Give Me Liberty — Tana Lawn Tunic

After coming across an eye-popping $1100 Liberty Tana Lawn tunic while snoop-shopping noodle stories, I decided to make my own version.

Here is my adaptation of the $1100 Tunic

• Used Vogue 1750, eliminating the lower tier of the dress.
• I’ve made this many times and have adjusted the fit.
• Cut a bit bigger by adding a bit to all seam allowances as the crinkling takes up some of the ease. You might simply cut one size bigger, but DO tissue fit to be sure.
• Adjusted the length so the front is about 3” shorter than the back. I did this during construction.
• Changed the neck opening from a facing to a continuous lap (as used traditionally as a sleeve vent opening. If you don’t know how to do this, google in “what is a continuous lap in sewing’.
• Make a sample in scraps if this a new technique and/or to get the right width.
• I used one button and buttonhole at the lower edge of the placket.
• Eliminated the collar and bound the neck with double bias binding.
• For a soft finish, I hand stitched the final ‘stitch in the ditch’ stitching line on both the placket and neck binding
• Used single layer in seam side pockets which are topstitched in place.
• Adjusted the shoulder width after the neck binding was complete.
• Used a facing on the sleeve hem (as used on the pattern).

Hem

• Made a ⅜” narrow finished hem.
• I allow for a 1” hem, stitch around the hem edge at ⅞”, then use the stitching as an easy guide to pressing up the hem at 1” all the way around.
• Then, turn the hem under on itself - this will result in a ⅜” hem allowing for the turn of the cloth. If this is a new concept, google in, ‘what is turn of the cloth in sewing’.
• Miter the corners for a neat finish. INSERT: See my video on making a mitered corner.
• Give the pressed under hem a good press, then stitch from the wrong side using a short 2.0 stitch, catching just the edge of the fold.

Create the crinkles

• Wet the finished tunic or toss it in the washing machine on gentle with a low spin. You want the tunic to be damp wet not sopping wet.
• Twist the sleeves separately, then twist the body. Lay the garment flat and start pleating from top and bottom, working across the garment, then twist the whole thing.
• Place in a sunny window or outside on a towel in a sunny spot. Allow to dry then shake out and hang and wear. The wrinkles will loosen over time.
• Repeat when laundering. You could also crush the tunic into a ball, put in a laundry bag and let dry.
• The beauty of Liberty is that the fabric will always feel delicious whether crinkled or smooth.