Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

The Wear Anywhere Tunic is true to its name: comfortable enough to wear lounging at the beach, stylish enough to sport on the sidewalks of New York City, and so surprisingly flattering that it’s even perfect for a dinner out.  We tested our versatility theory with three versions in three different fabrics and two different necklines. Yup, it’s definitely the Wear Anywhere Tunic!

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

In Robert Kaufman’s Organic Voile, this Tunic is the ultimate pullover for the beach or pool. The sheer fabric is light and breezy, and the neon stitching shines like the sun itself. This version just begs to be worn with a big, floppy sunhat and a drink in hand, preferably something in a coconut!

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

In Robert Kaufman’s Chambray Union, the Wear Anywhere Tunic is just right for the city: comfortable, versatile and chic. For this version, added stitching at the bust and back provide shape and coverage, and for all three tunics, waist ties give a just-right-for-you fit.

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

Liberty of London’s Tana Lawn in the elegant Lodden print lends a dreamy touch. Delicate loops of flowering vines make me think of backyard gardens overflowing with summer’s abundance and stately country homes. I can’t wait to wear this dress amongst flowers and friends at a garden wedding later this month!

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

Made from just a handful of easy-to-cut rectangles and straight seams, the Wear Anywhere Tunic is as easy to sew as it is to wear. So, make one for your date tonight, your beach excursion this weekend and next week’s barbeque with friends… wherever your summer plans take you! -Corinne

Materials

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

Version A

Note: The pattern on this fabric runs parallel to the selvage. If using a one-directional fabric, the pattern will be upside-down on the back of the top.

  • 1 3/4 (1 3/4, 1 3/4, 2, 2) yards of Liberty of London’s Tana Lawn Classics, Lodden Lavender
  • A spool  of Gutermann’s Cotton Thread, color 1040
  • A 12mm Bias Tape Maker
  • Merchant & Mills’ Bodkin and Threader or a safety pin
Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

Version B

Note: The pattern on this fabric runs perpendicular to the selvage.

  • 1 1/2 (1 1/2, 1 3/4, 2 3/4, 2 3/4) yards of Robert Kaufman’s Chambray Union, Slub Indigo
  • A spool  of Gutermann’s Cotton Thread, color 7410
  • A 12mm Bias Tape Maker
  • Merchant & Mills’ Bodkin and Threader or a safety pin
Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

Version C

  • 1 1/2 (1 1/2, 1 3/4, 2, 2) yards of Robert Kaufman’s Organic Voile, Optic White (Please Note: We no longer carry Organic Voile. To view our full in of fabric, click here!)
  • A spool of Mettler’s Neon Thread, Sour Apple
  • 3 yards of Purl Soho’s Neon Lacing, Yellow
  • Merchant and Mills’ Bodkin and Threader or a safety pin

Sizes

To fit chest sizes 28-31 (32-35, 36-39, 40-43, 44-46) inches in circumference

Finished Measurements

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

Notes

Prewash all fabrics before starting.
For the sake of clarity our instructional photos show a fabric with a clear right and wrong side. If you are working with the Organic Voile, Chambray Union, or similar fabrics which don’t have a clear right or wrong side, choose either side as the right side for the first seam and follow this precedent for all subsequent steps.

Pattern

Cut

NOTE: When cutting simple rectangular shapes for patterns such as this, straight, clean cuts are key. The best way to make these cuts is with a rotary cutter and a non-slip quilting ruler on a self-healing cutting mat. If you have limited experience using a rotary cutter, I recommend visiting our Rotary Cutting Tutorial.

Cut two 11 by 27 (12 by 28, 13 by 29, 14 by 30, 15 by 31)-inch rectangles. These are the Top Pieces. If you are working with a directional fabric, make sure the pattern runs parallel to the side edges.

Cut two 22 ½ by 24 (24 ½ by 25, 26 ½ by 26, 28 ½ by 27, 30 ½ by 28)-inch rectangles. These are the Bottom Pieces (the first measurement is the Waist Edge, the second is the Side Edge). If you are working with a directional fabric, make sure the pattern runs parallel to the Side Edge of the rectangles.

For Versions A and B, cut two 1 1/8-inch wide strips from selvage to selvage. These are the Tie Pieces.

Use the charts below for help with the layout of the pieces on the fabric.

Version A

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

Version B

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

Version C

Use the chart for Version B for chest sizes 28-31, 32-35 and 36-39 inches. Use the chart for Version A for chest sizes 40-43 and 44-46 inches.

You will also cut the Neon Lacing into two 1 ½-yard pieces.

Tie an overhand knot at one end of each cord. At the other end, lightly singe the cut edge with the flame from a lighter or a match. This will seal the threads and prevent fraying while you work.

Prepare the Tunic Top

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

Fold the two long sides of the Top Pieces ¼ inch twice towards the wrong side and press.

Versions A and B

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

Stack the two Top Pieces on top of each other with their right sides facing each other. If you are working with a one-way directional fabric, make sure the top of the print is at the top of each rectangle.

