Thursday, April 22, 2010

Tutorial ~Little Girl's Tunic with Tank Top~


A couple of weeks ago, I scored these for $1 each at a thrift store. Two of them were brand new and still had the original tags, and the lime green one was used, but in nearly mint condition!


I thought that to make a tunic top using a tank top would be so easy and fast; not to mention FUN too! I will show you how I did it.

{How To}

1. Cut the tank top (I cut mine about 1 1/2" below the arm pit area). I also cut two 1 1/2" strips.


2. Cut off the seams and connect the two 1 1/2" strips together to make a long strip for the ruffle around the neck.


3. Cut two different fabrics to make the main skirt and bottom ruffles. The shirt is for 4 or 5 year olds, and I cut out 2 - 9" X 21" for the main skirt, 2 - 3" X 36" for the bottom ruffles.

Sew the sides and use a serger or zig-zag to finish the edges.


4. Put fusible interfacing on the edge of the tank top. (This will help from getting too wavy, when you sew).



5. Pin the ruffles and the skirt together. Sew all around it, then pull out the bottom thread (the bottom thread is there to stablize the gather better, so the results of the gather will be much prettier).


6. Repeat the same thing to attach the skirt to the top. For hemming, I used a narrow hem.

Attached, turned, and stitched...


7. To make the ruffles for the neck line, sew slightly off to the side from the middle. Pull one thread to gather the fabric.



8. Pin the ruffle all around the neck line. Sew it on.


9. I used the leftover fabric to make a corsarge. I think it gives a more boutique look to the tunic.


I love how it turned out!


So, I wanted to do the same with the other two and experiment with colors and patterns...

Hot pink...


Then, lime green...


I love them all, but I think I am going to keep the green one for my little girl, and put the other two in my etsy store. She loves the new top, she even strikes a pose or two for the camera.



After taking some pictures, she was off to play at the park with her new found favorite top.

63 comments:

  1. They are gorgeous! Your tutorials are excellent! I will definitely try this!

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  2. Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! I will definitely be giving this a try!

    I've always been mystefied about attaching broadcloth fabrics to knits without getting that stretched-out wavy business -- THANK YOU for the interfacing tip!

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  3. So so cute! I think I need to make a few of these! I want one for myself!

    Camille
    allaboutmommies.blogspot.com

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  4. Those are so cute, I don't know how you are going to let go of any of them. I really enjoy your blog. I recently started one myself, come by and check it out. www.ms-smartie-pants@blogger.com

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  5. Those are extremely adorable! I totally love them! Great for toddler dresses as well:).

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  6. INTERFACING!! Why have I never thought of that? You are a genius, Sachiko!
    These turned out so darling, I love them!

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  7. They are gorgeous!! I will be making my daughter a few of these.

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  8. Those are so darling! I am so excited to try this out--I might just raid my girl's drawers and use repurpose a couple of under-worn shirts! Thanks!

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  9. This is adorable - and very clearly explained. The fusible web is a brilliant tip - I've never attempted to sew Tshirting because of the stretch problem, so thank you very much for that! I shall apply to Tshirts of my own (shrunk in the wash but with great designs) and try to rescue some of them.

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  10. you are so creative! i don't know why it took me so long to find your blog! these are adorable and i can't wait to make some for my goddaughters! thanks for sharing!
    have a great weekend!

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  11. great idea and wonderful explanations!
    Perfect for stained shirts!
    added on my to-do list!

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  12. These are so fun! I might just have to make some for my niece (since I have three boys). Thanks!

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  13. I wanted to do something like this a few weeks ago but could find tank tops in dd size but your look awesome thanks for sharing and great tutorial

    Michelle

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  14. Beautiful. Thanks for the tip about interfacing. Do you use a regular needle to sew knits? I have trouble with them and wonder how you make everything look so nice.

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  15. That's darling! Thanks for the tutorial!

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  16. I just think your tunic tank tops are the cutest.
    How creative.

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  17. How cute! I can't wait until my little girl is old enough for me to make the adorable things you make for your daughter!

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  18. very cute! That pink one is darling!

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  19. They all look lovely!

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  20. These are so sweet and lovely! You are so talented!!!

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  21. This is soooo adorable, like always! I must feature!

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  22. What a great tutorial. I posted your tutorial as a pattern on the new online sewing community: mysewingcircle.com and gave full credit to you and your website. Thank you so much for a great tutorial and sharing it.

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  23. I'm going to show to this to my sister, she will just love it, her daughter will too.

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  24. I featured this tutorial on my blog! Come have a look! http://stellasola-boutique.blogspot.com/2010/04/tutorial-sunday.html

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  25. I love this project and can't wait to give it a try! Thanks so much for the tutorial!

