1. Make your Tank Top Pattern
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Clone your favourite tank top
Got a singlet top that fits perfectly? Make one for every day of the week! Here's a simple way to make a pattern...
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1. Things you'll need...
A tank top that fits you, scissors, pens, plastic (dry cleaning bags work or I used a roll of plastic book cover from the newsagents), my rulers are a pattern grading ruler and a french curve, but you'll be fine with just an ordinary ruler.
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2 Start tracing
Fold singlet in half. Lay plastic over singlet. Trace round the tank. If your tank has a binding (ie. the black edge) trace along the inside edge of the binding.
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3 Add seam allowances
In green ink, mark a new line 1 cm outside the original red line. See how easy it is with a see-through grading ruler! You can still manage with an ordinary ruler though. (Read the next two steps before you start drawing)
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4 Mark fold line
Draw on the purple arrow. It's a pattern symbol that tells you to lay this edge on a fold when you're cutting out the fabric.
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5. Add hem allowance
Add extra seam allowance on bottom hem. Measure how wide the hem is on your tank top and add at least that much. ( I added 2.5 cm)
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6 What's the french curve for?
For perfectionists, you can use a french curve to make your curves really smooth. (Not strictly necessary!)
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7 Now for the back...
Refold the tank top with the back on the outside. Repeat steps 2 to 6. Mark the pieces "Front" and "Back".
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8 Ta-daaa! Your first pattern!
It should look like this - all ready to pin onto fabric, cut out and assemble. But that's another story, stay tuned for the next instalment...