Monday, January 5, 2015

Simplicity 9776 gym tank DONE + a new blog for you to follow!

Simplicity 9776 gym tank
This was actually the last garment of 2014.  When I wrote my 2014 recap, I had this down for "half a garment" but I've since decided that it is DONE.

The Fabric, Pattern and FOE Binding Method

The pattern is Simplicity 9776 (it's like 1776, but 8,000 years later), an oldie but goodie pattern that I've used for making gym tanks before....three of them in fact.

Simplicity 9776 gym tank

The outer layer is a burgundy stretch lace-type fabric that I bought at the FIDM scholarship store in Nov of 2013 with Rachel and Jeanette.

The stretch lace is underlined with black Nike Dri-Fit fabric that I recently bought on SewSassy.com.
I basted the lace to the dri-fit and then basted the tank together, tried it on and then serged it with my BabyLock Enlighten.  Seriously, if you can get someone to buy that machine for you (or save your $$$) it is an amazing machine.  My old serger enjoyed chewing up lace tanks for lunch, whereas the Enlighten serges through it like butter.
Simplicity 9776


Simplicity 9776
I did not hem the tank, just positioned it so that this wide stripe would be the "hem", and cut it with my rotary cutter.  I also didn't hem the dri-fit.  Neither the lace tank nor the Dri-Fit is curling nor unraveling, score!
Simplicity 9776


The method for applying the FOE (purchased on Etsy as a 10 yard roll) was from the PR class "More Knits" by Sarah Veblen.  You can see that the fabric is just puckering slightly lying here on my cutting table because the FOE is stretched during application.  If you don't stretch the FOE, the binding will not lie flat against your body.  Sarah emphasized this point during the class, but as Jennifer Stern would say, "ask me how I know".

My other gym tanks had plain ol' knit fabric as underlining, which means that by the end of class, they are drenched with sweat.  This typically doesn't bother me as I take a shower right there at the gym, and my limp and sweaty tank is proof of my workout, ha ha.  So using the Dri-Fit fabric was a little experiment.
Simplicity 9776 gym tank
Front
Simplicity 9776 gym tank
Back.  I matched the stripes in the back
Simplicity 9776 gym tank
Side seams
This tank has a dart in it, so I matched the stripes under the dart.  I honestly don't remember whose blog I read where they said to make sure to match the stripes UNDER the dart while cutting out the fabric instead of OVER the dart (because if you match OVER the dart, they will not match UNDER the dart which is where everyone can see because who is looking under your armpit) but that  tip stuck with me.  Thank you, blogger I can't remember!
Simplicity 9776 gym tank
So the reason I felt it was not "done" was because the placement of the FOE is not symmetrical. I thought about ripping it out and trying again but I'm afraid to do damage to the lace.  The risk of total damage and destruction outweighs my perfectionism and I'm letting it go.  I know.  This is a big step for me.

Simplicity 9776 gym tank
So I've worn it twice to the gym now.  On New Year's Day (when I took these pix) I took balletone, which is a somewhat-sweaty but not overly-sweaty class.   The dri-fit fabric was great and wicked away the moisture.
Simplicity 9776 gym tank

I washed the tank yesterday (wash in the washing machine and line dried).

Tonight I wore the tank for boogietone, which is a high-sweat class.  The bra I wore the tank with is not an exercise bra so the bra itself retains moisture whereas the top releases it.  I would say that overall the tank was not as sweat filled as my cotton tanks and probably wouldn't be sweaty at all if I had worn a moisture wicking bra too.
Simplicity 9776 gym tank
The next tank I will make using a similar wicking fabric, but will be cut from a freebie conference t-shirt that happens to be "performance fabric".
Simplicity 9776 gym tank
You can see how my bra strap does not align with my tank strap on my left shoulder, but it does align on my right side.  I'm also going to try to let my perfectionist side let that one go too.....

You can see the sneak peek of the next garment I made....that's the Sewaholic Renfrew on my dressform.  At that point it was gigantic in the bust (because that fabric was waaay stretchier than others I have used for Renfrews) and not hemmed.  I have since made it fit!

New Blog Alert!!
In other news, if you are looking for a new style blog to follow, my friend Ellen has started a really fun one with her daughter Rachael, Style 25 to 55.  The concept is to take a fabric/look/style and show how to rock the same concept at ages 25 and 55 in a really fun, clean, concise and snappy way.  Check it out here!  They will be posting on Mondays and Fridays.

Be well!


25 comments:

  1. Love your tank. The lace fabric adds that extra feminine touch. I think it would look great under a jacket or blazer. I could see the asymmetry in the FOE only because you pointed it out. It is too minor to be noticeable so I agree with you letting it go. You must be the most stylish gal at the gym with these cute little tank tops you make!

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    1. Thanks! That is too funny about wearing it under a jacket or blazer! I actually took pix of it that day under a very jacket-ish cardi that I made and posted the picture on PR to get advice on how to fit it!!

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  2. Really pleased you finished this because it looks like a success to me.
    Happy New Year Kyle.

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    1. Thanks Maria! I'm quite pleased with it too. I think you might even say "chuffed". :)

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  3. Love your new tank! Can't wait to see the renfrew, the fabric looks like a quilted knit I have on deck!

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    1. Thanks Kelly!
      It's a sweater knit and is quite cozy. I will write a post on it soon.
      Can't wait to see your quilted knit!!

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  4. You really have an amazing talent for matching fabric to patterns! Your tank is beautiful. I agree with Tomasa -- it would look fantastic with a blazer or sweater.

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    1. Thanks Anna Christina!! One of my work friends recently said that I "really understand the fabric" now. :)

      See my reply to Tomasa about wearing it with a blazer!

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  5. I can tell you really like your tank. Great fit too!

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  6. I love how you paired the two fabrics together for your unique new gym top. It looks sharp!

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  7. You have been making some great new garments.

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    1. Thanks Lori! It is so fun when they actually turn out!

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  8. You look amazing!!! Great work i love your tshirts you make!!!! Time to
    Hit the gym!

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    1. Thanks Enrique! Hee, it is time to hit the gym!

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  9. What a great tank! Make your workout gear more girly with lace! Well done, and the Renfrew looks so cozy with the big, beautifully draping cowl. Is that a sweater knit?

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    1. Thanks E! Yes, it's sweater knit! More on that in the next post!

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  10. Also, that's an excellent tip about matching the stripes below the dart--makes so much sense!

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    1. Yes, it does make sense but I hadn't thought of that before!!

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  11. Now, I can add gym clothes to the list of clothes I want to make, but probably never will. Love your top!!!!

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    1. Thanks Pam! Glad I could contribute to your "sewing wish list". :)

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  12. Love, love, love this post. Your tank is great-I would never have thought to use a lace but damn, it works. :-) Happy New Year Kyle!

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  13. The tank looks great -- the stretch lace is so cute! I've been thinking about a ballet tone-like class we have at my gym -- but I think I need some pretty workout wear before I can join in!

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  14. Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I have truly enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!
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    ReplyDelete

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