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  26. I love this! I have some tanks waiting for this to be done to them! I'm going to feature it on my blog...thanks!

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  27. OMG these are stunning - I can't wait to make one for my little bub - will need to play with measurements though.

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  28. These are so cute! I would love to make one for me too!! I love mommy/daughter matching outfits. Thanks for sharing this great tutorial!!

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  29. You are so talented - the dresses are adorable!! I just might try to make something like this for our 2 year old neighbour - too sweet!

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  30. awesome tutorial, do you have one on how to make the flower corsage as well, would love to see one made with a covered button? thnx

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  31. Those are so fun. The green one is my favorite too. I love the color combo you chose. That green fabric is beautiful.

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  32. What a great tutorial! They are absolutely adorable! I am not the best with sewing, so I will have to definitely check out your etsy shop! Thanks for sharing this great idea!

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  33. I love these! I can't wait to try! I'll be featuring this idea on my blog in May!

    Thanks!
    Sumo
    http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com

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  34. I´m your fan!!! you´re so creative. I have a 7 years old daughter, guess what will happen with her shirts...

    Sorry for my english, I´m writting you from Ciudad Juarez, México.

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  35. Hi Sachiko, I tried this

    http://letsgoflyakiteuptothehighestheight.blogspot.com/2010/04/tea-rose-homes-tank-top-refashion.html

    thanks again for sharing this project and your others!

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  36. I know I am over 35 - but I am making one of these dresses for myself
    http://almcleary.com/blog/

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  37. Your ideas are always so wonderful!! Interfacing....ahhh...genius!!

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  38. What a great idea and tutorial.

    I linked to it on my blog:

    http://veneziedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/04/little-girls-tunic-with-tank-top.html

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  39. Oh wow, this is gorgeous! I want to make one for myself. Thanks so much for the great idea, I'll be linking.

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  40. So cute!!
    Andrea @ TheTrainToCrazy.com

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  41. I am featuring this at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com. I couldn't resist!!!

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  42. I just discovered your blog, and I can see I'm going to be here a loong time - how inspiring!

    Can I ask a question? How do ruffles/yoyos/fabric flowers hold up to washing? I want to make some simple skirts for my girls for winter and spice up long sleeve shirts to match, but am concerned that they may not look much good after they've been washed a few times....

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  43. Awe! It is so adorable. It makes me feel like a little girl as well looking at those lovely dresses. LOL! :)

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  44. Penelope-

    About your question, the ruffles and yo-yo's hold up just fine. The t-shirt fabric usually shrinks a little, so make sure to have enough width when you cut the strips, also, if you want a fuller look, sew them close to each othter.

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  45. Thanks for the wonderful tutorial. I've been looking for something like this for my little girl. How do you make the little flower corsage? Like the simple little green one?

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  46. Aweome tutorial !
    Even as a newbie sewer I think I can manage this one :-)
    Please,please,please show us how you made those corsages... they really do make the tunic look boutique.

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  47. Hi!
    This idea is fantastic and you have a great ideas!!!
    I write of your blog on my blog nidodilana.blogspot.com
    Bye!!
    Tiziana

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  48. These are so cute! Let me know when you put them for sale in your shop, I would love to own one since I can't sew a stitch. :-)

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  49. Woot! I made one today and have started on a 2nd. So cute - thanks for the tutorial.

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  50. Fabulous as always! I linked it to my post:
    http://tosewwithlove.blogspot.com/2010/11/i-do-love-skirts.html

    Thanks for the tute!

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  51. They're beautiful. I've just bought some new fabric for my toddler and was trying to find a pattern - this would be perfect, going to give it a go now. Thank you

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  52. Super Cute! My little girl refuses to wear tunics tho....I'm going to leave the tank long and make it a dress. Thanks for the tip with the interfacing. I don't sew enough to buy a serger...Thanks.

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  53. Wow, how fun! I'm definitely going to try this! {Found you through Pinterest!}

    Warmly, Michelle

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  54. I made this top for a Hello Kitty pageant for my daughter. I wanted something simple and this was perfect! Thanks
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/hopemcleod/6108799892/

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  55. I love this tutorial!! So much fun with a simple tank top! I pinned it on pinterest!

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  56. Wow, such fine idea. I wanna try to make those dress of the old small T-Shirts of my girls.
    Thank you,
    Lovely greetings, Miriam

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  57. Can you tell me which fabrics you used for the green one? LOVE it!!!

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  58. Did you iron on the interfacing or use a sew on?

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  59. i am so impressed by your creativity.......inspiration pure.
    and looks always fantastic.....thanks for sharing your good ideas

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  61. I don’t understand step 5. Can you explain the ruffling and what you mean by the bottom thread?

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