The Adelaide Top

The Magic Pattern Book

Posted by Storey Publishing

About

Feminine and flirty, Adelaide’s fluttery profile is perfect to wear to
a bridal shower, happy hour, or just for a stroll in the downtown shopping district. The wide, raw-edged bias-cut flounces are stitched across the front to create the light and airy silhouette—it’s like wearing a layer cake. The gal who wears this tank values practicality with her flair: The front of the neckline arcs tastefully above the playful ruffles; the back dips slightly lower, but not so much as to require any special undergarments.

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You Will Need (13 things)

  • FABRIC AND NOTIONS

  • For bias flounces: 1 yard Fabric , any width (Sizes S, M, L, XL), 11⁄4 yards fabric, any width (Size XXL)
  • For tank: 12⁄3 yards 45 Fabric (Sizes S, M), 13⁄4 yards 45
  • Thread to match fabrics
  • Serger Thread , if applicable

  • TOOLS

  • Straight Pins
  • Scissors
  • Tailors Chalk or fabric-marking pencil
  • Clear Ruler or seam gauge

  • MACHINE(S)

  • Standard Sewing Machine
  • Serger

Steps (19 steps, 240 minutes)

  1. 1

    Pin and cut the pattern pieces, using the A3 cutting line on the Front pattern piece. Using chalk and the clear ruler, mark the darts on the Front.

  2. 2

    Form the darts by folding the upper Front with right sides together, aligning the solid lines to the large dot.
    Pin. Begin at the side edge and stitch to the dot, stitching off the edge of the fold at the dot rather than backstitching. Cut the thread, leaving a few inches to tie off.

    Tie and trim the thread. Repeat to form the second dart, then press both darts down.

  3. 3

    Press a light crease down the center front of the tank. Ease-stitch the top of each Flounce by basting 1⁄4" beneath
    the long edge. Do not pull up the ease stitching to gather; it should just add some fullness to the Flounce. Leave the edges of the Flounces unfinished.

  4. 4

    Fold each Flounce in half, aligning the short ends, and press a light crease to mark the center.

  5. 5

    The Flounces are numbered 1 through 4, counting from top to bottom. With the Tank Front right side up, mark the
    placement/stitching lines as follows: Using chalk, place a ruler across the fabric aligned with the lower point of the dart seam on both sides. Draw a line straight across, edge to edge. This is the placement line for Flounce 2. With the ruler, draw a line straight across fabric exactly 41⁄2" below this line, edge to edge, to create the placement line for Flounce 3. Exactly 41⁄2" below this line, draw a line straight across the fabric, edge to edge, to mark the placement line for Flounce 4.

  6. 6

    Finally, measure up 41⁄2" from the Flounce 2 line and draw a line straight across the fabric, edge to edge, to mark the placement line for Flounce 1.

  7. 7

    With right sides up, using the lightly pressed creases for guidance, center a Flounce along each of the four placement lines. Align the ease-stitch of the Flounce with the drawn line, and pin to the tank Front, centering pins under the ease- stitch.

  8. 8

    Trim the sides of all the Flounces so they are flush with the tank sides.

  9. 9

    Stitch across each Flounce on top of the original ease-stitching.

  10. 10

    Arrange the lower edge of Flounce 1 over the top of Flounce 2. Place the lower edge of Flounce 2 over the upper
    edge of Flounce 3 and place the lower edge of Flounce 3 over the upper edge of Flounce 4. Pin the sides of the Flounces to the sides of the tank and baste them together. Optional: Finish the edges of the sides.

  11. 11

    With right sides together, pin the Front to the Back at the shoulder. Stitch. Press open the seam allowance.

  12. 12

    With right sides together, pin the Front to the Back at the sides.
    Stitch.

    Press open the seam allowances.

  13. 13

    With right sides together, pin and stitch the notched short ends of the Neck Binding.

  14. 14

    Press open the seam allowance. With wrong sides together, fold the binding in half lengthwise and press, aligning the long edges.

  15. 15

    With right sides together and raw edges even, pin the Neck Binding to the tank with the seam at the center
    back. Stitch a 3⁄8" seam.

  16. 16

    Trim the seam allowance and carefully clip the curves. Then turn the binding to the inside along the seam, press, and pin. With the tank wrong side out, stitch close to the outer fold of the binding.

  17. 17

    With right sides together, pin and stitch the short ends of the Arm Binding. Press open the seam allowance. With wrong sides together, fold the binding in half lengthwise and press, aligning the long edges.

  18. 18

    With right sides together, and raw edges even, pin the Arm Binding to the arm opening of the tank, aligning the binding seam with the underarm seam. Stitch a 3⁄8" seam.

    Trim the seam allowance and carefully clip the curves. Turn the binding to the inside along the seam, press, and pin. With the tank wrong side out, stitch close to the outer fold of the binding.

  19. 19

    Finish the lower edge of the tank. Press under a 7/8" hem and pin.
    Hand-stitch to secure.