Pink Celebrates Summer By Making Some Colorful Tanks

@Pinkilicious7
Pattern Name and Designer: Cashmerette Saybrook Tank
Size Made: 14/18 C cup
Materials used (fabric, notions, kits, etc.):  Bamboo French Terry Loop in Mustard and Chartreuse

I chose our french terry, primarily for the killer colors that fit my wardrobe perfectly! Additionally, it’s silky soft, but has a bit of thickness and body. These will wear well in the long run, and keep their fit too. It’s a bit heavier than some of our other knits, but the cut of these will keep me cool. 

The Saybrook Tank has three options for the bottom cut, two necklines, three bust cuts, and a size range from 12-32. Plenty of choices! The first tank I made was View A in mustard, with a swooped hem that can be tied for a little pop of interest on your silhouette, and a low neckline. The cut is very casual, neckline not very low, comfy and functional! The second tank was View B in chartreuse, the straight hem with the higher neck.

I made two modifications. Firstly, I measured a size 14 at the bust, but 18 at the hips. To make this adjustment I traced the size 14 line above the waist, 18 below the waist, and then smoothed the curve between the two. I used this same adjustment for both tanks. Secondly, after completing the first tank I found the arm holes were a bit snug. For the green tank I traced the largest armhole size and measured it to size up the facing correctly. (The facing needs to be stretched slightly, so it will be shorter than the curve it is being sewn to.) 

Despite my decades of sewing, this is my first knit garment! Here’s what helped it to be a success.

Ballpoint needles help keep knits from snagging and bunching. Test a scrap to get the zig-zag setting just right for your machine and fabric. It needs to have both stitch length and width large enough to allow stretch, but too large and long will hurt the strength and structure of the garment. A double needle is an optional tool to finish the bottom hem, but I was happy with my results using the single needle method. The tool I was wishing I had? A large cutting mat and rotary cutter! Knit fabrics are a little squirrely, and a rotary cutter would have given me more control and would have sped up the process. (That’s right, I’ve been cutting fabric with scissors like it’s the 20th century...)

The pattern cutting recommendations are generous enough to not need to cut corners, and also allow cutting an extra facing or two if the length doesn’t work quite right. What will my scraps become? Underwear? A stuffed animal? Eye pillows? I won’t let this soft luxurious terry go to waste!