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06 June 2014

My Franken-sten

Earlier this week I posted that I was attempting the Wiksten Tank. I've been wanting to make some clothes for myself and thought this would be a good tank to learn on. Good news - it is! Bad news - I had to do major modifications to get it to fit my body type. That took it a little out of beginner zone. But it's okay. It reinforced my love of quilting and straight seams!

Wiksten Tank
Slightly blurry tank top. 

So, newsflash: I have boobs. And I'm not a petite woman. Being a fairly pragmatic person I have come to realize that this is pretty much my body's stasis, and I'm ok with it (some days more than others). That being said, the Wiksten tank is beautiful, but is also designed for a less curvy woman (in my opinion...others may disagree).

Wiksten Tank
Close up of pocket modification and dart. Can you find them? 

After my first muslin (a test garment made out of inexpensive material) I realized my tank more resembled an actual tank than a shirt. So I set to googling. I followed the directions on how to make and insert a side dart, but it was still kind of maternety-esque. And I'm not pregnant. So that's not the look I'm going for. I brought the sides in a little, kind of using my intuition. The (now second) muslin still looked iffy, but I decided that was because I'd made so many changes it didn't know which way was up anymore.

I held my breath, and cut into my AMH Rayon Challis Coordinates in Cyprus. It is so soft and silky, but not too stretchy. An interesting experience for one who only sews with quilting cottons and linen blends. It fits better than the muslin did, and I think I'll need to make a size larger when I perform my next attempt with some of April Rhode's Arizona Collection Triangle Tokens Voile. I'll need a breather before that, though, so back to quilting for me!

Ok, enough words. Here's my self portrait photo shoot. Happy Friday.


Wiksten Tank
Me and Picasso. We love picture day.
Still figuring out where the camera and sun are. 


Wiksten Tank
Unintentionally hiding my face.
I had literally just torn a huge hole in my jeans as the timer was going off. 

Linking up to Finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts and

  

9 comments:

  1. Yay for you and your first tank! I haven't worked with rayon yet, but I just made a skirt with some AMH voile and it was a success. Good luck on your next tank!

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  2. Great job!!! Love your fabric, and it came out fantastic!! Visiting (and new subscriber) from Finish It Up Friday :-)

    ~ Jess ~
    Everything Is Coming Up Rosie

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  3. It looks good! I've been hanging onto some AMH rayon myself for a dress but haven't found a pattern that I love for it yet.

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  4. your tank looks great - thanks for sharing your insights on the fit of this pattern

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  5. Super cute top! Never made clothing but its such a practical skill.

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  6. Your top looks wonderful. I usually quilt, too, but remember learning to sew on knits many years ago. I've lost that skill and keep intending to take some classes again. Congratulations on getting your top done so nicely.

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  7. Liz, I love this print you worked with! Good luck getting your second version even more tailored to you, but this one looks pretty darn great itself!

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  8. Ooh, I have been wanting to make this tank top. I really like yours and thank you for warning me to try it on muslin first. Your dog is cute.

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  9. I am such a chicken when it comes to sewing clothes. My mother is the seamstress. I'm the quilter. Though now I've gotten her into quilting, it might mean I have to make clothes. :D

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