This is a story that started almost a year ago. Last July, I had several graphic tees that I liked the designs, but wasn’t crazy about the fit (they were all a little oversized). I had a tank top as well that I loved, but had a stain and a rip. I decided to fix up my tank top (seen below in its original state) and redo the tees in the same style.
I ended up redoing the original tank top and another tee, but I messed up the tank top a bit (the neck binding got weird), and I chose the wrong fabric for the bindings on the tee, so neither of them are still with me (although I just found the original tank top on Poshmark still with tags, and I’m thrilled!).
Two of the tees I had cut down and resewn together (leaving the original hem), but needed their bindings, and they had been sitting in a bin all this time. In my current quest to wrap up projects, I pulled them out and got to work! I didn’t have a fabric that was a perfect match for either of them in my stash, but I’m doing the #lastsewiststanding challenge, which is to not buy anything, so I made do (trust me, there is enough fabric in the stash to keep me going for a few years).
This cream ribbed knit from Emma One Sock worked for both, even if it was slightly off. One key step that I didn’t skip (that I did with the original tank) was to baste on the bands before serging, to make sure they fit properly. If I do this step, typically they work, but they are guaranteed to not work if I skip it, and while it’s technically possible to unpick serged seams, I don’t have patience for that! Because it’s a pretty stretchy knit, I made them about 75% of the length of the openings, and did the usual pin in quarters to get them distributed correctly. I also too a wedge out of the seam (so the inside length is slightly longer than the outside) to help them lay flat on the body.
I like that they are fitted, but not too fitted, but I do wish I would have make the arm/neck holes slightly bigger - I realized it after I had based in the first arm band, but I had already cut and sewn together all the bands, and was too lazy to go back and redo them. I’m working hard on a good balance of good enough and something I’ll be happy to wear, and this (along with the color of the bands) falls into a good balance.
Without further ado, meet my two new tank tops!
Your tanks came out really well 🙂
They came out so well!