The new Late Lunch Tunic sewing pattern was inspired more by lifestyle than anything else. If you’re like me, you want to live in comfortable pieces that make you look and feel good. I like tunics because they’re relaxed and still look pulled together. You can wear them with skinny jeans and flats or with leggings and boots. I’ll sometimes even pair a tunic with a narrow skirt when it’s too hot for pants. It works. Also, I feel like I still give off a creative vibe when I wear a tunic; it’s got a little more style to it than a basic shirt or blouse, doesn’t it?
With this pattern, I was sort of obsessed over getting the construction for the three-quarter-length kimono-style sleeve and the collar just right. It’s a ridiculously easy collar–probably the simplest you’ll ever sew. But it looks so polished with that fancy-looking front placket, doesn’t it? Trust me. It’s really easy to make.
I also obsessed over chevron stripes at the shoulders and sleeves. Like this:
I mean, isn’t that fun? Obviously it’s a little detail that only shows if you use a striped fabric, but there’s something about it that I just love. And from this angle you can also see very clearly that the hem is longer in the back than the front, just for a little extra coverage in back. It’s subtle, but it’s also interesting and flattering.
We limited the gathering to the center front and back on this pattern so you’re not getting extra fullness at the sides. Are you sensing a theme here? Smooth silhouettes are the name of the game with these patterns. I’d also love to turn those gathers into pleats. It would be an easy change and could be really cute. Anyone want to try it?
As far as fabrics go, this pattern has a wide variety of options. Try a stable knit like the navy and white stripe we used. (I found both of the fabrics in our photos at Mood, if you’re curious.) The key with knits is to look for something that doesn’t have too much drape or stretch. Interlock probably wouldn’t be your best choice here, so use your best judgement.
It also works great with a variety of woven fabrics. Ideal fabrics would be lawn, voile, any quilting cottons, chambray (obviously), and even some heavier fabrics like a fine-wale cord could be cute. I made two early drafts, one in twill and one in a men’s checked shirting. They both turned out really well. Twill or fine cord for winter? Cozy. I’ve also been toying with the idea of sewing it in a very sheer white organza to be worn over bright tanks or camisoles next spring, playing on that whole sheer/layered thing that’s happening in fashion right now.
And here we go with the styling ideas. I tried to show a little restraint this time, but give me a little extra free time on Polyvore and I can’t make any promises.
Late lunch (thus the pattern name):
Farmer’s market:
Oh, and Wanett of Sown Brooklyn has already made this darling version of the tunic in a silk/cotton. She blogged about it and included lots more photos, so don’t miss her post!
What do you plan to do with this pattern? You can get your copy from us now so you can get down to business!
My resistance to buying new patterns is eroding away. First the skirt, then the dress, and now this? When will it end? Can I really buy 4 patterns at one time? Give me strength. Love them all.
I’ve just started sewing for myself (been doing it for my kids for years) and don’t have a local source for apparel fabrics. I’ve ordered from Mood before but it’s hard to know what you are getting ( hard for me to buy fabric I can’t touch). Do you have tips for knowing what to buy? What’s a good quality knit? Etc.
Melissa, I’m glad you asked! I’m working on a fabric sourcing post specifically to answer this question. I think finding good fabric is a challenge for a lot of people. We’ll help you out with that! Watch for the post next week.
This pattern is beautiful! I love all three new patterns and can’t wait to try them. My question on this one is, where is that front seam supposed to hit on my body? It doesn’t look quite like an empire waist that sits below the bust, so is the gathering seam supposed to hit higher than that at the fullest part of the bust? I just want to make sure I’m fitting this shirt on my body correctly and wearing it how it’s supposed to fit. Any advice or a note of explanation on this detail would be much appreciated! (It’s a little hard to tell on the models if the shirt is sitting right at the bust, or fully below the bust like an empire because it’s a flowy tunic.) Thanks so much!
Emily, the tunic is designed so the seam sits a few inches below the bust and a little lower than a true empire waist. I think it’s a bit more slimming that way. The best photo to show that is probably the side view of the striped tunic. But it would be pretty easy to adjust the seam to be higher or lower depending on your preference. Does that help?
Yes, thank you so much! I just took a better look at the side-view striped tunic photo again and now I understand! (The tunic sits a little bit differently on each model, so I was a tiny bit confused and wanted to confirm where the seam “should” go.) I’m used to seeing empire-ish tops being really fitted in the bust, and I really love that this one is so relaxed. Just beautiful. Cannot wait to try it! Thanks again!! 🙂
Do you have plans to extend the pattern size beyond 16?
Hi Caroline,
At this point we’ve got our hands so full with all our different pattern lines and fabric! I know there is a need for good sewing patterns in a larger size range, and it’s something I’d love to do somewhere down the line, but the days either need to get much longer or I need to become much more efficient with my time. Neither seems to be happening, much as I try! Short answer: I hope so, someday?
This is my favorite pattern of the new ones so far but, like Cindy above, I will probably be ordering all of them in the near future. So many patterns, so little time! 🙂
I love how relaxed yet put-together this looks. I have a couple pairs of slim cropped jeans I can see going really well with a natural linen version of this top for this autumn/winter along with a cozy knit infinity scarf. Plus, I can see the empire style being an awesome bridge piece between where I am now and the full-onager bury wear I’ll need in a few months. It’s always a plus when you can look stylish while pregnant!
Sorry, that should read “full-on maternity wear”! Silly autocorrect…
I was curious if u have tried either of these top/dress/tunics with smocking instead of gathers? I have just LOVED your experimenting in this area. Smocking and hand embroidery is a love of mine… And I have loved your elegant and age appropriate addition of smocking in ladies wear. It seams like these patterns would work nicely with some of the ideas/pins you have played with or commented on recently.
I love this one and just bought it! Yay! I was wondering if anyone knew where to get some nice quality chambray fabric online. As much as I wish there were, there simply are no good (or really any) fabric stores for apparel sewing where I live :/
Robyn, I haven’t. Yet. But I did just buy a smocking pleater, so stay tuned! And thanks for the kind words. I’m not sure these patters are quite right for smocking, but it’s something to consider.
This is too cute! Wondering if anyone has tried it out as a maternity top yet (perhaps with a bit more length in the front).
Dear Liesl, some clues as to where to find good quality fabric for adult clothes would be wonderful! Are there no limits to your resourcefulness? I reallllllllly like the idea of pleats for the Late Lunch tunic – pleats always sit flatter than gathers, of course, and work really well with better-bodied fabrics which I prefer because I’m a complete woose about sewing soft/sheer/knit fabrics.
Hello! I am having trouble determining the right size for me. Could you please make a recommendation based on my measurements?
Here they are:
Bust: 35
Waist: 30
Hips: 40
I’m afraid that if I go with size 10 it will be huge at the top.
Thank you!!
Ana, you can pretty safely sew your usual ready-to-wear size with these patterns. Not knowing your build (shoulder width, cup size in particular) I would guess that you would fit a size 6 pretty safely. But whatever blouse size you usually buy will be a safe bet for these patterns. These are accurate sizing to contemporary clothing, not sewing pattern sizing. I hope that helps!
Ana, my measurements are very similar to yours. I sewed mine on a 10 and I like the fit very much. The fabric I chose is very light with a gentle drape and it’s comfortable to wear.
Thank you both so much! I think I’ll try a muslin to make sure. 😉
I recently discovered your lovely patterns through a blog. I absolutely adore all of them. They are really modern with a little twist. I can see myself making lots of one version, especially the tunic and blouse. Hope to see more patterns in the future.
Camilla, thanks so much! I’m glad you like them, and we’re working on more patterns right now, so stay tuned!