Mouse House Creations, Norah Tunic: How I Did....

I spotted this pattern on Craftsy and had to have it. It is so versatile, traditional and goes up to the bigger sizes.

 

I have made it several times, this time was for my niece in Australia, and she's a big girl - she's 8 months old but is wearing 18 months clothes. She's gorgeous though, I just think her mum makes gold top! haha.

 

I made this in age 18-24 months as by the time it reaches her I want some growing room :)

 

So I bought this fabric (again in a sale!) as I am really liking this Dutch symmetrical design lately.

 

As this is a PDF pattern, I find it more economical to print off once and trace the size I need onto greaseproof paper.

 

 

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago I bought a 1940s vintage fabric. I decided to make some of the panels from this into patch pockets.

 

Firstly I cut out two of the panels of similar size.

 

Then I cut two pieces of lining fabric of the same size, pinned and sewed them right sides together.

I left the bottom edges open so as to turn them right way out.

 

Then I sewed up the bottom edge.

 

Next was to pin and sew to the tunic bodice front.

So cute I could cry! I love these and will definitely be doing them again!

 

Another cute bit is the optional dolly collar. You have many options with this, but I chose to just do with piping.

 

You need to interface the collar firstly.

I like medium weight, iron on interfacing for cotton/poly cotton material.

 

I already had some piping I'd made in the correct colour (hoarding pays off about twice a year haha). So all I had to do was to attach it to the collar using my zipper foot.

 

Then attach the other side of the collar, right sides together. Leaving a gap at the neck hole edge for turning and attaching to the bodice.

 

Now to trim the seams, clip curves and the exciting bit: turning right way out.

 As I have mentioned before I do love a bit of topstitching - especially on a collar!

 

Now to begin construction. Stitch the bodice front and backs together at the shoulders.

Do the same for the lining (seen here in plain blue).

 

Now stitch the collar to the bodice, matching centre fronts, around the open edge.

It's about this point I start to get over excited and have to calm myself down haha.

 

Now attach the lining at the neck, right sides together.

 

Now you need to make a loop for the button at the back of the neck opening. There are many ways to do this. I choose to sew a bit of fabric into a long folded over piece.

 

Then attach, folded into a loop.

 

I then measured where I thought the back gap should end and sewed down to that point on either side of the back pieces, lining and bodice right sides together. There is a notch on the pattern pieces though for the correct place, I forgot to transfer it haha.

 

Then turn the lining to the inside of the bodice, and all the raw edges are encased! magic :)

 

 

More topstitching follows for me, but that's because I love it, and also I think it stops the lining from rolling over to the front.

 

Now the centre back seam. You sew the back seams of the lining and bodice separately but in one movement. So pin the two sides of the back bodice together and the lining together right sides facing.

 

I do like a bit of binding on a sleeve, so I add it whenever I can.

 

I also added binding onto the bottom edge of the lining, to make the inside nicer and encase the raw edge. The pattern asks you to zigzag this edge, which is easier.

 

Now to attach the sleeves. This is one of my least favourite jobs as it's so easy to make a mistake. You need to go so very slowly. I prefer to attach the sleeve to the sleeve hole, BEFORE sewing the side seams and the sleeve seam.

 

And then more and more binding: this time the bottom instead of a hem.

 

and finally another one of my hated bits, the handsewing on of the button, at least there is only one on this pattern :)

 

and the finished article, so, so, so cute, I wish it would fit my girly (and that she'd wear it haha). This is one of those ones you make and cannot wait to see them being worn :)

 

Here's some I made earlier:

 

A long sleeve version for the girly in age 8 for last winter. I put a placket on with ice cream buttons on. Yes, this is the Rose and Hubble duck fabric in green :).

 

Short sleeved version for the girly in age 10 years. Love this one, and the binding, which I inherited again from my late grandmother. I haven't been able to find this colour anywhere since!

 

Dresses for the girly in age 10 years, and the niece in age 18 months. These are colour blocked and fully lined. The applique on them with the lady sewing is from a 1950s vintage fabric which I cut out.

 

Finally a short sleeved tunic in age 3 years, commissioned, but it was a little short and wide on the child, so I altered it to fit, by taking in from the side and adding a panel to the bottom :).

 

I do love this pattern as it is very simple, but effective. It has so many variations and it can be very classic for the older girl also. I enjoy making it too as its quite simple, and the dolly collar is very cute (you can add a chincher and ties to the bottom of the collar).