Hooray for great tank top patterns! I was a pattern tester for the new Threadbear Frisco Tank Top and this pattern is unique, quick, and fun to sew. A few months back, I was also a pattern tester for Threadbear’s very first pattern, the Taos Top. Read on for my reviews of these patterns, and a chance to win both of them!
Frisco Top: The Details
- Pattern is the Frisco Tank Top by Threadbear Garments
- The Frisco Pattern features a Tank Top view and a Jumpsuit view!
- Pattern discount through July 23 (no coupon code required in Threadbear’s shop)
- Available in sizes 0-20 with A/B cup or C/D cup options
- I sewed a size 8 A/B cup (my measurements are 35″ upper bust, 36″ full bust, 29″ waist, 45″ hip)
- Fabric is a cotton voile from my local outlet (SR Harris)
Frisco: The Pattern
The Frisco Tank Top features princess seam lines, an interfaced top band, and a functional button placket. It flares out slightly at the hip. There aren’t really any large pattern pieces so this would make a great scrap buster. There are good opportunities for color blocking, or even hacking into an A-line dress… thinking out loud…
Frisco: Sizing and Fitting
My measurements put me right into a size 8, with the exception of my hip measurements, which would put me several sizes up. Given the amount of ease at the high hip, I didn’t grade any sizes, and the fit is really great. I think my lightweight fabric helps with it sitting nicely below the waist too. The upper and full bust are fitted and the princess seams add some pretty interest.
My only error in making my tank top with regards to the fit was that I didn’t baste and check the straps before finishing the top band. I can still go back and adjust them with some unpicking though. When you make the pattern, she tells you when to check the fit of the straps, so don’t skip this step! The angle and the length of the strap is crucial for getting not only a great fit, but also good bra coverage too. My straps shown in the pictures here are just a tiny bit off from where I’d like them to be.
Frisco: Fabric
The Frisco Tank is perfect for mid to light weight woven fabrics with good drape. I went on the lightest end of that spectrum with a sheer cotton voile. I thought for sure this tank would just end up being a muslin as I expected the tank to be totally see-through. Holding this fabric up to the light I can see completely through it. It blows my mind that when worn as a fitted tank, you can’t even see my bra or the waistband of my white jeans. This fabric has amazing drape and is so light to the touch – it’s perfect for summer. I think it also helps to fall nicely at my hips whereas a more structured fabric would be a little tight without grading to a larger hip size on my figure.
Thread Chicken Win!
Check out how much thread I had to spare after finishing the very last button hole on my tank! Is there a better high than a sewing win like this?! Also, you can see my vintage buttonholer in the photo below. She has never let me down and makes the loveliest button holes!
The Taos Top
Taos Top: The Details
- Pattern is the Taos Top by Threadbear Garments available in sizes 0-20
- Pattern discount through July 23 (no coupon code required in Threadbear’s shop)
- View A features princess seams, mock turtleneck and curved hem (as seen in photo above)
- View B features princess seams, cowl neck and high-low hem with mitered corners
- I sewed both in size 8, my measurements are 36/29/45″ bust/waist/hip”
- Fabric is cream waffle knit and blue bamboo jersey, both from D&H Fabrics
Taos: Sizing and Fit
This might make for a really boring, but useful review. The fit was excellent! I made a straight size 8, and it fit so beautifully through the bust. Both views offered enough ease for me in the hip, where I would normally size up quite a bit. The princess seams are a lovely touch and a good opportunity for color blocking and scrap busting. I especially love the fit around the arm holes.
Taos Cowl Neck View B
I made View B in blue bamboo jersey as a birthday gift to my sister! I don’t have more than these few fit photos that I took during the pattern test, but I hope you can see how nice the fit is in this drapey jersey fabric. The hem is a high-low with mitered corners, where the side vents offer more ease for my hips. Sis has hips too so we are both happy! Hand made gifts are the best gifts. This pattern is a great option for a gift too because it’s easy to fit others.
Taos Turtleneck View A
This has become a wonderful neutral wardrobe staple. I love the texture of the waffle knit and I can wear it with other neutrals like my white jeans, or with colorful bottoms from my pink Pietra patns to my mustard refashioned skirt. The curved hem at the bottom looks really nice untucked, though I’m often a fan of tucking in to high waisted pants too. I squeezed this view out of a yard of fabric, but I ended up having to put the neckband on the cross grain which doesn’t have as much stretch. I don’t recommend doing that unless your fabric has good four-way stretch. The first time I popped this over my head it was so tight that it caught my nose ring. I’ll spare you the details, but don’t try to take that shortcut! It totally works to put on and off, I just need to be careful when I do. I look forward to making more of both of these views – they are perfect for activewear, seasonal layering, and scrap busting. They are both a quick and satisfying sew too!
Giveaway! Win the Frisco and Taos PDF Sewing Patterns
Hopefully my pattern reviews have convinced you that these patterns make fantastic additions to your stash! Leslie from Threadbear Garments has generously offered a prize package that includes both the Frisco Top + Jumpsuit and the Taos Top pdf patterns to one lucky winner. The giveaway will be open from Monday July 22 until Thursday July 25. The winner will be notified by email on Friday July 26 at noon CST.
The giveaway has now closed and we have a winner – Congratulations, Shelby!
Plz check the lumps and bumps technique I have tried from pattern magic book.and I have made video video on that
Hi! Great job on both patterns! I’d like some feedback from you on your buttonholer. I have a Viking Husqvarna sewing machine that I’m on the verge of selling because I feel I really just need a basic machine instead. This one really is for quilting, not fashion sewing. The buttonhole attachment is really awful. The machine you’re using your buttonholer on is a vintage, correct? Just thinking I probably should go that route. If you can give me any insight I’d appreciate it. I have a pattern that has many buttonholes & need to figure out what to do. Thanks.
Hi Jeanne! Yes, I love my buttonholer. It is vintage, and I found it on either Etsy or Ebay, I can’t remember. I highly recommend it and I’ve had really great success with clean buttonholes on everything from this cotton voile to heavy denim. The buttonholer comes with cams that you insert into the body of the thing – I have tiny little buttonhole cams for pearl-like buttons, up to a large keyhole cam for jackets and jeans. When you search for one, be sure it matches the shank type of your machine. My vintage machine is a slant-shank, but I’ve seen some at thrift shops for low shank machines. The seller or the info on the box will be able to tell you the shank type before you buy!