‘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.
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. 
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.
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!
The low armholes are meant to let a colorful sports bra peek through. Love that!
I love a happy ending! Nice going.
Yay!! A pat on the back for your tenacious spirit. It looks great!
Thanks Sandy! I’m glad I didn’t quit over this.
Love it!! You did an amazing job Justine!
Turned out great. Nice total work-out outfit.
Thanks Kathy!
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.
Thanks Pamela!
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.
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!