Star Tank

Trying Simplicity 8143 again, and not begrudging the fact that part of the usable fabric was narrower (and shorter) than even the smallest size of the pattern wanted, and that I would have to cut the ribbing bands significantly shorter than I had in the previous version.  These limitations made me remove more than I probably would have on my own, and the resulting item fits much better than the first try.

 

 The bit that need improvisation was completely unrelated.

The bands ended up about 12" long—still 2" wide and sewn with a 5/8" seam allowance to the neckline and arm holes that had been trimmed about ¼".  Combining that with sewing the sides with a 5/8" seam allowance (I had sewn the previous with a smaller seam allowance, out of concern it would have ended up too small) and things ended up pretty good--no need at all to pick anything out and re-sew this time.

The unexpected issue, though, was when I was sewing the hem, and almost all the way around.

That's when I saw a hole in the fabric.

It was so close to the stitching that I could have cut off the nearly-sewn hem and folded things up again to conceal it, but I...didn't wanna.

I got my box of appliqués and very quickly decided on the shapes I'd die cut from various iron-on materials.  It took a while longer to decide which shapes and materials. 

The hole is under one of the lower points of the biggest star.  I followed my usual approach of "put appliqués lots of places, not just over the problem, to make it look more intentional."  (This skirt is a prime example of that approach.)  I decided to be relatively restrained, though, and kept it to the three stars at the hem.  I'll probably be most likely to wear this so it peeks out from under another shirt or sweater, so decorations in this location are what would be visible.

I serged the side seams and around the ribbing bands, but not the hem end, because that feels like it can add weird bulk with how I have to sew it.  (Coverstitch machine someday...?)  This fabric is such a pale pink that I used off-white thread for the construction and visible stitching.

I probably could modify the back of this pattern not to be so racer-backed, and thus better able to conceal a bra, but, again, I doubt I'll ever want to wear this style of tank top without something over it.  I'm not anywhere near that trendy.

As with the previous tank top made with this pattern, I also have matching leggings (that started as tights—baggy baggy tights), and I will amuse myself greatly by wearing them together in multi-layered outfits over the winter.