V-Neck Tunic with Decorative Buttons
A women's straight tunic with a V-neckline bound in bias, a buttoned pleat down the right front and set-in sleeves that roll up and fasten with a buttoned tab.
When To Wear
- Spring and summer, over leggings or slim trousers, or on its own as a short dress.
- Office and everyday wear with the sleeves rolled up or down.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: Straight, slightly widening towards the hem.
Length: Mid-thigh.
Neckline: V-neck finished with a 4 cm bias strip folded in half and topstitched to the inside.
Sleeves: Set-in, elbow length, with a tab stitched to the inside of each sleeve that buttons over the rolled-up cuff.
Front: Separate right and left fronts; the longer right front is folded into a pleat that covers the centre seam and is held at the neckline and hem. Buttons are sewn along the pleat.
Back: One piece cut on the fold, with no centre back seam.
Finishing: Seams overlocked and pressed towards the back; hems of the tunic and sleeves overlocked, pressed up and topstitched.
Level Of Difficulty
Beginner. Bias-bound neckline, a stitched front pleat, set-in sleeves and small turned tabs; buttonholes only on the tabs.
Fabric Recommendations
Light dress fabrics in natural or blended fibres.
Additional Supplies
- 8 buttons
- Bias binding, 4 cm wide (or cut from the main fabric)
Cutter's Must
- From main fabric:
- Back - 1 piece on fold
- Right front - 1 piece
- Left front - 1 piece
- Sleeve - 2 pieces
- Sleeve tab - 2 pieces
Sewing Instructions
- Stitch shoulder seams, press allowances towards the back and serge.
- Cut (if not ready-made) a bias binding 4 cm wide and a length equal to the neckline length + 5cm. Fold the bias binding in half lengthwise, right side out, and press. Place the binding along the neckline edge, right side to right side, and stitch. Clip allowances. Fold the binding to the wrong side and topstitch along the fold to the main piece. Press the seam.
- Stitch the left and right front pieces, aligning them from the bottom edge (the right front edge is longer). Press allowances and serge. Form a pleat from the right front piece, secure it at the neckline and bottom edge.
- Stitch side seams, press allowances towards the back and serge.
- Fold the tabs in half lengthwise, right side in, and stitch along the long and short edges. Turn right side out, trimming allowances at corners, straighten and press. Serge the open short edge. Topstitch the tabs according to markings on the wrong side of the sleeves.
- Stitch the sleeve seam. Press allowances towards the back and serge. Set sleeves into armholes, press allowances and serge.
- Serge the hem allowance of the garment bottom and sleeve bottom, press to the wrong side and topstitch.
- Sew buttons on the front. Serge buttonholes on the tabs, sew buttons on the sleeves.
