When Chalk and Notch opened a tester call for a new woven tank pattern, I jumped on it and was so excited to be selected for the tester group. I’m relatively new to testing patterns, but I’ve quickly learned there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes before a pattern is released. Chalk and Notch is one designer I’ve admired for awhile now and it was such a joy to have the opportunity to test for them.
*This pattern was provided to me for free for testing purposes. All views and opinions are my own.
From the Chalk and Notch website:
The Victory Tank has a swing shape with two views. View A has a simple scoop front neckline and finishes mid-hip. View B has v-shaped straps on the front neckline and a v-shaped cut out in the back with a cropped length. Both views are fully lined and interchangeable.
One thing I really like about this pattern is the clean finish. Because it is fully lined, the neckline and sleeves have a very beautiful finish without worrying about topstitching. It also makes for a great stashbuster and could easily be finished with bias tape as an alternative. I also love how all views, front and back, are interchangeable which means you could do the simple scoop front with the v-shaped cut out in the back. I plan on making that version next.
I went through a few iterations during testing before I ended up with this final version. This is view A made with Robert Kaufman striped essex linen blend for the main fabric and a cotton woven for the lining. I made size 4 based on my high bust measurement with the full bust a/b cup option. (One thing that’s great about Chalk and Notch patterns is their inclusion of different cup sizes so you don’t need to worry about making bust adjustments.) Because of the swing shape, it was flowy enough to accommodate my waist which measured 1-2 sizes larger and fits very comfortably.
I did have to adjust the shoulder so it wouldn’t bubble at the back, but the instructions to do so were easy to follow in the pattern and I would highly recommend taking the time to adjust it so it fits well. I don’t usually take much time to adjust for fit when making things (a habit I’m trying to break), but I’m glad I took the time to do it for this pattern. Now that I’ve done the work, I can easily make more versions of this in the future and can definitely see it being a staple in my wardrobe.
Another tip for making the Victory Tank is to pay special attention to the fabrics you’re using as well as the seam allowance. You are fitting a lot of fabric through the shoulder straps so you want to make sure your fabric isn’t too thick and that you did the appropriate seam allowance. Turning the straps takes a bit of finesse so you’ll want to make it easier for yourself from the start. Other than that, this pattern is a breeze.
I’m a big fan of sewing with wovens and am super excited to finally have a woven tank pattern in my collection. Have you made the Victory Tank yet? I’d love to hear how you liked it!
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