Tunic
Tunic Making Guide.
Introduction.
This article is adapted from an article in Adventurer #28 By Liz Bates.
The tunic evolved from the earliest recorded shapes and eventually evolved into the modern jacket. History books show a huge range of different tunics but when examined they nearly all evolved from one of three basic patterns.
The three following patterns will fit a person with a 38 in chest who is 5 ft 8 in to 5 ft 10 in in height. To adapt to other sizes it is probably best to measure up wearing a T-shirt as this will give a good approximation to the size of tunic you require. Remember to add seam allowances. If in doubt always cut things out bigger than needed as you can always cut a bit off later but it is much harder to add bits if things are too small. I always tend to make costume on the large side and always leave plenty of room round the shoulders as there's nothing worse that having your arm movements restricted when fighting. Don't cut the neck too wide. The neck hole will look impossibly small at first but should be okay. If it does turn out to be too small it is a simple matter to enlarge it later on.
These patterns are very basic and should only take a beginner a couple of hours. Once you get more confidant you can start adding detail and decoration.
Tunic Making Guide.
The Modern Tunic.
This is the modern way of making a tunic. It is slightly more difficult to cut around the shoulders than the other patterns but it does produce a better fit around the arms.
Firstly cut out the pieces. The distance X-Y on the body should match the distance X-Y on the sleeves.
The Body.
Only cut a slit for the neck in one of the body sections (the front).
The Arms.
1. Once you have all the pieces sew up the shoulder seams.
2. Fit and sew in the sleeves. Make sure that you get the selves fitted in centrally so that there won't be a twist when the tunic is sewn up.
3. Sew up the tunic from wrist to knee on both sides. I actually find it better to leave about 6 inches at the bottom and hem the edges to leave side splits rather than sewing all the way down to the bottom as this eases movement.
4. Hem around the bottom edge, neckline and cuffs.
Tunic Making Guide.
The Dark Ages Tunic.
Firstly cut out the pieces.
The Body.
.
Only cut a slit for the neck in one of the body sections (the front). If you want a better fit try angling the shoulder seams as shown rather than cutting them straight.
The Arms.
1. Sew up the shoulder seams and the top seams along the arms.
2. Fit and sew in the sleeves. Make sure that you get the selves fitted in centrally so that there won't be a twist when the tunic is sewn up.
3. Sew up the tunic from wrist to knee on both sides. I actually find it better to leave about 6 inches at the bottom and hem the edges to leave side splits rather than sewing all the way down to the bottom as this eases movement.
4. Hem around the bottom edge, neckline and cuffs.
Tunic Making Guide.
The Saxon Tunic.
Firstly cut out the Tunic. A little more care is needed when cutting out this pattern. Ideally the tunic should be cut out as a single piece and should be fairly close fitting around the chest and wrists. Authentically the tunic arms are cut 6 to 8 inches too long and allowed to bunch at the wrists. This tunic should be knee length./
The Pattern.
1. Making the tunic up is very easy. Sew up the tunic from wrist to knee on both sides. There is no need to leave side splits of about 6 inches at the bottom as the flared skirt leaves plenty of room for movement.
2. Hem around the bottom edge, neckline and cuffs.
It is possible to adapt this pattern to a shorter tunic that doesn't have the wide skirt by using the pattern shown below.
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