So at the outset, this is an incredibly quick sew. I cut the pattern out at about 12 noon and it was sewn up by 5.30pm. As a newbie who takes her time to do things, that’s pretty damn quick for me! I did pick view 2 with finish B (just folding over and seaming the raw edges, rather than inserting neck and arm bands), so there wasn’t a lot to do.
I had a hell of a journey with this one despite it being relatively quick. Early on something went wrong with the threading on my overlocker, so I went on the epic journey of learning how to rethread it. I also had a nightmare trying to find the right tensions; this is a polyester jersey and my machine was a lot pickier about it than it was with cotton jersey. Fast forward 90 minutes or so and I’d managed to rethread it – which was actually far less scary and difficult than everyone makes out – and was on my merry way again.
I tried hard not to stretch the fabric out, but it has stretched a bit at the neckline and arm holes. I’m not sure where I went wrong – I was careful not to pull on the fabric; maybe I need to try a different foot attachment?
I had a nightmare with the hem. As you can see in those photos, the hem stretched out, and you may be able to see that it was AWFUL. Very wavy and uneven. So much so that, after those photos, I hacked it off and rehemmed it. So my version is now a lot shorter, but I’m quite short (5’4″) so could get away with it.
The sizing is also a bit off for me. I sewed this in a 20; the top half feels quite big – the shoulders are slipping – and I did debate cutting it in an 18. Thankfully I didn’t, as an 18 would not have fit my hips, which could really have done with a 22. This isn’t a fault with the pattern – I’m more pear shaped than standard pattern blocks tend to be, and one day I’ll embrace the exciting world of grading.
Overall, I’d give this a 3.5 – it isn’t terribly exciting, but it is quick and simple, and for me this sort of thing is a wardrobe staple as I live in them over summer. I’m sure I’ll make another – I have my eye on the maxi version as well as the tank top.
Sew Pippa 