Today I want to share with you two workout garments I made recently. But first, can we agree...it's really hard to take good photos when:
1. your backyard is full of splotchy shade
2. your toddler won't let you
3. it's winter, so golden hour lasts like 6 seconds
For several days *in a row*, my toddler woke up just as I got ready to shoot. So, please forgive me for not caring how ridiculously long the grass is by the fence.
I've been needing some basic workout tanks to go with my leggings so I decided to try this pattern, Kwik Sew 4181. It has a shelf bra and a weird little triangle applique, which I omitted. The back bodice is supposed to be color-blocked, but I didn't have contrasting fabric. I merged the top and bottom pieces, so the back is just one solid piece. I cut out a small in the shoulders/bust and a large at the waist and a small at the hips. I used this space-dye lightweight wicking nylon/spandex from Joann that has about 50-65% stretch. I was a fan of Joann's athletic line until I started sewing with this fabric. It has a weird sheen to it and does not stretch the way my supplex does. It's not love, but it served as a good muslin for this pattern.
1. your backyard is full of splotchy shade
2. your toddler won't let you
3. it's winter, so golden hour lasts like 6 seconds
For several days *in a row*, my toddler woke up just as I got ready to shoot. So, please forgive me for not caring how ridiculously long the grass is by the fence.
I've been needing some basic workout tanks to go with my leggings so I decided to try this pattern, Kwik Sew 4181. It has a shelf bra and a weird little triangle applique, which I omitted. The back bodice is supposed to be color-blocked, but I didn't have contrasting fabric. I merged the top and bottom pieces, so the back is just one solid piece. I cut out a small in the shoulders/bust and a large at the waist and a small at the hips. I used this space-dye lightweight wicking nylon/spandex from Joann that has about 50-65% stretch. I was a fan of Joann's athletic line until I started sewing with this fabric. It has a weird sheen to it and does not stretch the way my supplex does. It's not love, but it served as a good muslin for this pattern.
The top, in my opinion, runs 1 full size too big. I'll spare you the details, let's just say I had to take this top in A LOT at the shoulders and the side seams and ultimately...it's still too big. And let's talk about power mesh from Joann's. Is power mesh always super thin and unsupportive? You can see my bra straps, so clearly the the baggy shelf bra is useless. If I ever make a shelf bra tank top again I'll use self fabric, not paper-thin power mesh.
Next time I will cut out a XS-M-XS.
Also *watch out* the neck and armbands are too long...plan on removing at least an inch from each loop before attaching to the tank top. (That's before I adjusted the band lengths due to me taking in the shoulder seams and side seams.)
Fit: Like I said, this pattern runs a full size too big. The fit is better because I took in the shoulder and side seams and adjusted the bands accordingly. It's still a little gapey at the neckline so I'll have to take in 1/4" at center front/center back next time. My next tank top will be in a stiffer supplex so I'm excited to see how much support it provides.
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The leggings are my third pair of Peg Legs by Patterns for Pirates. I used the pattern I drafted for my cell phone pocket (tutorial is here). Instead of making a curved top pocket edge, I made a straight edge and finished the edge with a coverstitch. This was SOOO much easier than the curved pocket. The fabric is heavy supplex in a heathered grey from Zenith & Quasar. I. LOVE. THIS. FABRIC. I decided to size up for this pair because my last 2 pairs have been on the small side. These leggings are a bit baggy and are a tad bit long. Too bad they are SO DARN COMFORTABLE, I don't want to take them off long enough to fix them!!
When it gets below 50 degrees here, I'm going to wish I had lined leggings. But then, I will still be wishing I was wearing these supplex pegs!