Camis & tank tops are the perfect intro into garment making. With no sleeves, there are fewer pieces to sew together, which makes for a simpler project for beginner sewists.
This DIY tank top is made out of the same fabric as the shorts from a few weeks ago. It’s a super soft knit that I found at Joann, and works just as well for this comfy tank as it did for those simple shorts!
I taught myself how to sew last year just from watching YouTube videos and reading sewing blogs. Personally, I love figuring out how to make things from trial and error, and that’s how I came up with this tutorial to sew a tank top.
I’ve always struggled with traditional sewing patterns and learn much better through visual instructions. I’m sure I’m not the only one!
So without further ado, here is my quick & easy guide for a free tank top sewing pattern.
Camisole Sewing Pattern
To draft the pattern size that will work for you, you’re going to want to grab a tank top that fits you well.
Lay your tank top on top of the fabric.
Cut around around the width of the tank top with a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Since this will be a camisole with separate spaghetti straps, only cut as high as where the strap will meet the top of the cami.
Fold it in half to trim up the edges and make sure it is symmetrical.
Cut out a rectangle that matches the width of the front piece.
Lay right sides together, and sew along the sides. I use the Singer Fashion Mate sewing machine which works great for sewing basic garments!
Once the sides are sewn, trim off the extra fabric.
Pin & hem the bottom of the shirt. My go-to hemming strategy is a double fold-over.
Pin & hem the top of the shirt. I hemmed the top with a double fold-over, but if you take the time to hem it with bias tape, it will look a little more professional!
Sometimes I just get lazy 😉
For the straps, make bias tape out of the original fabric, and sew along the open sides. The length will depend on the size of your shirt & where you want the fabric to hit, so I recommend making the straps longer than you think you’ll need them.
You can pin them on the shirt, try it on, and adjust their placement as needed.
Once you’re confident in the strap placement, sew them in place. I recommend sewing back and forth over each strap location at least one or two times in order for extra security.
And that’s it, yay! I really enjoy making tank tops like this because they don’t use much fabric, and so the cost of supplies is very low.
I’m loving the soft drape of the knit fabric, too!
Drop me a comment below if you enjoyed this free tank top sewing pattern tutorial!
xoxo,
Jess
Camisole Sewing Pattern Supplies
- A tank top that fits
- Knit fabric
- Dressmaker's pins
- Fabric scissors
- Sewing machine
P.S.: If you’re looking for more tank top sewing patterns, you can check out my Linen Tunic Top sewing pattern that is available as a digital download on Etsy. Every purchase goes towards the cost of running this blog (thank you! <3)
And another fun & easy sewing tutorial is the High Neck Strappy Crop Top Pattern!