In my previous summer sewing post, I alluded to the fact that I had finished one of the items on my first wish list and here I am to share it with you. I am pretty pumped about this tank because it was one of those ideas that I had in my head and it actually turned out as well as I had pictured! I have seen a couple of color-blocked tanks and tank dresses around the inter webs (Sew Caroline has a version here) and really wanted to make a version of my own. I made one of these tanks last year, (blogged here) had some trouble getting it fitted correctly since I had just recently birthed a baby and my body was a bit out of proportion. V. happy to report I re-measured myself for this tank, was able to go down several sizes this time, and ended up with a much better fit! Yay for body normalcy finally returning.

Pattern: Tiny Pocket Tank by Grainline Studios, size 8.

Fabric used: Upper- Robert Kaufman Chambray Union Stretch (picked up at Fabric.com), Lower- Geos in Deep Marina from the Meadow collection by Leah Duncan (bought at Pink Castle Fabrics).

Mods: I used a 1/4″ seam allowance at the bust to make sure it wouldn’t be too tight and than gradually increased it to the normal 1/2″. Added an inch to the bottom hem length- ended up being unnecessary but I’d rather it be too long than too short. My only complaint with this tank is that I accidentally cut out a little of the fold at the neckline so it ended up a little too low to be worn modestly by itself. My mistake for cutting too quickly with the rotary cutter! Next time I’ll raise the neckline just a bit to steer clear of that problem because by the middle of the summer it will be too hot to be wearing two shirts!

Fabric-blocking notes (is it called color-blocking even when one fabric is not a solid?)- I made a line on the pattern right above the dart line, used that line as my joining seam line, added 1/2″ seam allowance on either side of that line, and cut out my 2 fabrics accordingly. I sewed the fabrics together, serged off the seams and then continued as normal with my garment construction.

I bought a 1/2 yard of this chambray because #1 you can never have too much chambray and #2 I was curious to see what exactly the stretch shirting was and how it was different from interweave chambray. I found out that the shirting is a great light-weight option for clothing. I love how well it meshes with the weight of the Art Gallery Fabrics.

I think I have worn this tank 3 times in the week (haha it’s actually only been 5 days 😉 ) since I made it so it’s definitely going to be a keeper! I really like how joining the solid chambray to the print added more pop to the tank- in my opinion, that is. Also I continue to love finishing off seams with my serger- totally makes things look so much more profesh! Between the served seams and bias bound neckline/armholes, I am not embarrassed at all to show off the inside of my tank!