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Simplicity tank 8338 ..Got it right!

03/23/2017

‘Third time is the charm’, so they say. I’m not sure what caused my sewing breakdown the other day and my subsequent rant. I guess I was hungry and tired and then just kept pushing myself to finish. It was like I forgot everything! The old brain cells were fried.

I want to thank those of you who commented and could commiserate with me. It’s nice to have a community like this where other people get this stuff! I’m grateful for your kindness.simplcity8338

So I took the advice and slept on the problem of the ill fitted stretched out armholes. I wasn’t about to let this simple pattern defeat me and be the reason I quit my ready to wear fast. At least if something should make me quit, it should be something really hard, right?

I cut the top in a size small. It runs a little big, as usual.

When I cut my third version after my rest, it went together very smoothly. Surprisingly smoothly as I crossed my fingers that weren’t sewing.  Suddenly I ‘got’ it! The directions made perfect sense and it took less than and hour to make this tank. The only thing I did differently was to divide the armholes of the top into equal fourths and to divide the armbands into fourths. modaltop That kept the stretch of the arm binding even throughout the armhole. I used my cover stitch machine for the hem and the normal machine to stitch the armband and neckband in the ditch. I serged the band to the armholes right sides facing first, then flipped it over and stitched in the ditch from the front. I finished the edge of the binding with the serger to give it a more ready to wear look than a raw edge showing. That part isn’t necessary. This might look cool if I did it on the right side, too.insideoutback

If you decide to make it, definitely use a drapey fabric. I see lots of ladies at the gym wearing tops like this. They’re a simple basic piece to have in your workout wardrobe. And a great top to throw on when you don’t want everything to be skin tight. This fabric is some type of Modal or rayon knit I bought in downtown LA. I don’t have anymore drapey knits as I wasted them on the first two tops I ruined but I’ll be making this one again. It’s a perfect summer gym tank!

onme2 onme3onme

The low armholes are meant to let a colorful sports bra peek through. Love that!

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Related posts:

Simplicity 8338 fail Simplicity 1165; rayon shorts , Simplicity 1589; a silk tank DIY workout pants and tank top pattern tutorial Spring Top Tutorial: Flamenco Ruffled Tank, Spring Top 1
-McKenzie

Filed Under: Activewear, Pattern Reviews, Sewing for myself

About Justine

You made it to the end of the post! Please stop by often for a variety of sewing projects, clothes making tips , and stylish handmade living. Feel free to email me at justine @ sewcountrychick.com if you have questions.

Comments

  1. Angela says

    03/23/2017 at 6:37 am

    I love a happy ending! Nice going.

  2. Sandy Osborne says

    03/23/2017 at 9:25 am

    Yay!! A pat on the back for your tenacious spirit. It looks great!

    • Justine says

      03/25/2017 at 4:34 pm

      Thanks Sandy! I’m glad I didn’t quit over this.

  3. Erika says

    03/23/2017 at 6:24 pm

    Love it!! You did an amazing job Justine!

  4. Kathy Russell says

    03/23/2017 at 10:55 pm

    Turned out great. Nice total work-out outfit.

    • Justine says

      03/25/2017 at 4:34 pm

      Thanks Kathy!

  5. Pamela says

    03/24/2017 at 12:01 pm

    What I most appreciate is you being open to showing us “failures”. We are all on the learning curve somewhere; I look to blogs for instruction and inspiration. You provide both, which is vastly superior than viewing only the “good” stuff some blogs feature without discussing problems, etc.

    • Justine says

      03/25/2017 at 4:33 pm

      Thanks Pamela!

  6. Catherine Burbank says

    03/27/2017 at 4:24 pm

    I’ve been lurking on your site, and having my own sewing fails and frustrations. Why do we keep doing this? I guess because, damnit I want to perfect that craft! Surely, I can do it right? I congratulate you on both knowing that the other trials wouldn’t do it, and especially, on TRYING AGAIN! Your new make looks great, I would totally wear it to the gym as soon as I sign up.

    • Justine says

      03/28/2017 at 4:07 pm

      Thanks Catherine. It’s true sometimes when things get hard they stop being fun. But you have to get past that to get good at anything. Hang in there, too!



I'm Justine! Welcome to my sewing blog! Here you'll find lots of handmade clothing for myself and other lucky folks! I'm a native Los Angeleno who moved to a small farm outside of LA with my family.

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