Sew a Kurta Tunic Top :Sewing Tutorial

A kurta tunic top is my favourite – it somehow makes me look long and lean than any other top I own – I think the fitting and the long line of this short top helps. And it can be as glamorous as you want it to be – depending on the fabric you choose (do not go by my plain-as-anything top – this is what happens when you start cutting bedsheets to sew)

Sewing tutorial for a Kurta Tunic Top

Step 1

Take all the necessary measurements on your body like waist round, bust round, hip round, Sleeve hem round. Learn more about measuring your body here.

Step 2

Fold 2 lengths of fabric pieces which are 35 inches long.(Length depends on the final length you need for your kurta tunic top)

These are for your front and back bodices.

Mark the top fabric with the following pattern measurements. Cut the 2 bodices. 

As necklines and armholes of the front and back bodice pieces are different they are marked seperately.

Step 3

Take one of the pieces out and on it Mark the front bodice pattern markings.

Step 4

Take the other bodice piece and mark the back bodice pattern markings. The armhole of the back piece can be marked along the line from the shoulder. Check out this post on drafting a bodice for more details.

Step 5

Cut Sleeves – take two fabric pieces which are 14 1/4 inches long and 20 inches wide. Fold by half. Mark the sleeves on this.

If you want a different sleeve check out this post on drafting different types of sleeves.

Step 6

Prepare the neckline of the front bodice.

For this take a 11 -12 inch square fabric piece; fold it by half and mark the neckline facing

Fold the outer edges of the facing to the inside and Hand stitch the fold in place.

Step 7

Sew the front neckline

Keep the front bodice piece right side up in front of you. Keep the facing piece right side down on the neckline – aligning the center mark of both the pieces. Pin or baste stitch in place.

Sew along the neckline mark. Use a small stitch length when you stitch along the sides of the slit. When you stitch along the slit, as you reach the tip of the slit, pivot, make one single horizontal stitch across the point and then pivot again to the other side. This is better than ending the stitching line straight and then pivoting – as you turn you will have a neater look

Cut out the extra fabric above the facing. Cut stright down along the line you have marked – cut till the tip (without cutting the stitches you have made.

Turn the facing to the back. Use some long thin tool (my favorite for this is a knitting needle) to turn the corners neatly pointed. Press.

Step 8

Sew the back neckline. You will be binding the back neckline with a bias cut fabric piece. Cut it 1 1/2 inches longer than the neckline edge. 

Start joining the bias tape on the neckline from the center to both sides. Stop 1/2 inch away from the edges. 

(If you find all the above and following steps complicated just bias tape the full back neckline edge and join the shoulder joints – this is simple but I like the complicated version because the inside looks somewhat neater).

Step 9

Sew shoulder joints.

When you sew the joints you will be keeping the front neckline 1/4 inch to the inside.(This seam allowance of the bias tape edge will be enclosed to the inside later) and fold the bias tape down – exactly as the below picture.

Clip the inside seam allowance quite frequently – every 1/2 inch or 1 inch

After the shoulder is joined finish the bias tape binding. First turn under the short edges 1/2 inch to the inside. Pin in place

Now hand stitch the bias binding on the back.

Step 10

Sew the sleeves. Learn more about joining the sleeves here.

Step 9

Sew the side seams with a 3/4 inch seam allowance. Join the sides till the slit mark – from the sleeve hem to the slit mark one continous seam.

Step 10

Sew the hem. This has a curved edge and you have to be careful when sewing the hem – otherwise it can look pretty bad. Trim the seam allowance above the hem edge to 1/2 inches.

Turn the cut edge to touch the seam line (picture shows clearly – I hope) – this will be 1/4 inches. Ensure that the cut edge do not exceed the seam line.

Sew the folded edge – sew close to the fold as much as possible.

Trim away the extra fabric outside of the stitching line .

Now fold again 1/4 inches and sew in place.

Finish all the cut edges of the seam allowances inside with zig zag stitch

Related posts :How to sew neckline slit; How to sew neckline binding; How to sew facing; How to sew a salwar kameez ; Sewing patterns for salwar pants