Pretty Pleats? Tank: A Tutorial

It all started with an e-mail. From Stacey. A question. A straightforward question. How, she asked, do Adrianna and I think this was made? And then we discussed. And I think I discussed enough that I convinced poor Stacey that it was too complicated. Boo. But I did think it was complicated. Until I tried it. Not so complicated. And I documented the process so that you can try it too. Not that mine is an exact copy. No, we’ll call this an “inspired by.” I still have a few other ideas to try to make it more like the original piece. But I’m liking this for now, and I hope Stacey likes it too.

Now, if it were Adrianna making this one, she’d make a tank from scratch. Not only because the inexpensive-tank-buying-options are few in her ‘hood, but because she can make a tank in about twelve minutes, including a break for a mint milano. She’s the sew-er and I’m the embellish-er. So I got to shopping. Two tanks for $4.50 each. I chose these because I thought that the knit was lightweight enough to make ruffle-y pleats but not so lightweight that it couldn’t possibly flatter a mommy body. A critical consideration.

I put one aside and laid out the other to chop it up. Down the side seams, across the top and bottom so that I have two clean rectangles.

I laid “Lite” Heat-n-Bond in-between the two rectangles and ironed them together. Knit doesn’t fray anyway, but the interfacing should help keep it from curling and bunching. A yummy little knit sandwich. “Lite” fusible interfacing because I wanted to add as little weight and as little stickiness to sew through as possible. At the thickest spots, I was sewing through 7 layers of knit and 3 layers of interfacing.

Once my sandwich was assembled, I trimmed it into one inch strips, and then cut some 1/2″ strips, too.

At this point I needed Marjorie on-scene. And K was so excited to see her down from her perch she had to come and hug her.

So here we are. A blank canvas. Ready to make a masterpeice. Or a mess.

Starting at the shoulder seam, pinning a ruffle every inch and a half or so. Wait, is it a ruffle or a pleat? It feels ruffly. But it’s folded more pleat-y. And by the time it’s stitched down, I’d say it’s a pleat. But the inspiration piece calls it a ruffled tank.

I was concerned early on about how I’d end one strip and begin another, since none of my strips would be long enough to reach all the way across. Ended up being no problem at all. Just start a ruffle/pleat right on top of the tail of the last piece.

Stitching the first row down with a stretch stitch, I removed the pins just as each ruffle/pleat was headed under the presser foot. The volume headed for the needle was too much with the pin making it bow in the middle. Then I started pinning the second row.

Just tucked the ends under on the diagonal.

All those pins look a bit menacing. Not a dancing top at this moment.

And then the third row across. Like how I still have the tag on it here? As if I’m still thinking I’m going to run this back to Target for a refund?

To start the asymmetric little doo-flahtchies on the bottom, which I considered leaving out and decided to suck it up and continue, I pinned at my starting point and marked my desired endpoint with another pin so that I could try to aim for it as I worked on the smaller ruffle/pleats with a 1/2″ wide strip. Tiny and a bit tricky. I had to lay Marjorie down to work on it, which felt a bit odd. But we’re closer now. We’ve bonded.

This part has two sections. Each has two strips.

A lotta pins in a small space. Tucking ends underneath the upper ruffle/pleat wherever possible.

Allllmost done. I’ve used 1/2″ strips in the top row of the doo-flahtchies and 3/4″ strips for the bottom. The sacrificial tank eeeked out just enough to work with.

Aaaahhhhhhh. In the end, so much less painful than I made it out to be.

And now it’s off to Stacey, (Happy Valentine’s Day!) so that she can put it in her closet to wait the five months left before she gets to enjoy anything approximating sleeveless weather. Oy.

I’m still pondering how the inspiration piece is made. I’m still planning to try this a few other ways. So you may find more ruffle/pleat tanks ’round here soon.

Note: This top would not be flattering on me. As per every other episode of What Not to Wear, the ruffles on top are not for busty girls so much. Stacey, if you decide the ruffles are too much for you… I know another crafty blogger who has expressed interest. And would be one of the people on What Not to Wear for whom the ruffles are perfect. Ahem.

