Floral Summer Tank Sewing Tutorial

Today, I’m going to sew a floral summer tank, perfect for layering. I am going to model it after an Amy Winehouse tank that I got in London. I love how it fits and think the same cut would look lovely in a floral print.

The skinny:

This is a super simple top. You can style it however you want, but I am going to make mine a little roomier with wide holes for the arms. Since the fabric is sort of see-through, this is going to be a layering piece, so meant to be worn with another tank underneath.

Materials:

• tank you will use as a guide
• pattern paper
• scissors/tape/pencil

• 1 to 1-1/2 yards of floral fabric
• matching thread

Floral Summer Tank Sewing Tutorial

Instructions:

MAKING THE PATTERN

1. First, I am going to trace out the back of the tank that I am using as a guide. Add your desired seam allowance. I am going to add 1/2″ seam allowance on all sides, except the bottom of the shirt, where I’m going to add 1-1/2″.

Cut this out, fold it in half, and then make any additional trimmings to make sure that both sides match.

Here is where you can edit the pattern as you want to, I’m going to take mine in just about an inch on either side.

Now you have your back pattern complete.

2. Make a copy of this pattern. This will be the front pattern. Modify the neckline as you see fit.

3. If you want a quick and dirty, you can skip this step, but I am going to make a neckline lining, as I find it helps holds up the structure of the shirt.

To do this, I’m going to make two new pattern pieces; the front and back neckline lining. To do this, draw around the neckline of both the front and back shirts. Now, make these pieces 1 1/2″ thick. Cut them out. To test them, you can put them right on top of the shirt patterns and they should line up.

After cutting them out, take 1/4″ off each side of both neckline linings. The reason is that this will help the neckline maintain the integrity of its shape. To make this easy, I simply fold the neckline pieces in half and cut off 1/4″ from each side with just one cut.

4. Now that we have all of our patterns, let’s cut out our pieces from the fabric.

5. The fun part. Sewing! Right side to right side, pin and saw along the top of the shoulders. Trim off any excess fabric from the edge and do a zigzag stitch on the raw edges to prevent fraying.

6. Next, the neckline lining. Right side to right side, sew the ends of the neckline linings together. Trim and zigzag the raw edges. When opened up, this should make a circle.

Right side to right side, attach the neckline lining to the neckline of the shirt with pins, making sure that the side seams match up. Sew this. Trim and zigzag the raw edges.

Now, do a zigzag stitch around the raw edge of the neckline lining. I’m a little crazy with sewing the raw edges, but it really helps the sewing stay in place!

Turn the shirt inside out and tuck the neckline back into the shirt. Pin and sew in place using a wide straight stitch.

7. Turn the shirt inside out. Pin and sew along the sides of the shirt. Trim and zigzag the raw edges.

8. Now the armholes. Zigzag the raw edges. Roll it in once, then twice, and pin and sew in place. This is a rolled hem.

9. Just the bottom hem left! Zigzag the raw edges along the bottom of the shirt. Fold the bottom up 1/4″, pin, and sew. Then fold the bottom up again, this time I’m going to fold it up 1″, pin and sew in place using a wide stitch.

All done!

*A little bit of housekeeping: straight stitch – 00 stitch, 3.5 width, 3.0 length, zigzag stitch – 03 stitch, 5.0 width, 2.5 length, long stitch – 00 stitch, 3.5 width, 4.0 length