Me-Made Tunic GIVEAWAY!!!

So, the run up to Me-Made-May seems to me to be a good time to give away something me-made. Actually, I made this tunic a few months ago, but when it turned out to be a FAIL I did what any self-respecting seamstress would do: hide it in the cupboard, try to forget about it and IMMEDIATELY go on to the next project.

Basically what happened was this: I acquired this awesome vintage Simplicity pattern from 1972 and decided to make it up in this lightweight cotton gingham which had arrived to me in the form of unused curtains from my friend's mum who decided she was no longer going to sew. In my anticipation to crack on, I noted the pattern's size was a 34" bust, remembered I measure 36" and INSTEAD OF DOING THE SENSIBLE THING AND MEASURING THE PATTERN, I went ahead and added an extra two inches all round when cutting out and carried on making it like an eager puppy.

At this point I feel I must add, although the outcome may appear simple, this pattern was challenging and took longer than most my projects so far this year. The faced bib panel had to fit correctly with the pin-tucked yoke section but was extra tricky to do as I decided to cut it on the bias, and did I mention it's faced? Plus the fiddley button loops took a hundred attempts, and the opening required a little panel for modesty's sake. As with all my creations, I obsessively overlocked all the raw edges inside. Anyhow, I gritted my teeth and followed the instructions as best I could and was very pleased with the result.

Then I tried it on. WAY too big. It looks ok in the photos where I'm modelling it, but believe me that it's all in the way I'm standing and the excess it hidden at the back (I can't stand like this all day in real life!). I can't, and basically don't want, to try to think of an effective way to make it smaller without taking out the sleeves and a whole load of jazz. I'd much rather just give it away to someone bigger than myself and chalk it up to experience.

So if you, or a friend, daughter, colleague etc. with roughly a 38" or 39" chest would get some wear from this, please leave a comment with an email address so I can contact you for your address to send it to. At midnight next Thursday (22nd April), I'll see if there are any takers, and if there is more than one I'll pick a number from a random generator. I'll send it anywhere in the world, no contribution for P&P is required, just promise me it won't sit unloved in a cupboard any more, I can't take the guilt! Please note, this giveaway is for the garment NOT the pattern, as one day when the pain from the experience has abated, I may give it another go!