Twice the Tanks

Flora Flaunts new Tanks

There was a little bit of simple sewing at Casa Thunderpaws last weekend.  While neither complicated nor fancy, it served a very needed purpose – replacing the tired and well worn summer wardrobe with something new.  Two new tank tops, in fact.

Once again, my favorite tank top pattern, Kwik Sew 3115 comes to the rescue.  Almost all of the cotton tanks I have are from this pattern.  I have no idea why only the cotton ones.  Just the way it is.  The fabric is a yummy bamboo rayon /cotton baby rib from Fabric.com  I believe they still may have some – just search on bamboo baby rib.

Tank tops in September?  Yes indeedy!  The air conditioner is still running and we are still reaching triple digit temperatures.  Thankfully, the mornings are cooler, so opening the windows is now an option.  I am starting to pine for cooler weather…and the change to long sleeves.

Martini Anyone?

Flora prefers hers shirred, not shaken

Another Kwik Sew 3790, this time in an olive inspired print.  I like the ruching on the side, and the not quite cap sleeve sleeveless-ness of the pattern.  It’s a nice stylistic change from the traditional tank top.

The knit is a standard ITY, lightweight without being sheer.  I’ve mentioned this before with this pattern, but feel it bears repeating for new readers – it runs long!  So much so that I’ve taken nearly 3 inches out of it, and still have enough length put in a deep hem (1 1/2 inches).  Not a complaint, mind you, just something to be aware of.

Unlike a lot of styles for knits, I do use the facing pieces with this top.  They lend a bit more stability to the asymmetrical neckline, and help to provide a nice finish on the interior seaming.

Sewing this top is a combination of regular stitching to do the gathers and serging for the actual seams.  A serger is not required; a small stretchy zigzag would work too.

This top will help to refill the summer wardrobe too.  Some of the existing tanks have been looking a might tatty and stained.  It’s still warm enough in Cactusville that Flora’s Martini will see considerable use!

Jalie 2806

Flora and Phred

It was pretty simple sewing over the weekend.  Jalie 2806, a knit top with either neckline gathers or a lovely gathered pleat.  The pattern is short or long sleeved, but with temperatures still hovering at 105, I opted for sleeveless.

I don’t recall where the fabric came from.  It’s an ITY knit.  I know I was looking for light-colored prints to wear during the summer.  No comments about summer being mostly over.  Here in Cactusville, we still have at least another 2 months of 100 degrees, probably more.  It cools down to a chilly 90 at night.

The sewing went well enough.  With 1/4 inch seams, which is standard for Jalie patterns, the slippery knit did tend to want to skitter away from the serger knife, but it eventually worked out.

The fit is nice enough on, and the fabric feels good.  Alas, the cover-stitching on the neck band is not my best, so I’m designating this a knock-around-the-house top, rather than something I’ll wear out in public.

Good to the Last Drop

As in using the last drops to make one more shirt from the remains of the Disco Blues.

This is what the underlying print fabric really looks like.  I’m rather pleased.  Two shirts from one generously cut yard of fabric.  There are literally, nothing but scraps left, and those were used to adjust the tension on the cover stitch!

The tank pattern is my Tried-aNd-True (TNT) Kwik Sew Tank top.  I tweaked it to fit ages ago, and have used it at least a dozen times.

I also got lucky.  The large flower on the front is, thank goodness, not physiologically placed, so nothing untoward is accented.  The back, I didn’t care about.  The tank doesn’t come down far enough to be concerned about accenting my posterior.

Sushi Stern

Sushi Anyone?

More Sew-In sewing.  Another J-Stern tank top.  This one is made from the very last bits of a sushi knit I acquired years ago, and a lovely soft baby rib from a Yahoo co-op.  Yummy!

The more I wear this pattern, the more I like it.  It fits well, without being too baggy or tight.  It is a close fit, but not uncomfortable.

The style lends itself to a host of design options.  What’s odd though is that on the pattern envelope, it doesn’t look like much at all.  At least, not to me.  The style details only come out in the line drawings.  But, I guess that’s true of a lot of patterns.

De Tails:  Took about 1 1/2 hours to sew together.  I didn’t bring a serger with me, so the whole of it is stitched with a 2mm zig-zag.  Went together like a charm!  Maybe 1/3 yard of sushi scraps and less than 1 yard for the baby rib.  A pattern that makes it worthwhile to save the leftovers!

Tanked on Labor Day

I had great plans for the 3 day weekend.  Lots of sewing was to occur. Somehow, life intruded.  How does that phrase go?  The best laid plans of mice and men, or woman, in my case.  Though really, has anyone ever heard of mice making plans?

I did complete two super simple tank tops that I had cut out last week.  They are both based on my favorite Kwik Sew patterns, 2694 for the black and white number, and 3115 for the little purple skulls.

They are both finished with fold-over elastic, instead of a facing or binding.  Simple. Quick. Easy!

The black & white version has silver elastic, which gives a bit of sparkle to the whole thing.  Both fabrics are from Fabric.com though they are no longer available.  The black and white was aged for at least 2 years, and the little skulls arrived back in June.

I also did some cutting out and prep work for a sewing workshop next Saturday.  Our ASG Guild is having Mary Lou Rankin of Park Bench Patterns teach for the day.  She will be doing a sit and sew with her pattern line.  Basically we arrive with any of her patterns cut out, and she will help us fit and alter them to suit.

I’ve had this pattern for ages, so decided it was time to see how it shapes up.  I plan on using a tencel / linen blend for the sides and facings, and a bright batik for the center front and back panels.   Stay tuned!