Pieced Tunic Shirt — Butterick 6877

This easy fitting, flowing and flattering pieced tunic can be made in a woven or a knit, in one color or color blocking, or, a collage of harmonious prints.



The tunic hangs from the shoulders, lightly skimming the bust and flowing over the hips with plenty of ease, to a fingertip length. It has a dropped shoulder with a semi fitted short sleeve, an open faced neck featuring a front tuck, an asymmetrical hem and functional decorative pockets.



This is a perfect warm weather tunic as it floats and has just the right amount of sleeve. And, the sleeve could be lengthened to elbow length or ¾ for cooler weather.

Fabrics

On the pattern envelope I used a lightweight ponte for the solid color version which features hand topstitching, and linen in 3 colors for the second version. This is a style that takes fabrics with some structure and drape - but not too stiff. Shirting weight cottons, silks and blends, linen, light weight ponte, cotton/lycra knits with body. You want the shirt to skim not cling. If you use a combination of fabrics they should be approximately the same weight. The piecing offers many opportunities for creative play with pattern and color.

Construction tips

• Most of the pattern pieces are cut singly, only the sleeves are cut double — unless you want them in different fabrics.
• Fitting the pieces together is easy. Note the line drawing that shows that most of the tunic is composed of vertical sections.
• Start by laying out the front and back pattern pieces on the cutting table to see how the top will go together.
• If using more than one fabric, decide on the placement of the fabric. Sometimes the back gets designed first, sometimes the front.
• Tape or pin a scrap of fabric on each pattern piece and then sort them into piles by color.
• After cutting out each color grouping, stitch together the vertical sections first.
• On both front and back, start by stitching the short horizontal seams on each vertical section.
• Then stitch the vertical sections together.
• The pockets go on last.
• Pockets can be placed anywhere on the garment. They can be the same fabric as the garment or contrast fabrics. This is the perfect place to add a spot of color, pattern or texture to the mix.
• The tuck at the neckline is stitched after the facing is completed and can be adjusted to fit.

Happy sewing!