Don't Give Up!

 I was getting frustrated. Before I finished the tank top in the last post, I had made another tank top. Technically, it did fit, but I knew it didn't fit like it should. I started taking it apart but the serger and sewing machines were all threaded with black, so I left it for a bit.

Let's back up a bit. When I decided it was time to sew a few things this summer, I knew I wanted a couple tank tops. I find them good for work, with a cardi over if it's cooler. I get hot when I work. I found a skirt in my stash that had already been started taking apart. It was sort of silk feeling, but not silk texture, especially on the reverse. It was a two tiered skirt and I thought surely I'd have enough for a tank top. But no. The panels were short, and not as long as I thought. It took a lot of fiddling to make this work, and it does have a centre front seam. 

This is Simplicity 2938. I had made it before and like the design, but not my outcome. I never wear it. I knew it needed a do-over.

And this was not the do-over I wanted. Argh. I learned my lesson and had serged the pieces individually before sewing, but I hadn't tried it on before adding the bands, which were a PITA (Pain In The A..) to make (they would not press) and sew on.

So, I unpicked the bands. Here's a tip (besides trying on before sewing the bands on). Sew the bands on before sewing the side seams. Sew the bands right to the cut edge. That way, if you want to let out or take in the side seams, you don't have to remove the band! Next time.

So, I try to get my presser foot in as close to the neck/armhole as I could, and sew a smaller seam allowance. Then I had to rip out the original seam. And guess what I did--multiple times? Ripped the stitches of the new seam!! Good grief. 

I still wasn't happy. It was a slap slop job.  I ripped off the bands, and let out the front and side seams the proper way. It had been sewn with 5/8" seams, and there were three across the centre front, plus two side seams (and a back seam), so I could let it out quite a bit.

And....then I noticed that I had something sticky on my NEW iron. WTF. Where did that come from? I googled how to clean it. Soaked it in vinegar for a bit, that didn't work. Tried rubbing alcohol on a pad. I forgot that the new iron auto turns on when you put it horizontal, and didn't realize it got hot, and it melted the pad with the alcohol. Finally, I got it scraped off with my glass stove top scraper. 

I realized, when I got back to sewing, what had happened. 

Really?!! Somehow, I had melted the shirt. And then did it a second time! I hadn't adjusted the heat setting, so I don't know what happened. Yeah, so obviously, it's NOT silk LOL. Luckily, it's not too noticeable, near the underarm seam. 

Anyway, I persevered. I really liked the fabric! 

Trying to get photos on our evening walk LOL. 

I don't really recommend adding the centre front seam, but it worked in this heavily patterned, drapey fabric. If you alter this pattern, be careful about just adding to the centre front panel. You don't want to widen the neckline too much (unless you need to). Doing a FBA on a princess seam is tricky. You still want that seam where it's supposed to be. You can easily reduce the seam allowances at the sides and fronts to 3/8", and that would get you 1 1/2" more across the front part. If you need more, look up doing a FBA on princess seams. I did add a bit to the centre panel (reduced down to the original at the neck), but I think it balloons out a bit. 

This pattern though, is great for narrower pieces of fabric, given that the front is 3 pieces. It would also be cool to colour block. I will definitely try it again, but I bought some Love Notions patterns when they just had a big sale last week and one was a tank top. And I'm working on Sinclair Patterns' "Vera Dress", and loving that. So many patterns, so little time!