Elbe Textiles Weiland tank in rainbows

 I saw this tank top on enough people to know that I wanted to make it.  The graceful low back, the V.  It's a beautiful design.  Despite that I really didn't want the process of making it.  No idea why, but this was not a project I reached for with excitement, more like dread.  I tried to spice it up by allocating a beautiful scrap of rainbow fabric, but I still didn't love the process.  I made size B - as always high bust is a useless measure for me, but my bust at 33 is accurate.  I didn't make any modifications. It's quick and easy and the gentle V neck is really lovely looking.  I didn't pay a lot of attention to the pattern instructions for finishing the sleeve holes as I am quite confident with burrito methods.  I didn't have any issues except that I put the shelf bra elastic on backwards so it shows the ugly side towards my skin.  (I am always puzzled which way is the correct way.  It does look good like this.  Maybe it's correct.)

 

 

The fit is fine, but rather snug.  I tried it on with a bra and it looks too tight.  Without a bra it is much better, and I think that's kind of the expected fit.  Nonetheless I think I need to make this from a rib fabric (or size up.)  I have lots of rib fabrics that need to get used so yet again, that should be a win, but I will have to overcome the inertia of not really being in love with the process.  This particular top is going to someone just a bit smaller than I am.  I also struggle with crop tops because I have no torso length, so they can kind of overcompress my chest and then balloon out below. 

Thus, I don't entirely know what I think of the length, but in summer some tops with this crop length are great to wear with linen pants, so it should go well enough with a number of things in my wardrobe as long as I choose the right colours and a more forgiving rib.  I'm thinking a bit more lately about sewing specifically to fit gaps in my wardrobe, and I do think a few more attempts at this would be worthwhile. 

Sophie Hines axis tank review

I had read a few reviews of this pattern and was interested but not sure whether I would ever wear something like this.  I have lots of sports bras and I don't really like uncovering my midsection.

But I had this really small piece of pretty fabric from Blended Threads and one day decided I needed it to be this top...bra...thing.  I have no idea how I'll wear this.  I figured I needed to just have it, and then figure it out. 

I made Size 4-6/S. 

This fabric is beautiful but I got a precut and I was trying to be stingy about shipping so I did stupid things like buy half meters of fabric.  Eyes rolling.  It's cotton spandex and has a good recovery.   I read the instructions and actually did what they said, and thus discovered this magical thing - the 3 step zig zag!!  I discovered it last in about 2014 and was totally excited by it for a year or so, and then I think I haven't done the ol three step since.  So it featured heavily here.

 

Then I figured I was on a binge and I should experiment.  It does not take much fabric - I still have half the width of that half meter cut!  So I went over to the dark side with some rib.  I had traced the XXS but didn't use it and yep, should have used it, this one is pretty loose.  Luckily I have a neighbor who does yoga and it fit her perfectly (before I got photos!). 

Finally I moved on to merino for the high neck version. To my surprise I LOVE this.  I might need to make another one like this before I put away the pattern, and maybe in something really compressive and secure.  Cause ugh, definitely not in merino.  The rolling little shits of bands made me nearly have a breakdown.  I also recommend double layering this in merino because it's quite loose, the bottom band is actually not snug at all.  The pictures make it look like my boobs are gonna fall out the sides but they feel secure enough. 

Now...I think what I need is some overall/dungaree things to wear over these tops.