Wild & Beautiful Collection: The Wanderer Tunic

Last but not least I made the Wanderer Tunic by Striped Swallow Designs, the third pattern translated by Annika from Näh-Connection as part of the Wild & Beautiful Collection.

I never used a pattern from Striped Swallow Designs before, although several of the patterns have been on my sewing list for quite a while. The patterns from Striped Swallow Designs are all bohemian inspired, and while I think they’re beautiful, I’m never so sure how to style them or which fabrics to choose. I’d describe my usual style as more classic and elegant, and bohemian inspired patterns get me a little out of my comfort zone. But for this pattern and this collection I jumped right into it and I’m glad I did!

I really had to think for a while before I could decide on a fabric and the version I wanted to make. The Wanderer Tunic comes with tons of options – high and low yokes, short sleeves, 3/4 sleeves, long sleeves, lace yokes, bands or lace bands at the sleeves and different finishings of the sleeves. Luckily there are quite a few design examples included in the pattern, which makes it a little easier visualizing all the options. I ended up with just one fabric, a blue lawn from Imagine Gnats, and some lace trim. I used the lower yoke and my original plan was making 3/4 sleeves with two wide crocheted lace bands.

As you can see, my blouse doesn’t have lace bands or 3/4 sleeves, and the reason for this is that I never ever before was so mistaken about what something would look like in the end – definitely a consequence of trying to make something more bohemian…. The blue fabric and the white lace trim looked incredibly maritime, i looked like a sailor! And the long sleeves with the two white lace bands made that association even more dominant. Alternatively you could say that I looked like wearing an adidas tricot… Some people in the Näh-Connection design group liked the look, so I guess it wasn’t all bad, but just not me at all.

I ended up cutting off the sleeves right above the first lace band and shortening the tunic about 1″ to make it look more like a blouse instead of a tunic. And now I’m so much happier with the result! I think the lawn might have been a tiny bit too stiff for the pattern, you can see quite a few wrinkles on the pics – but all in all I’m really happy now.

The only other change I made was sewing the crocheted lace in between the layers of the yoke and the bodice, instead of sewing it onto the top after joining the pieces. I’m not sure if it really makes a relevant difference, but it made sewing the pieces together definitely more challenging. I basted the lace to the two yoke layers, before attaching the yoke to the bodice.

I’m totally obsessed with the lace yoke versions out there and I’d love to make a lace version soon! I just need to find the right fabrics…

You can buy the whole Wild & Beautiful Collection, consisting of the Sanibel Romper, the Marigold Dress and the Wanderer Tunic, in the German translation at 40% off until Sunday evening. You are also going to receive a coupon worth over 200 Euro for several European fabrics stores. After Sunday all the patterns can be bought one by one at the regular price.

And for those of you who don’t speak German: You can buy the Wanderer Tunic at the Striped Swallow Patterns store or at Indiesew.