Open up the fold on the top right side of both pieces and pin together for 5 ½ (5 ¾, 6, 6 ¼, 6 ½) inches. Sew along this pinned edge with a ½-inch seam allowance, using the innermost crease as a stitch guide.

This seam is the center of the Top Back

Now, open up the fold on the bottom right side of both pieces and pin together for 3 (3 ¼, 3 ½, 3 ¾, 4) inches. Sew along this pinned line in the same manner described above.

This seam is the center of the Top Front

This whole piece is now called the Top.

Refold the creased edges.

All Versions

Sew the hems down with an edgestitch.

Piece the Top and Bottom

Fold one Bottom Piece in half matching up its two Side Edges. Press the fold to create a crease. Unfold and lay it out flat with a Waist Edge on top and the right side facing up. If you are working with a one-way directional fabric, make sure the top of the print is at the top of the rectangle.

Version C

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

With right sides facing, line up one raw edge of one of the Top Pieces with the top Waist Edge of the Bottom Piece, matching up one hemmed edge of the Top with the center crease of the Bottom. Pin in place along the top.

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

Repeat with the second Top Piece on the other side of the crease, making sure the two hemmed edges of the Top Pieces are neatly side-by-side.

Version A and B

Pin the Top to a Bottom Piece in the same manner described above, this time matching up the center seam of the Top with the center crease of the Bottom Piece.

All Versions

Sew along the top pinned edge with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam.

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

Fold the entire piece over at the seam so that the right wrongsides are now facing and press. Pin along the fold. Sew along the pinned edge with a ½-inch seam allowance. Backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam.

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

Press the seam allowance towards the Bottom Piece. Sew down with an edgestitch. Backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam.

Repeat with the other raw edge of the Top(s) and the remaining Bottom Piece.

These seams create the Channels for the Ties or Lacing, and this whole piece is now called the Tunic.

Sew the Side Seams

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

With the wrong sides facing out, fold the Tunic in half so that the raw Side Edges and the raw bottom edges of the two Bottom Pieces meet, taking special care to match up the seam lines of the front and back Channels

Pin along the Side Edges of the Bottom Pieces. Place the pins about 1 1/2 inches from the raw edges so they will be out of the way when you later sew a 1 ¼-inch seam.

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

At one Side Edge, measure 6 inches up from the Tunic’s bottom edge and mark with a double pin. Repeat on the other Side Edge.

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

Starting at the Waist Edge, right next to the outer edge of the Top Piece, sew along the pinned edge with a 1 ¼-inch seam allowance being careful not to sew through the Channels. Backstitch at the beginning of the seam.

When you reach the spot marked with a double pin, end the seam with a backstitch. The unsewn space at the bottom of the Tunic will become the Side Slit.

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

Check your work: When you turn the Tunic right side out, the ends of the Channels should be open and accessible and they should abut at each side seam.

Repeat on the other side.

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

Make a cut into the seam allowance of one Side Edge: start at the raw edge directly across from the top of the Side Slit and cut diagonally up, ending ¼ inch to the side of the seam line.

Make a small, horizontal snip into the seam allowance at the end of the diagonal cut, making sure not to cut past the seam line. Trim the remaining seam allowance of the Side Edge to 1/4 inch. Repeat on the other side.

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

Sew along the trimmed ¼-inch seam allowances with a zigzag stitch. Backstitch at the beginning and end of the seams.

Hem

Fold one bottom edge of the Tunic up ¼ inch towards the wrong side and press. Now fold the edge up 1 inch towards the wrong side, press and pin. Sew the hem down with an edgestitch.

Repeat with the other bottom edge.

Sew the Side Slit

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

Following the line of the side seam, press open the two flaps at one Side Slit so that their wrong sides face the wrong side of the Tunic.

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

Fold the raw edges of the two flaps under towards the wrong side so that the raw edges meet the creases. Press flat. Sew the folds down with an edgestitch.

Repeat on the other side.

Sew the Underarms

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

Lay the Tunic out with the right side facing out. Carefully line up the outer edges of the front and back Top Pieces. Starting from the top seam of the Channel and working up, pin together the front and back for 5 inches.

Using the line of stitching from the hem as a guide, sew along the pinned edge.

Repeat on the other side.

Prepare and Thread the Tie

Version A and B

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

Following the manufacturer’s instructions, use the 12 mm Bias Tape Maker to create single fold tape from one of the Tie pieces. Fold in half lengthwise, encasing the raw edges, and press.

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

Sew the long open side closed with an edgestitch.

Tie a small knot at one end.

Repeat with the second Tie piece.

All Versions

Wear Anywhere Tunic | Purl Soho

Thread the un-knotted end of the Lacing or Tie onto the bodkin (or safety pin). Push the bodkin into the Channel on one side of the garment. Pull the bodkin all the way through to the other side of the Channel.

Pull the Lacing or Ties so that there is an equal amount coming from both end of the Channel.

Tie a knot in the un-knotted end of the Lacing or Tie. If you are working with the Lacing, snip off the singed end.

Repeat on the other side of the garment with the second Channel and second Tie or length of Lacing.

Your Tunic is now ready to wear . . . anywhere!