were not cutting on a Bias Grainline.


The only other requirement was interfacing for the Facings, a cotton or twill tape to help support the seams (optional), thread 1 reel would be sufficient to make the whole garment. I also used a Top Stitch Thread for hand stitch decoration when adding the Facings and Binding.


You will also need muslin and thread for your Test Garment. I made two Test Garments for this Tunic before I was satisfied with my pattern.


You will need all of the usual Drafting and Pattern Making Tools and materials used in previous Modules.


Drafting the Front Bodice

Ensure that you give yourself enough time to work on your drafts, don’t underesti