The Tunic Challenge Finale

It's the big reveal day for my tunic as part of "The Tunic Challenge" with quilting friend, Leah Day. We started the challenge as a mutual deadline to help each of us sew something for ourselves. This challenge definitely made me get it done. Well, mostly....

Remember my first muslin? Much adjusting was needed.
What was I thinking? An extra project in the midst of the Christmas shopping season while owning a retail shop and extra activities with the kids? Throw in a leaking water heater at the shop (the neighbor's, not even my own!) and this week was a real humdinger. Though this has been a week full of wonderful customers as well, so it's really still all good.


While it might sound like sewing nirvana to own a sewing machine shop, I don't actually get much time to sew. I do need to know all the machines I sell, so I hop around from machine to machine. I decided to give the Janome Skyline S3 some attention. It's my current favorite pic for someone who wants more room to quilt, but doesn't have a lot of money to spend. While it has a fairly roomy 8.25 inches to the right of the needle, it lacks a few features I've grown accustomed to. There were multiple times I was trying to raise the presser foot with the non-existant knee lift.


While as a plus sized gal, I had quite a few tweaks I needed to make to the pattern even though it goes up to a 2XL, another part I struggled with seems silly..... With a placket that sat on the outside of the bodice, I had a hard time wrapping my mind around which way to layer my fabric before stitching and understitching (above). I kept checking and rechecking that I really was supposed to stitch right side to wrong side instead of the usual right sides together.

The tunic didn't get the attention I had hoped to give it, but it is done!


I think I need to fine tune my pattern pieces a little, darts mostly, but after that, I will definitely make another tunic. The Tunic Bilble is full of variations for this basic pattern. Head over to Leah's Free Motion Quilting Project to see what she's stitched up. My many thanks to Leah for proposing this challenge.


It was good to stretch my sewing skills and get back to making something for myself. Plus, now I can wear a shop sample! The denim I used was from Art Gallery and I am looking forward to making another tunic with their cotton voile. It feels absolutely luscious.

32 comments:

  1. Looks great, Amy! Perfect fit! :)

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  2. The tunic looks great and so do you. Please forgive me becoming distracted but, um, ... check out all that luscious fabric you have in the shop now!!!!!! Thanks to you and Leah for taking us along on the Challenge.

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  3. The tunic is awesome......looks totally FAB on you!!!!! I haven't sewn for myself in years!!! As a point of fact, I have an unfinished project (cute summer dress) that's been hanging around my studio for almost(?) 4 years!!!!! Yikes!!!! I think I must attack my UFOs very soon!!!!!

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  4. It looks great! Definitly worth your efforts. And the good news is that the next one you make will go together in a snap!

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  5. Amy you did a great job! The tunic looks so good on you. You gave us another inspiration!
    I too have been side tracked from quilting. A canopy tent for our granddaughters. Christmas is just around the corner.
    Merry Christmas to all. From the great UP NORTH.

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  6. Love your tunic - vey flattering!

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  7. It looks great! Well done indeed. :D

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  8. Amy your tunic looks great. Very impressed with how hard you must have worked to get the pattern tweaked just right. Being a tshirt gal myself, I'm wondering how a good quality knit fabric would work in that pattern. Bev infreezing cold Alberta, Canada
    ps. I too was distracted by all the delicious fabric behind you!! Wish I was closer to your store.


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  9. Good job Amy. You look great and I like your selection of fabric with little more substance to it. I too am from freezing Alberta in the south. Bev a heavier knit would look great.Everything about your shop looks enticing

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    1. I plan on having some knits in the store later next year and this tunic pattern is definitely on the list to be made from it.

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  10. Looks good. I have a pattern for a button-down tunic that might be my next project after this quilt is done; you give me hope that it will turn out well.

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  11. What fun. The tunic is wonderful, I love your fabrics. Nothing better than a navy blue top. :-)

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  12. Wow! You did a great job on your tunic. Congratulations on making something for yourself. I admire you for being willing to share the steps and progress.

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  13. You look beautiful in your tunic! Props to you. Garment sewing is a real challenge.

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  14. You did great, and it looks nice on you. I love the neckline. I'm not sure I'd be up for garment sewing again!

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  15. I think the tunic looks great and it's beautiful on you! Congratulations!

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  16. love how that fabric looks on you. you have made a decent job of altering the pattern. well done

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  17. It really looks great, hard to tell what it would look like from the muslin. I really like your placket treatment. The tunic is really very flattering on you. And the shop looks better every time you show it, so happy to see how well life is going for your business.

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  18. I think you did a wonderful job. Next time I would add some decorative stitches to the yolk area. I would love to come visit your shop sometime.

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    1. That was in the plan, but I just ran out of time. I'll probably add some to it later.

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  19. Amy your blue tunic is so cute. I love it. I used to sew clothes all the time and wish I could get back into it but this quilting keeps getting in the way! Also, I want to buy the quilting ruler foot from you but I can't remember what I have a high or low shank. If I need attachments or what. I have a Janome Skyline S5.

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    1. The Skyline S5 is a highshank machine in the 9mm version if you go with my favorite Janome Convertible Foot Set plus the Frame Quilting Foot Set. If you go with a generic foot (not a sewing machine maker's foot) it's just considered a high shank machine.

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  20. Wow. That looks great! You look great! I love tunics. I am getting back into seeing after 30 years plus and was only a basic sewer and now I am quilting lol. I will have to check out that book. I saw it when I picked up my new 6600 which I love!!! Is the tunic pattern too advanced for s beginner. Oh and your fabric is lovely! Thanks...,Mary Anne

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    1. It's pretty straightforward as far as a pattern goes, but there are inset sleeves and if you need to adjust your pattern, it wouldn't be a beginner pattern. Maybe I need to offer a class on it at the shop!

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  21. That sounds like a plan. I want to be more than a basic sewer and utilize whatever my machine can do.

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  22. I realize that I am arriving late to the party, but thank you so much for sharing. I recently discovered The Tunic Bible and was hesitant to purchase. After reading your experience as well as Leah's, I have ordered my copy and am anxiously awaiting it's arrival. You ladies have inspired me and I am grateful.

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  23. I just love to wear a tunic but have never tried to make one! You've inspired me to have a go!

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