This lace mixed media tank is one of the projects I’ve made in the past couple months post baby that I haven’t got around to writing about. It’s part refashion, part working with available materials, and a whole lotta pattern hacking in between. The inspiration for this one was this Anthropologie tank:
I love how Anthropologie uses fabric, but I don’t often often copy their stuff literally. This tank was an exception. I like the woven bottom together with the lace stitched on top of the side seams combined with the comfort of a knit top. The resulting tunic is just the kind of flowy summer top that I was looking to make.
Lace Mixed Media Tank
Pattern(s)
In terms of patterns, I combined no less than 3 patterns to get to my final pattern. The tank part is Straight Stitch Patterns’ Greenwood Tank. I liked with that pattern how the shoulder hit well enough to cover my bra line (not necessarily a given with tank patterns), but the armholes were too big. I used my trusty Jalie 2921 to modify the Greenwood armscye to the circumference I was looking for. The woven part of the tank is a modified version of the high/low peplum piece from Blank Slate’s Marigold.
Fabric
For fabric, I used a cotton voile on the peplum leftover from this Mississsippi Ave dress. I added a CF button placket to make it look like it’s the bottom of a men’s dress shirt. I cut the same voile in bias strips to bind the neckline and armholes too.
The knit is from an old t-shirt that I’ve had for several years. I originally bought it soon after my 2nd son was born. I always liked the color, but not the poofy 3 layered flutter sleeves it had. They were cumbersome to wear and I couldn’t wear a cardigan with the top because the sleeves were too bulky to fit inside the sweater sleeves.
I carried a little bit of the green down into the sides of the peplum because…hips! It also is a nice contrast under the lace.
The lace is vintage crochet lace that I picked up thrifting. It is simply stitched down along the side seams. I love this kind of lace for its softness and visual texture. My Mom has always like prints that look like wallpaper. It turns out I like lace and fabric that looks like (or came from) a tablecloth. 🙂
Project summary
Proportionally the top is overall a bit too long on me. If I repeat this design, I will definitely shorten the knit and the peplum as well as ditch the high/low element in favor of a straight hem.
Overall, I really love this top. It was a good challenge to use multiple materials and patterns to get at the final top, and it’s super comfortable and lightweight for the summer heat.
My Monthly Stitch Post on this top is here.
My review of the Greenwood Tank is here.
What’s the max number of patterns and/or fabrics you’ve combined into a finished garment?
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Elizabeth Farr is the writer behind the Elizabeth Made This blog where she shares helpful sewing tips, step by step sewing tutorials and videos to help you explore your creativity through sewing. She has written sewing Eguides and patterns, been a featured teacher at Rebecca Page’s Sewing Summit and Jennifer Maker’s Holiday Maker Fest and her work has appeared in Seamwork and Altered Couture magazines. She also created a line of refashioned garments for SEWN Denver. When her sewing machine isn’t humming, she’s playing and teaching violin, and hanging around a good strategic board game with her husband and 4 kids.