Dress Sewing Pattern -Free Tank Dress

Inside: Use this fun free dress sewing pattern to make a tank dress for summer. Easy breezy summer wear from a free sewing pattern for women. 

{updated 5/23}

I’ve been wanting to make a tank dress sewing pattern from my women’s short sleeve pattern and today I’m sharing it with you. I changed up the t-shirt pattern and created this women’s tank dress free pattern to share as part of the 30 days of sundresses.  {originally} I also added a more full skirt version to the options. enjoy!

Dress Sewing Pattern -Free Tank Dress

I recently tweaked it a bit more and have decided to add those changes to the pattern. In addition to adding new photos here, I also tried making the tank top dress pattern with bindings instead of FOE and I think I like it more. Although it do LOVE FOE, for this dress I think regular bindings are just fine, and I like how it makes my top and bottom coordinate here. 

Here are a couple other fun dresses I’ve made from tank/shirt patterns

• Lace Yoke Shirt Dress
• Tank A-Line Dress
• Free Dress {from a tank}

In the directions below I’ll give you the link to a tank tutorial which will give you the binding instructions in addition to the FOE ones that are included here. 

Total side note… my hair keeps getting curlier and curlier… check out the difference here… left photo… total flat side on the back of my head.. 

right photo… curls all over.. What is going on? I didn’t even have curly hair at all until collage and it’s just gotten more and more since then. Even though I’ve lived in different climates and everything. Five years between the two photos and my hair grown out long then cut again {haha} ok, back to the main event… 

Tank dress pattern free – 

Here are my versions side by side. One of the things I didn’t like about the FOE version was that I had made the elastic just a bit too tight under my arms {you can see it pulling} The FOE would be fine, just don’t pull it too tight. My latest version I kept the bands and raised the waist just a bit, plus I added a fuller gathered skirt. I think I really like the skirt like this.

This simple tank dress sews up quickly and is easy breezy for summer.  I used a thin knit and fold over elastic to create a simple dress that looks great for any summer occasion… most casual ones anyway…

 This tank dress pattern makes a knit dress that is so comfy and great for hot summer days. The back is wide enough to cover my bra straps {always a plus for me} and the dress comes in at the waist for a bit of shape and flare. I added side pockets this version. Need a pocket template? There is a free one in this skirt post.

The FOE/binding around the neck and arms provides just a bit of color. You can also add a color blocked band around the bottom of the dress if desired.

Ok! let’s get to the free pattern. You can get the pattern here.. Click the image to download from my site or HERE from BLUEPRINT

Other free tank patterns to sew –

• Swing tank dress
• Sports tank with Elastic back
• Gathered back tank
• Open back sports tank
• Boxy fit tank
• Cross back tank
• Racerback tank
• Simple Summer tank

Tank dress sewing tutorial –  

Ok, let’s jump into the tutorial…

A 3/8 seam allowance is included. You will need to cut 1 front and 1 back piece from the printed pattern, then cut 1 front skirt and 1 back skirt from the measurements. Most sizes can be made from 1 yard of wide knit, but the larger sizes might need a bit more. I used not quite a yard for this size S. For a gathered skirt version you will need about 1.5 yards just for the skirt.

You will also need 2.5 – 3 yards of 3/4″ FOE {fold over elastic} for the neck and arm binding and 1/4″ regular elastic for your waist. You will need enough to go around your waist. If you want to just add bindings and not FOE, you can follow this TANK TUTORIAL FOR BINDINGS. Here is a photo of my version with bands.

The pattern pieces that are linked here are the same although they now say Life Sew Savory {if you didn’t follow me years ago, that was my old name}

Use this chart to determine what size to sew. Alternatively you can use any favorite tank pattern and follow these steps to turn it into a dress.

Size Chart:

Variations could include making the top and skirt from different fabrics, using knit bias to bind the neck and arms instead of FOE, cutting 4.5 inches off the skirt pattern, then cutting a 5″ x width of skirt strip. Sew onto the bottom of the skirt for a color blocked bottom. So many possibilities to really make this dress exactly the way you want. In my latest version I shortened the top a bit to raise the waist and I really like where it falls.

Gather your supplies:

• 1-2 yards knit fabric
• 2.5 yards FOE / or fabric for bindings
• 3/8″ elastic for waist

Start by sewing the shoulder seams, right sides together. You can also sew the side seams as well.

Now, lets finish the neckline. With your FOE, start at one shoulder seam, place 1/2 the FOE under on the wrong side of your neck. Remember- you can also add bindings instead. 

Then fold over the other half to the front side of the tank.

Use a wide zig zag stitch with coordinating thread to sew together. DO NOT stretch the elastic too much or it will make the tank too tight! {opps! I did this!} You want to just sew it to the tank, not stretch it. Continue to fold over and sew all the way around your neckline.

Trim extra elastic.

 Repeat with the two arms. I didn’t have enough of all the same color for my dress, but I kind of like the two colors.

Cut and front and back skirt piece that start the same width as the bottom of the top front/back, then flares out for some fullness. There is a cutting chart ON THE PRINTED PATTERN. Sew the side seams of your skirt with right sides together.

The directions below give instructions for adding a thin elastic for the waist {which I love!} You can also add a more full gathered skirt and gather it to fit, then sew clear elastic in the seam for stability. Clear Elastic Sewing turtorial here. For this version I also shortened the tank top just a bit.

Put the tank top inside the skirt, right sides together, and sew around the top of skirt/bottom of tank. This will join the top and bottom.

Let’s make the casing for our elastic next. Use your elastic as a guide to measure where to sew.

Keeping your top and skirt right sides together, sew 1/2 from where you joined the two parts together. Sew all the way around.

Now fold down the casing you just made. Fold towards the skirt side and pin. The white dashed line is where you just sewed. The arrow shows where you will new now. Sew on your stitches around the skirt. Leave a 2 inch opening to thread the elastic.

When you turn your dress right side out, you should have two seams {this is your casing} and an opening on the inside to thread the elastic.

Turn back to the inside. Measure your waist and cut the elastic. You will want it snug around you, but not tight.

Bring your elastic through and sew ends together. Close the opening you left before to close the casing.

Now you have an elastic waist on your dress.

Hem your dress with a knit stitch, zig-zag or double needle with woolly nylon thread in the bobbin. And you’re done!! Easy right? I’d love to see pictures of what you create with this pattern.

And if you didn’t download above here’s another link to get your tank dress free pattern: