The Staple Sewing Pattern You Need to Make

I am super excited that you joined me today!! Greenstyle Creations just released their latest tank pattern, and it is a definite closet staple. In fact, the pattern is so aptly named – the Staple Tank – because everyone needs a tank just like this in their closet. Let me take that back. YOU need a handful of these tanks in your closet. ASAP. The good news is that this top is super easy and quick to make, even for a beginner, and the pattern works so well in many different types of fabrics.

I wear tank tops all year long, no matter what the season. It is definitely the most useful part of my wardrobe. I wear them in the summer to stay cool. I wear them to work out in. I wear them as an underlayer to stay modest when nursing. I wear them in the winter, fall, and spring under cardigans or sweaters. I prefer a more fitted tank when I plan to wear it for layering, and I like to have straps that cover a traditional bra or show off a strappy racerback bra.

The Staple Tank pattern works great for knits with 75% stretch. I have four Staple Tanks to show you today: 2 in cotton lycra, 1 in double brushed polyester, and 1 in brushed nylon. The first tank – the bright pink one – was made using brushed nylon from Zenith and Quasar. The brushed nylon is only brushed on one side and is smooth on the other. I faced the soft brushed side towards my skin and put the smooth layer out. I think this will really help the tank not to cling to any shirt I may wear over it.

The next tank is in a bright yellow double brushed polyester from Knitpop. I received this fabric in a scrap box and normally would never order this shade of yellow, but I really think I like it! My daughter told me I looked like the man with the yellow hat from Curious George. Maybe that is a compliment?

Next up is my favorite! For this Staple Tank, I used a black cotton lycra from Made Whimsy. Black is such a versatile part of my wardrobe, and I have shirts and leggings from Made Whimsy black that I have washed so many times that still are just as black as the day I made them. Her black is the most colorfast and is such a great weight. This tank was made in an earlier testing version of the pattern that was more form fitting. A small amount of ease was added to the hips after this version.

I am wearing a traditional bra in these photos, just so that you can see the coverage in this pattern. I did not have to adjust the pattern for my bra to be hidden.

Another thing I love about this pattern is that it comes with the option of bands or binding. Also, I found that even with all the different fabrics that I used, I could trust the binding and band pattern pieces and did not need to measure my own.

The next Staple tank that I needed in my closet for layering was a white tank. White just goes with everything (especially crazy leggings)! This white tank is also a cotton lycra from Made Whimsy.

The pants I am wearing with my tops is my latest pair of Inspire tights. I am quite obsessed with this pattern right now because (a) it is so quick to make and (b) even though it is a tight legging, it is super comfortable to wear. I don’t like too much compression when I plan to wear my leggings all day. Leggings are more than a gym basic in my closet. So, I notice I prefer them to feel like a second skin. I don’t like to feel any part of them “touching me.”

On this pair of Inspires, I tried out a new waistband pocket idea. I don’t really like the feel of a zipper on the back of my waistband, so I wanted to take a stab at a back pocket that would still hold my phone and not have a zipper.

And, it worked! I overlapped two pieces that are finished with binding, and I have an inside piece to store whatever I want. I will say that my phone is so big that it just felt awkward to carry it over my bottom, but it definitely stayed put. I may just use the pocket for my keys or something not as bulky.

Resources

1. Greenstyle Staple Tank. Pattern comes in XXS-3XL. I made size XXS.
2. Greenstyle Inspire Tights. Pattern comes in XXS-3XL. I made size S with an XS waistband.
3. The black and white cotton lycra fabric came from Made Whimsy.
4. The pink brushed nylon fabric came from Zenith and Quasar.
5. The bright yellow double brushed poly fabric came from Knitpop.
6. The fabric for my Inspire tights came from Golden D’or. They have some of their athletic knits listed on their website, but if you get a chance to visit their store in Dallas, they have a room of athletic knits that are really nice right now!