Month: July 2014

Tutorial: How to Make a Simple Indian Style Kurti/Tunic

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FloralKurtiCloseup

When you cannot visit India that often, you have to come up with creative solution to make Indian attire for your casual ethnic parties. That’s when I started looking for ready made sewing pattern available in fabric store in US. Guess what I found? Butterick Pattern 5812.

http://butterick.mccall.com/b5812-products-27960.php?page_id=155

You can get it either online or from fabric store. I bought mine for $1 sale from Hancock Fabrics 🙂

It is a very simple and easy pattern to sew. Let’s get started.

What You Need

KurtiMaterials

  • Floral Printed Fabric – 1 yard. (Mine is polyester, but cotton/cotton blend is perfect too)
  • Double Folded Bias Tape
  • Trim 3.5 yards
  • Fabric Glue
  • Scissors
  • Matching thread
  • Butterick pattern 5812

Let’s Get Started

Step 1: Do some measurement and figure out your size from the top back of the envelope. It is a loose fitting top so no accurate measurement is needed. Open up the envelope and cut out pattern piece 9, 10 and 11. Yes that’s it, only 3 pieces if you attach sleeves or use piece 9, 10 if you want sleeveless.

Step 2: Fold the fabric in half as shown in the picture below( unfinished edges together). Unfinished edge is called selvage. Place pattern piece 10 ( along  the fabric fold line) and piece 9 and 11 on the fabric. Use a pair of sharp scissor to cut the fabric.

P1010278P1010271

Step3: Change the neck line like shown in the picture if you would like to alter the neckline. You can keep the exact rounded neckline for simplicity. That will work fine too.

Neckline

Use this new pattern to cut the piece 10 (front of the tunic).

Step 4: Sew style B using the pattern instruction and finish the neckline using double folded bias tape. Now use a fabric glue to attach the trim along the neckline. I used a sequin trim so I cannot use machine to sew. But if you use a embroidered trim or fabric based trim you can use machine to sew it on.

Note: I  altered the pattern at the back side. You can sew the whole backside up. The neck is wide enough that the top should slid right into your body without any back opening. Try it first. It makes the back sewing a breeze. No need to worry about finishing with button or zipper, as instructed in the pattern.

biastapefinishingneckline

Step 5:  Attach the sleeve according to the instruction and after hemming glue/sew the trim.

Step 6: Finish hemline and glue/sew the trim.

End product:

IndianStyleKurti

 

 

 

 

 

Rainbow of Waves

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Rainbow of Waves

I know its probably a little too warm outside to enjoy a quilt. This quilt is sunny and bright like a summer. So thought might be appropriate to share this quilt that I made last year for my son.

Chevron Block Detail

This very simple chevron pattern quilt is made out of half-square triangles. I picked nine different shades of cotton batiks and white cotton as a back ground. The quilt binding is a contrasting green batik fabric that is also used inside the quilt. As you can see in the detail picture above, some quilting lines are straight and is done using a walking foot and some are free-motion quilting inside the colored portion to give it a wavy look. The whole project is done in my home sewing machine.

Hope you enjoy the burst of colors. Thank you for visiting my blog and Facebook page.