Welcome to my monthly 'Free Pattern Friday' feature, where I road test a free sewing pattern or tutorial: sometimes a children's one, sometimes an adult's one. I try to publish these posts every first Friday of the month, timed to provide inspiration for those who plan to get their sew on over the weekend. I firmly believe that, if you pick your projects carefully, sewing doesn't have to be a crazy-expensive way to clothe yourself and your family. Thanks to all the amazing pattern designers who have offered up their hard work for us to enjoy for free.
As anyone who has tried sewing for tweens and teens will most likely have found, there aren't a lot of sewing pattern options out there, much less free ones. Most children's sewing patterns stop at age 10 or smaller, and the small sizes of adult patterns are usually the wrong shape, length and proportions. But where there's a will there's a way, and to fill a gap in my big kid's wardrobe, I adapted the Halfmoon Atelier Super Basic Tank.
This isn't the first time I've made and reviewed this excellent free pattern. I'm sharing my initial review below and adding information about the pattern alterations I made for my big kid. If want to get your mitts on the pattern, then you can get hold of it by signing up to the Halfmoon Atelier newsletter. They don't seem to be adding to their existing range of sewing patterns anymore, so you're unlikely to get inundated with emails. However, you can, of course, unsubscribe at any time.
Pattern type:
Super basic tank top by name, super basic tank top by nature. The scoop neck, skinny fit style is great as standard, warm-weather wear, but is equally handy for layering under jumpers when it's cold. The arm and neck holes are finished with bands of fabric, and the straps are wide enough to cover your bra straps.
Sizing info:
This pattern has been graded to ten sizes, which cover 30" to 44" busts. Information on how to grade between sizes is included in the instructions for this pattern. It is also worth noting that this pattern includes not one, but two methods for making a full bust adjustment on this pattern (depending on how much bust you need to accommodate).
For my big kid's version, I wanted to alter the proportions to better reflect their own. I decided to print out the pattern at 95%, and accounting for this (by doing maths), based on their measurements, I selected the sizes 2 and 3. The pattern file includes the layers function so I worked this out prior to printing and just printed out those sizes. Referencing the size chart and my child's measurements, I graded from the size 2 at the bust, out to the size 3 at the waist, and back down to the size 2 at the hips.
Fabric info:
Light- to medium-weight knits like jersey, rib knit and interlock with a 4-way stretch work best for this pattern. Details on ideal percentage of stretch are included, as are some suggestions of suitable fibre types. Personally, I wouldn't like to use a knit that didn't have a lycra/elastane/spandex content, which this striped jersey that I scored at a fabric swap does.
Findings:
The pattern PDF and the instructions for this pattern cannot be faulted. The detail and info included in the instructions goes above and beyond what you'd expect for a basic tank pattern, and the level of both make this an ideal pattern for those new to, and nervous about, sewing with knits.
From the images on the Halfmoon Atelier website it wasn't clear if it was designed to be worn bra-less, but I was relieved to find that the width and positioning of the tank straps covers bra straps with zero tweaks required. And the alterations I made for my big kid worked really well. Initially my kid complained that the straps are a little long and slip down, but I think they were looking for something to complain about, and I don't think I'll bother altering this tank as they're likely to have another growth spurt before long. The only thing I probably would do next time is shorten the length by perhaps 2cm.
Customisation ideas:
- Try contrast coloured bindings round the neck and arm holes (solid bindings on a printed knit tank would look great)
- You could try using some stretch lace on the back with a solid or print opaque knit on the front
- You could break up the front and back pieces to create a scrap-busting colour blocked effect
- If, unlike me, you can use a twin-needle successfully on your machine, or you have a coverstitch machine, you could use contrast thread to stitch down the arm and neck hole bindings and hem the bottom edge.
Would I make it again?
Clearly yes! I plan to make more for my big kid. And now that I'm a bit smaller than the first time I made this pattern for myself, I might make some more for myself also when suitable fabric appears.
No comments:
Post a Comment