The Sewing Machine Strikes Again

I've been on a bit of a sewing spree lately, most likely because I figure I better enjoy my sewing machine while I still have it! I came up with a scheme that I wanted to use one of my batik tablecloths from Malaysia and make it into a tunic similar to the eShakti tunic I wore in this post.

When people found out that I liked these batik cloths and used them, they started giving them to me frequently, so I've amassed a good supply over the years. I usually use them as tablecloths or as cloths to protect the wood finish on other pieces of furniture. Occasionally I make them into clothes. This was one of those occasions.

I cut out pieces for the front and back of the tunic and the sleeves by laying out the tunic I already had on the fabric. I decided to skip the keyhole that's in the original tunic for simplicity and also because I didn't want to have to wear a tank top under this one.

I recently came across the technique called french seams for finished seams without a serger. This was the first garment that I used french seams in and I loved the result of no raw edges of fabric anywhere on the inside--I highly recommend such seams!

All in all, after wearing this tunic, I'd have to say it places among my top favorite sewing projects I've ever completed. I was pretty proud of myself for making the pattern match on both sleeves (which, it seems you can't really see in the photos, you'll just have to trust me!)

Have you been indulging in any of your hobbies lately?