No-Pattern Tunic Dress

This easy belted tunic dress is the perfect project if you’ve ever wanted to try drafting your own pattern. Simply follow the diagrams to measure and cut the pieces from rectangles of fabric. This is a loose-fitting style which should fit most sizes, however, as you are creating your own pattern from a rectangle of fabric, it is easy to adjust to make it larger or smaller if desired to fit your own measurements.

Essentials

Fabric for bodice and belt, 103cm
Fabric for skirt, 114cm
Lining fabric, 103cm
Heavyweight interfacing, 5.1cm x 38.1cm

Dimensions List

To fit
Bust: 36”
Waist: 27”
Hip: 36”
Neck to waist: 17”
Shoulder to shoulder: 15”
Cutting guide
Bodice Front: cut one on fold from fabric and lining
Bodice Back: cut two (one reversed) from fabric and lining
Skirt: cut two 54.6cm x 61cm rectangles from fabric
Belt, cut four 6.35cm x 114cm strips from fabric
Note: a 1.3cm seam allowance is included except on the neck (6mm seam allowance also included)

Stitch a belted dress

1 Draft the patterns for the bodice front and bodice back using the dimensions on the diagrams (above). Cut out as per the cutting guide. Sew the bodice front pieces together, main fabric to lining, with right sides facing around the neck and armholes. Clip around the neck and press.

2 Sew the back pieces together down the centre. Do this for the main fabric, followed by the lining. Then stitch the bodice back pieces together, main fabric to lining, with right sides facing around the neck and armholes. Clip around the neck and press.

3 Introduce the complete bodice back piece (right side out) into the complete bodice front (right side in). Make sure that the main fabric parts touch and the lining pieces touch as well. Sew the shoulders closed. Pull the bodice back piece out and press.

4 Sew the side seams closed by aligning each seam perfectly at the armhole point and pinning outwards. Attach the skirt pieces at the side seams. Sew the bodice to the skirt with right sides facing. Finish the seam with an overlocker or a zigzag stitch. Alternatively use a French seam.

5 To hem the skirt, fold up 6mm, press, then fold under another 2.5cm and edgestitch by sewing a few millimetres away from the folded edge.

6 To construct the belt, sew the four strips in pairs on the short side. Stitch the two pieces right sides together around all four sides. Using a seam ripper, carefully unpick the centre seam on one side and turn the belt out. Clip the corners and press.

7 Thread heavy weight interfacing through the gap, adhesive side facing the opening, and centre. Sew the gap closed with invisible hand stitches and press to fuse the interfacing to the belt.