Inside: Check out this amazing simple summer tank free pattern to sew for summer. You will love this basic tank for women with this free pdf pattern.
Are you ready to bare your arms this summer? With this Simple Summer Tank Free Pattern you can look great for a real bargain this spring. I’m so excited for summer and my summer wardrobe… it’s been a long, gray winter here and we are so ready for some nice weather. Sewing up this tank top made me really look forward to better weather. Make sure to check out all my Free sewing patterns here.
This pattern has been recently updated from 2016… the photos remain the same, though…
Summer Tank Free Pattern –
Now that it’s warming up it’s time to start thinking about sewing for summer and this simple summer tank is a great place to start. This tank is great with all your favorite knit fabrics and looks really fun with a coordinating back and front like I made here. Use a fun mesh or stretch lace for the back. Here are my favorite spring fabrics.
More FREE tank patterns
Today to celebrate that spring is coming and my face and arms are ready to show off to the world I’m sharing this simple summer tank free pattern with you all. It’s a loose fitting easy tank that can be worn in layers or alone, looks great with jeans or shorts and is just long enough to cover my backside {I love this length!}
I’ve made it in sizes XS-XXL so hopefully it can be sewn up by many women who want to be comfortable and still look great this summer. This tank works great with pretty much any knit fabric.
Ready to sew? Okay! let’s get started! Head over to my shop to print your FREE TANK PATTERN.
here’s the size chart so you can check if it will work for you. All seams are sewn with a 3/8″ seam allowance.
How to sew a tank top
Cut out 1 front and 1 back piece. Use the neck/arm band chart OR pattern pieces.. not both. I just included both so you have choices…
Sew the shoulder seams with seams with right sides together. I know it looks like a V front here, but it’s actually more rounded, I made a mistake on mine.. the pattern should be fine.
Sew the short ends of the neckband together with right sides touching. Need some tips to get your neckband just right? check out my tips for sewing shirt neckbands here.
Fold the neck band so the wrong sides are touching and right side is out. Place the seam in the back and pin around the neckline with right sides of band and tank touching. You will need to stretch it just a bit to fit. **NOTE- you want the band to be around 80-90% of the neckline length- you need it to stretch. You may need to adjust from the pattern piece depending on your fabric. Again, check out the tutorial I linked above.**
Sew the neckband on.
You can top-stitch or leave without. Both will work.
Open up the arm holes on both sides. Fold the arm binding in half with wrong sides touching. Stretch and pin to tank with right sides of band and tank together.
Sew band to shirt. Top-stitch if desired.
With right sides together, sew the side seams of the shirt.
To finish the seam where the arm bands come together, fold the seam allowance to the back of the shirt.
Then stitch the seam allowance. This will hold down the seam allowance and secure it to the shirt.
Finish the bottom edge with a serger or zig-zag to stabilize.
Fold to back about 3/4″ hem. Pin and sew. You will have to ease the hem around the curves.
All done! I think I will be wearing this tank top A LOT this summer. I love the different front and back…Okay, I think I’m ready for spring… It’s our first official day of summer with no school today, so I’m going to hope we get a nice warm one!
Here’s another link to go print your free tank… FREE TANK PATTERN
You can also make this into a tank dress… check out the tank dress tutorial here.
Melanie says
Sewing knits makes my head explode ever since my serger broke. That thing was a dream!
Emily says
oh I know! I don’t know how I managed before my serger!
Charbel says
This looks great! I need some new tanks for this Summer, so I will definitely be saving this for later.
Kristi Andres says
Thank you so much! I was looking for tank patterns to get me going this summer. I have this one already downloaded and printed.
kristi@ishouldbemoppingthefloor says
So super cute, Emily! Loving this. I’m still a beginner in the sewing world, but I may have to put this on the list for the future! And your GLOW looks great! 😉 [client]
RandiG at FrugElegance says
I am not much of a sewer but you inspire me to try!
Susan says
Would this pattern work with a woven fabric like linen? Thanks!
Emily says
Yes, but i would make it with knit first to see how it fit you, and then see if you need to size up ;o)
Carolyn Loewen says
Has anyone tried this in a woven fabric and how was the fit?
Kristi Andres says
I made up my tank last night in a size L and had a couple of thoughts. First of all I loved the fit. Thanks so much for designing the pattern! My two nit picky things are the neckband was a bit too long… I didn’t have to stretch it to fit the neck hole. also the bottom front and back that go on the fold went up instead of straight across. Not sure if I’m explaining that well. so I straightened it out as I cut, but it looked like it was going up in the middle of most of the sizes. But those are just little things. Overall the shirt fit great and I will be making more!
Emily says
So great, thanks for the feedback. You can always trim the bands to they stretch more.. I’ll make a note in the tutorial about that.. I will have to check the hem line. thanks for letting me know. So glad you like the fit. I’d love a photo if you would share ;o)
Nicole Burkholder says
What a cute tank! I love the back 🙂 I have some of that Jergens lotion in my drawer and I’ve been afraid to use it. (Like it’s going to turn me bright orange) but your arms look great! I need to break it out because my skin is PALE 🙂
Emily says
I love the Jergens lotion.. The color tint is great {not orange!} and because you put in on daily it slowly builds up…I’ve been using it all winter!
christine says
That style of tank is exactly what I feel comfortable in. I’m looking pretty pasty right now so I could use some of that lotion to get me tank ready!
reesa says
I would love one of these!
Justine Marie says
So clever, wish I could sew to make more things.
Anne says
Great summer top!! I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for tomorrow morning that features your free pattern: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/?p=87270 –Anne
jamie says
What a cute and comfy top! It is definitely time for me to break out the self tanner!
Sara says
Such a great idea. Do you think you use old t-shirts for fabric?
Emily says
yes, I think that would work great if there was enough fabric!
Jamie says
That is so cute!! What a great idea to make something original! Thank you for sharing with us at the #HomeMattersParty
Frugal Hausfrau says
That is a great tank! I never thought to make one and I love that I could repurpose here! Thanks for sharing on Throwback Thursday!
Mollie
jeff says
Very nice tank top. i liked it.
i have a serger bernette 334ds bernina. How can i make that stitch on the neck. i got the serger from a friends mom. it had a presser foot that was already in the machine and no additional foots. it does the overlock on 4 thread 2 needles. i am no sure if i have to buy the pressser foot to sew the neckline u shown in the picture. please help and keep posting tutorials like these.
Kristi Andres says
Just wanted to let you know, I have sewed up a couple and they fit great. I have a high/low hem one cut out and I sewed up one today that is pretty much the top of this tank and the bottom of the hey june union street tee for a straighter cut and it’s my all time favorite tee!! thanks so much for this pattern! 🙂