Simple Tunic

I recently posted a pattern for a bikini, and one for a swimsuit coverup, but with the beaches and pools being closed, I needed a new project type of summer project to crochet. Today’s pattern is for a comfy, and super soft Tunisian crochet tunic.

Like all my adult garments, this one is bespoke. We will use your measurements to make a tunic that fits you. So you won’t find a sizing chart, or specific stitch count anywhere on this pattern.

For my tunic, I used Lion Brand’s Coboo yarn. It has a beautiful drape, is soft and comfortable to wear (it does not itch at all), plus it’s machine wash and dry. The amount of yarn you will need will vary by person and size, so just to give you a general idea for how much yarn to buy, I used 5 cakes in total; 4 in steel, 1 in denim (for the trim). You can get a better sense for how big my tunic is by looking at my measurements in the “sizing” box.

Yarn: #3 DK yarn

Hook: 6 mm regular hook

            7 mm Tunisian Hook

Additional materials: measuring tape, stitch markers, scissors and yarn needle. 

Sizing: Bespoke. In order to make this garment, you will need the following measurements: 1. Bust: measure around your body, in the widest part of your bust. example: 36 inches                                               2. Shoulder to hip: measure from your shoulder, to wherever you want the tunic to end.     example: 22 inches               3. Cleavage:measure from your shoulder to your cleavage, or wherever you want the cleavage seam to begin.  example : 10 inches The example measurements will help illustrate how to use your measurements to complete the pattern. Please use your own body measurement to make this tunic in your size.

Abbreviations: RP – Return Pass                                          KS – Knit Stitch       SC – Single Crochet

Pattern notes:

You will need to crochet 2 Front Panels, and 1 Back Panel. Once completed, you’ll sew the panels together at the shoulders, then trim the neckline and sleeves/sides of the tunic before sewing the front and sides together. Trim the bottom of the tunic once it is all sewn together. 

Front Panel

Initial chain: Take your Bust measurement and divide it by 4. This will be the width of your panel. 

Ex: 36/4 = 9  inches    Using your 6 mm hook, chain however many stitches you need to make a chain that measures ¼ of your bust measurement (the 9 inches calculated above).

Foundation Row: (Use your 7 mm Tunisian Hook) Cast on into every stitch of your chain, beginning from the second stitch from your hook. 

To cast on: Insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop. Leave this loop on your hook, and repeat with every stitch of the chain/row. 

Complete a RP. 

Knit Stitch Row: Skip the first vertical stitch from your hook, and KS into the second stitch from your hook and into every stitch of the row. Complete a RP. 

Repeat the Knit Stitch Row until your fabric measures your Shoulder to Hip measurement. Then bind off, weave in your ends, and complete a second Front Panel. 

Bind off: Once you complete the RP of your final row, complete a SC bind off. Insert your hook between the front and back leg of the vertical stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop. You should have 2 loops on your hook. Yarn over, and pull through both of those loops so you are left with 1 loop on your hook. Repeat with every stitch of the row. 
Once you complete the bind-off, be sure to securely weave in all ends to avoid unraveling. Complete a second Front Panel.

Back Panel

Initial chain: Take your Bust measurement and divide it by 2. This will be the width of your panel. 

Ex: 36/2 = 18 inches   

Using your 6 mm hook, chain however many stitches you need to make a chain that measures ½ of your bust measurement (the 18 inches calculated above).    

Calculating lengths: 

Shoulder panel = ½ cleavage

                                          Ex: 5 inches = 10/2

Bottom length = shoulder to hip – shoulder panel

                                          Ex: 17 inches = 22 – 5

Foundation Row: (Use your 7 mm Tunisian Hook)  Cast on into every stitch of your chain, beginning from the second stitch from your hook. Complete a RP.

Knit Stitch Row: Skip the first vertical stitch from your hook, and KS into every stitch of the row. Complete a RP. 

Repeat the Knit Stitch Row until your fabric measures the Bottom Length (as calculated above). Once you complete the last RP, fold your fabric in half (with your working side on top) and place a stitch marker in the centermost stitch. Then complete the shoulder panels.

Shoulder panel: Complete a Knit Stitch Row until you reach the stitch marker in the center stitch. Complete a RP. Repeat until your shoulder panel measures the Shoulder Panel measurement calculated above. Complete a SC bind off once you complete the panel, then crochet the second shoulder panel.

Second Shoulder Panel: Insert your hook into the stitch with the stitch marker, then crochet a fabric that measures the Shoulder Panel measurement. Complete a SC bind off once you complete the panel.

The total length of your back panel should be the same as your 

Shoulder to Hip  measurement. 

Sewing Shoulders

Line up all three panels at the shoulders. Make sure to lay the back panel knit stitch down, and the front panels knit stitch up. 

Pin down the shoulder panels, then stitch along the top of the shoulder to join the front and back panels together.  

Trim

The trim along the edge of the neckline, the sides,  and the bottom of the tunic are all made up of 3 rows of SC. Use your 6 mm hook for ALL the trimming. This will keep the edges from getting wavy. 

Trim the neckline and sides of the tunic ONLY. The bottom part of the tunic is trimmed at the very end. 

Side Trim: SC into every stitch along one side of the tunic. 

Row 2 & 3: CH 1, turn your work around. Beginning in the first stitch from your hook, SC into every stitch of the row. 

Repeat on the other side of the tunic. 

Neckline Trim: SC into every stitch along one side of the neckline, beginning in the centermost stitch of the back panel. 

Row 2: CH 1, turn your work around. SC into the first stitch from your hook, and into every stitch of the row until you reach the last two stitches. In the last two stitches: Insert your hook into the first stitch and pull up a loop, then pull up a loop in the last stitch. You should have 3 loops on your hook. Yarn over, and pull through all three loops.

Row 3: CH 1, turn your work around. Skip the first stitch, then SC into the second stitch and into every stitch of the row. 

Repeat on the other side of the neckline. 

Sew along the “V” in the back panel to close the neckline trim. 

Sewing Center & Sides

Place a stitch marker in the cleavage of the tunic (ex: at the 10 inch cleavage measurement), joining the front two panels together.  Then put the tunic on to measure the armhole. 

Place a stitch marker on the sides of the tunic, wherever you want the arm holes to end. Make sure to line up the bottom corners of the front and back panel before pining the stitch marker to the tunic.

Take off the tunic, and sew the front and sides closed. 

Tip: Begin sewing from the bottom of the tunic and towards the stitch markers. This will ensure the bottom corners of the tunic line up. 

Bottom Trim

Complete the tunic by adding a trim along the bottom edge. Crochet 3 rows of SC along the bottom edge. You can crochet them in the round, or work 1 row at a time, whichever method is easiest for you. 

Once you complete your tunic, be sure to securely weave in all ends to avoid unraveling.

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For questions or comments on this pattern, please contact Atenas at: atenas@modebespoke.com

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