An Easy Tanktop with Style

I’ve been spending a lot of time in my garden, enjoying my vegies, planting the last of the seeds, watching the critters at the feeders, and taking lots of pictures.

As a result, I’m getting a golden glow on my arms.  But my shoulders and upper arms are white, so, it was time to sew a tank-top or two.  For a mature person.  No gaping, no bra straps showing.I searched my pattern boxes and found a couple worthy of sewing up.  The first one had little darts from the arm-hole toward the bust.  Great idea!  I made a trial top using an “un-precious” piece of lightweight cotton poly.  It went together really well, the darts were perfect, but it looked like I had a cloth bag on.  I wore it, and was glad my hubby was kind enough to keep his opinions to himself.  I kept waiting for him to say that my new top was the ugliest garment I had ever sewn.  He didn’t.  That pattern is now in the recycling bin.

Then I tried another pattern with bust darts, but when I paper fit the front, the darts were nowhere near where they should have been.  It went to the bin, too.

Then I remembered a dress I had made at least 10 years ago.  It had princess seams that started mid-shoulder AND bust darts.  I LOVE that dress and still wear it.  The original is a printed linen that was one of the first fabrics I sold when I owned my store.  The neck and armholes are finished with purchased bias binding.   I did a bit of embellishing around some of the flowers with a blanket stitch.    Pawprints 1026 dressPawprints 1026 

I found the pattern, and traced off enough of the top parts to make a hip length tank-top.  I had a striped fabric and played around with it a bit.Easy tanktopAnd I love it!  There’s enough coverage, no straps show!  I’m going to make another one tomorrow in a lovely blue batik cotton.

I checked online to see if the pattern was still available, and found one on Etsy and one on Amazon.  I’m going to look further later.  If you have a nice fitting pattern with side darts, you could adapt it to this style, by adding seam lines from mid shoulder to the hem.  The back is cut on the fold, and is one piece.

Pawprints 1026 cover

 

Yvette Chilcott

I'm a mother of 3, stepmother of 3. My hubby and I share our home with 2 cats, and my hobbies, including my food experiments.

3 Responses

  1. LOVE IT!!!!! Now if I could be that talented to be able to take a pattern and make something else out of it…. like you said it’s the perfect mature woman top!!!!!

  2. This is a great look. What a great way to add your personal touch to the dress. Also like your play with stripes. Really like both of them.

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