Instant, no-sew tunic outfit from a large scarf 570
I bought ten large scarves from St Luke's in London for one pound each. Not all at once, over four trips, once a week for a month.
Strangely, my most successful purchase was a plain colour scarf. Red.
I wore it as a tunic for a change. A cheerful change.
It is light weight for summer. A bright cheerful outfit. I added a red turban and chunky red bracelets. Plus red sandals, from Free-step.
Red turbans come in lots of styles and prices. They add a finish to an outfit. Also cover hair roots or bald patches or haircuts you don't like today. A new look.
My turban with a flower front came from Ebay. Shein has several styles, colours and prices.
Turning a scarf into a tunic was simple.
Neckline Cut
To start, you merely need a horizontal cut across the centre horizontally, in the middle, just wide enough to get your head through.
If you can cut neatly, you can cut a round hole for the neck, and even a collar. Use a large saucer or small plate as your guide. Turn the fabric over and draw a circle around your template, using a washable felt tip pen, or taylor's chalk if you have some.
If you cut the hole too big, cut a smaller circle from the discarded piece and use the ring shape for a ruffle, or collar.
Instant Collar
I Cut exactly half way by folding the scarf. To get the scissors into the fabric, I first cut a teeny vertical cut. At the front this could be extended down. Or I could cut a V shape necklice, or just fold it back into a V shape gap with two elongated V shape pieces of fabric either side..The W shape neckline can be pinned with two tie-pins, ideally two matching tie pins. or cuff links, or two smll safety pins through two buttons with shanks.
To create a firm collar edge, you could iron it down. Or fold it again underneath and iron down a centimetre wide edging strip, or enough material for a firm double thickness. (That might involve a little extra cutting.)
What about fixing together the sides?
Add Or Make A Belt
Any belt will do. A firm leather or sytnthetic leather-like thick belt looks businesslike. It creates a bustline.
Belt Style
You could have the belt going above the tunic all the way around. I prefer it to go around the front piece and leaaave the back loose. To my mind that looks more elegant. It hides round shoulders or a protruding botton. Unless you like the look at my backside, flaunt it style.
You can hide the buckle at the back. Or leave it at the side.
Finally, how do you fix together the sides? Easy-peasy. You could use tie-pins. I am a bit nervous about tie pins pulling apart and scratching my skin, Worese still, they come apart and you lose half, or tread on them with bare feet later.
Instead My choise of fastening would be a fancy safety pin, pershaps on the inside to be almost invisible. Or a brooch with a secure rotating clasp. Use one each side, or two each side, or more.
Choosing A Belt Fabric
Leather Belts - Advantages
I like leather and imitation leather belts. They come with secure buckles. Often they have statement buckles.
However, some leather belts might look too heavy on a light fabric. Or you wonder whether it might damage a delicate fabric. In that case, a fabric belt is better.
You might have one on a wrap-around silky dressing gown. Or borrow one from a dressing gown owned by another member of the family, who rarely wears it.
(As a last resort, but off the hem of the scarf to make a matching belt, or a half belt at the back, or a statement half belt at the front.
Dress/Tunic Length Front & Back
Should the back hang down longer? Do you like that look? Does that happen autoamtically when your bust takes up more of the fabric vertically at the front? If you are round-shouldered, humch backed, or slouch, the back will look shorter.
After cutting carefully with the horizontal neck cut exactly half way, I decided that instead I sould have made allowance for my bust. So the front needs to be an inch longer, whilst the back.
After you have sorted out the neckline and length to your satisfaction. you are ready to pin the sides. You could leave them open to show the colours of the slip underneath. You could make one small join by sewing. Or two. But allow room to pull the garment over your head, unless you want to cut a vertical line down the back, which could be fixed together with ribbons, sewn on or tied onto the garment through slits. Or you could sew a zip down the back. Unless the tunic is so wide that you can pull it on. even when the sides are linked all the way up to the gap you left fro your arms.
To cover your arms, you can wear a tee shirt or vest underneath, in a matching or contrasting colour
Dye
Or dye both a pale coloured tunic and a pale coloured teeshirt. Even if the two are not the same colour afterwards, they will be co-ordinating in different shades of the same colour.
My Red Accessories
I added
Red sandals. Brand Free-step. Two straps, adjustable.
Brooch
I moved the brooch from the side to top centre to hold down the almost horizontal neck for more comfort. Also holding the neckline's cut edge inwards.
Saree Swap Scarf Tunic
You could also make a couple of tunics from a saree. Some sarees come with a second piece of fabric. Do a fabric swap with a friend, or group. Cut your saree fabric in half. Swap your half with the half from somebody else. Both of you then have two new tunic outfits.
Useful Websites
St Luke's charity shop, Americans say thrift shop.
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