The Tunic: Free Pattern

I don't know about you, but I love a freebie.

I've lost count of the free patterns I have downloaded from the internet. and it was a free pattern that got me started on my sewing journey back in 2011. so I thought it was time to give a little back.
You can download the pattern and instructions here

Let me introduce you to The Tunic. I drafted and made this for myself about 3 years ago. I had been given some beautiful pink baby cord and was needing a relaxed fit tunic to layer in the winter months and see me through from autumn to spring. I didn't know at the time just how much wear I'd get out of this, but it has been in heavy rotation over the last 3 years!!!! - washed and worn and washed and worn.

It's designed to have a comfort fit, easy to wear and it looks fab with a sweater and boots. The deep pockets are great for holding keys or a phone. The back does not have any darts but is shaped to allow for slight waist shaping. I originally included a zip, but quite often this just gets pulled on over my head with the zip still fastened, so you could omit it.

I used some self-coloured topstitching on my version. I think it would look great in a dark denim with contrast topstitching, especially along the front seams and the neck and hem bands.

I'm thinking of making a lightweight version of this for the summer, perhaps as a beach coverup. I might lengthen it just a bit though as I prefer long dresses when I'm not wearing tights or leggings under them.

So if you're looking for something relaxed and comfy this might just be the pattern to try.

It's a single size - women's medium  approx  UK 10/12  US 6/8  EUR 38/40

Please share your makes - I'd love to see them #R&Gthetunic

Do be aware. I digitally drafted this a couple of years ago from scans of my original pattern pieces before I used illustrator for my designs. Hence this is un tested. I suggest making a toile to check fit before cutting into any precious fabric.

This pattern is offered free for personal use only and should not be sold,  or garments made from it should not be sold for profit without my written permission.

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTORS: SCAR TISSUE

I don't know how many of you are artists or claim to create artwork. As a full-time teacher, I find it challenging to fit all my ideas into the time I have available. Consequentially ideas often take weeks, months or even years to fully form. This has been the case with my current developing project 'Scar Tissue', which has taken years to evolve. 

UPDATE: Please take my survey even if you don't have prose/ poetry to share. your answers can help - feel free to share whatever you're comfortable with. Take part HERE

After a period of stress and illness a few years ago I really began to connect with who I was, what made me, me. It was a painful time, but the experiences I had have formed me as a person. I began to talk to friends who had been through other life-changing events. Quite a few had had life-changing surgery, some approached it with a positive outlook - how it had made life better, where others felt a sense of anger, emptiness and loss of identity.

I became increasingly interested in how the scars we carry become part of us and help tell our stories - both good and bad. Some of my recent experiments try to explore my perspective on this. However, I really would like to push this further and incorporate stories and poetry, from others who have gone through/ or are going through this type of experience, within my artwork.

As I have just undergone (minor) surgery, I thought it was time to push and develop this project.  I'm looking at how the scars we have are evidence of the healing process, but sometimes our scars are welcomed and sometimes they are hated, depending on our circumstances, each of us responds to our scars and the events surrounding them in different ways.

If you would like to be a collaborator on this project and share your stories/ poems which would be combined with visual artwork or would like to know more, please do get in touch or share with anyone you know who might be interested.

(NB: All texts will only be used for the purposes of this project only and not shared in any other way without the express permission of the author)