I bought the Itch to Stitch Sentosa Tank pattern a year or two ago and got it printed in A0 while I was sick. I even managed to cut out a size 20 but then I missed the warm weather and never sewed it. It’s got a wonderful asymmetric, pleated neckline that really appealed to me, though!
But we’ve had an incredibly hot summer here in London, and I was looking for a quick knit project to sew in between a boring muslin and a paid commission, so I pulled it out. The cut size was way too large, so I found my current size (10!) and recut it in size 10, though I had to reprint the facings to get the bits that were cut off.
Earlier this year, I bought a “Misty Trees” 1.5yd panel print from Sew Dynamic on their great and super soft Dri Release T-Shirt base (USD$39.00 total). But I wanted to take advantage of the full gradient of the print so I thought I’d extend the tank into a short summer dress so I lengthened the side seams straight down by 40cm (15 3/4in).
The instructions are great, with explicit calls to understitch where needed, and the armholes are sewn by the burrito method, which was nicely illustrated.
I also really appreciated that the asymmetric pattern pieces were printed not only with which way up the fabric should be facing while cutting, but also that the glue side of the interfacing should be face up when cutting! This saves a lot of extra hassle, and had I gotten it wrong, I wouldn’t have had enough fabric to recut the facings.
It could’ve gone either into “breezy summer dress” or “muumuu” territory and I’m very relieved to report it’s the former!! I basted the side seams just in case I’d have to take it in at the waist or chop it back down to a top but thankfully it’s cute as is!
It was only on my first wear, however, that I realised I forgot to put pockets into the side seams! Noooooo! Tragic. (Yeah I know I could unpick the overlocking and insert some in but… unpicking overlocking. Nope!)
This was a super quick, “done in an afternoon” sew, and I hope I haven’t jinxed us into having a cold August and September now by sewing a summer day dress this late in the season…