Comments

Dominique @ Craft Couture says:

February 14, 2011 at 12:11 pm

So adorable! Nice tutorial too! I would love it if you linked up to my party .

dominiquescraftcouture.blogspot.com

Katie says:

February 14, 2011 at 12:13 pm

Super cute!

Kim @ seven thirty three says:

February 14, 2011 at 12:21 pm

I LOVE ruffled, er, pleated? tanks. Looking at this I TOTALLY think I could do it! I have a store bought one that I wear a lot with a cardi and get so many compliments… hmmmm – wish I had a Target near by!

Kyra says:

February 14, 2011 at 12:43 pm

I like it. Good job!

Care says:

February 14, 2011 at 12:43 pm

Oh, it is gorgeous!!

Kyra says:

February 14, 2011 at 12:44 pm

insert a round of little Aubrey hand claps!

Taylor {Sew Much Love} says:

February 14, 2011 at 1:04 pm

Gorgeous! I actually likes yours better! That’s awesome! Thanks so much for the tutorial!

houseonhilltop says:

February 14, 2011 at 1:28 pm

So Cute and creative. Great way to re-purpose. Thanks for sharing.

Ana says:

February 14, 2011 at 1:44 pm

This is great!

Jen Lara says:

February 14, 2011 at 1:58 pm

Super cute tank and perfect for us less-endowed gals.

Thanks for the helpful tutorial.

Stacey says:

February 14, 2011 at 2:17 pm

Ahhhhhh! You so ROCK. I can’t believe you made one. And it looks perfect. Is it seriously coming my way? You are the B-E-S-T, especially since I was definitely chickening out. Why am I writing here, I’m calling. right. now.

Larissa says:

February 14, 2011 at 3:03 pm

This entire tutorial had me giggling but when I got to you laying Marjorie down and how close the two of you are now, I literally spewed Dr. Pepper out of my nose. And the tank is awesome too

Corinnea says:

February 14, 2011 at 3:16 pm

Very cute!

Lesley says:

February 14, 2011 at 4:14 pm

This is amazing! Wonderful work!

Sarah Faith says:

February 14, 2011 at 11:55 pm

love it! thanks so much! i will be using this idea.

Rissa @ Hazel and Honeysuckle says:

February 16, 2011 at 5:26 am

This looks fantastic! *adds it to the things-to-try list* Very nice!

Anna says:

February 16, 2011 at 9:40 am

beautiful! for some reason I always feel guilty about cutting into a perfectly usable piece of clothing, gotta get over that. hehehe

twobutterflies says:

February 19, 2011 at 12:33 pm

I am sooo making one of these!!

Melanie Jade says:

February 19, 2011 at 4:35 pm

So cute! I love your tip about adding the interfacing – I don’t know enough about sewing to think of things like that, but I do know enough to completely botch a job! Ha! I saw this top in the Garnet Hill catalog as well and wondered if it could be easily made. Great tutorial!!

la casa della sarta says:

May 9, 2011 at 3:33 am

mi piace molto la tua idea, molto bello il top lacasadellasarta.blogspot.com ….. lili venite a trovarmi e se vi piace rimanete

allison @ itstoilegood.blogspot.com says:

June 22, 2011 at 12:23 pm

Completely LOVE this refashion! Having a quick Tank Refashion Party (inspired by Old Navy’s sale this weekend) and would LOVE it if you linked up this awesome idea!
http://itstoilegood.blogspot.com/2011/06/2-tanks-mean-tank-refashions.html

Kristal says:

July 29, 2011 at 1:25 pm

I love this SOOOOO much!!! Thanks for breaking it down and making it not so scary. I think I’ll have to try it!

Delicious Shots says:

September 3, 2011 at 8:30 am

I love it!! great idea!

tank top dress says:

May 22, 2012 at 12:32 pm

This is adorable! I love ruffle dress!

Pretty Pleats? Tank: A Tutorial

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