DIY Tank Top

When You Can’t Find the Perfect Tank, Make It Yourself

Hello, friends! Welcome back to Stylishly Good Vibes!

I’m back on the blog today to share another recent project with you! This tank top I made is about to be on REPEAT this summer, so I figured I would share a bit about the process in today’s post!

Let’s start from the beginning!

Back when I was plotting the creation of my mushroom sweatshirt that I shared in last week’s post, I went antique shopping in hopes I would find some cool vintage patches. Although I didn’t find any, I did find some awesome sewing materials—including this rose ribbon!

How It Started

DIY Tank Top

At the time, I had no clue what I was going to use the ribbon for, but I couldn’t pass it up because a.) it was vintage and b.) it was $2. Win and win! Flash forward to a couple weeks ago when I had the idea to use the ribbon as the straps of a tank top. Only problem was I didn’t have a pattern for the tank top I was envisioning in my head.

It’s a lot more difficult than you would think to find a sewing pattern—especially if you’re like me and you’re really specific about what you want it to look like. I looked at Joann’s, Etsy, and even Google Shopping and just didn’t see anything that looked anywhere close to what I was envisioning.

DIY Tank Top

The Worst Sewing Pattern Ever

Then, I stumbled on a blog post that had a free sewing pattern in it. I won’t mention the blog where I found it because the pattern ended up being absolute trash LOL! And I didn’t know that it would be trash until I was 3/4 of the way done. That’s why you have to be careful with patterns you find online—especially if they are free!

Any who, I did begin the project with that sewing pattern. I went to Joann’s and got 1-3/4 yds. of cotton fabric. The fabric that I bought was quite sheer, so I doubled up on the bodice and had more than enough fabric left for the rest of the project.

DIY Tank Top

Time to Improvise

Everything was fine with the pattern up until I went to sew on the straps. I put it on to see what I was working with and it was AWFUL. Like . . . so awful that I won’t even show you what it looked like LOL! This pattern said the size would work for me, but it was WAY OFF. To the point that I had to take it in an inch on each side . . .

DIY Tank Top
DIY Tank Top

Even after I took it in, the way the pattern made the neckline of the tank top look was just not flattering on me, so I had to improvise! After I cut open the side seams, took them in an inch on both sides, then sewed back up, I had to fix the top portion. All I did was take a straight edge and cut right across the top so the neckline was like a tube top. I added binding, sewed on the straps, and it was perfect!

The Final product

DIY Tank Top

It’s funny—how this tank turned out after the pattern messed everything up was EXACTLY what I was envisioning. But I wouldn’t have known that had I not used the pattern. So maybe it wasn’t that bad after all! All I can say is that if you’re going to buy a pattern or use a free one you find online, source it from a reputable company—one that actually specializes in sewing. Don’t trust a random person on the internet unless they’re a sewing professional. Hence why I’m not providing you with a pattern—I’m not a professional!!

Honestly, if you have any concept of sewing and you know what styles fit you best, you could easily make your own pattern. I think I might try to do that next time because I’ll save time by making the pattern myself vs. ripping out seams after I mess up a pattern from someone else.

Well, that’s all I’ve got for you today! I hope that this blog post inspires you to create your own custom piece! It’s fun—I promise!

Until next time!

Alicia

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