https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/tip-top-tank-top • Posted by Cheryl@Sew Can Do
By using FOE (Fold Over Elastic) for the straps, any fabric could be made into a tank top. That's right - that cool car fabric is quilting cotton! This also makes it easy to work with knits without needing a serger.
By using FOE (Fold Over Elastic) for the straps, any fabric could be made into a tank top. That's right - that cool car fabric is quilting cotton! This also makes it easy to work with knits without needing a serger.
First you'll want to fold your tank top in half lengthwise with the front side out over your paper.
Place a ruler across the neck hole to the sleeve hole, curving it slightly upward and mark the paper to the left and right of the ruler. Trace around the remaining armhole curve, side and bottom of shirt. Add an extra 1/2 - 1 inch on the side for the seam allowance (1/2in for knits, 1in for non-stretch fabrics) and 2 inches to the bottom for folding up the hem. Draw a slightly curved line connecting the ruler marks at the top of the shirt. Refold the shirt back side out and repeat.
Now keeping it folded and without stretching it, straighten the armhole area out and measure. Add an extra inch for overlap. This is the armhole+ shoulder strap measurement.
Cut out paper patterns for front & back. Fold fabric with selvedges meeting in the middle and place each pattern piece on a fold. Cut fabric to get front & back pieces.
Fold the FOE over the top edge of the front side and sew in place with a wide triple zig-zag stitch (5.0 wide by 2.0 long). Repeat on top back piece.
With right sides facing, sew the sides of the front and back pieces together. Now cut two pieces of FOE using the armhole+shoulder strap measurement. Starting at the side seam area, fold elastic around underarm area of front piece upward and all the way around down the edge of the back piece like this (overlapping the ends). Carefully sew in place with the same triple zig-zag stitch. Hem the bottom by folding it up an inch and then fold again. Stitch in place with a straight stitch.