Introducing The Hunter Tank, A New Summer Sewing Pattern

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Hello everyone!

Today, I'd like to introduce you to my brand new pattern, The Hunter Tank. It's just in time for summer up there and just in time for winter down here :)

The bias cut Hunter Tank is designed to sit at your natural waist, skimming your curves with the lightest touch, giving you definition where it's needed, while keeping you cool and comfortable.

Wear it to the beach for a casual look, pair it with a circle skirt for a vintage vibe or wear it with jeans for a modern look — The Hunter Tank is your ultimate summer top, ready to go when you are.














The Hunter Tank has been a work in progress since late last year - I really found my summer wardrobe lacking in separates that were versatile, lightweight and flattering. I couldn't put my finger on quite what exactly that was and so I kept looking through my wardrobe, just in case something I hadn't seen last time had magically appeared. Or, you know, Narnia.

Narnia didn't appear to be lurking in my wardrobe, but the idea for Hunter popped into my head one day while trying to find a nice flattering and comfortable cover up for a sundress I wanted to wear (maternity bras are not the most beautiful things ever designed). Perfect, a pattern that you can make to wear on it's own, or as a cover up for when you need a little extra, er, coverage.

So, I'm really excited to share Hunter with you, and I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I have.  


FEATURES:

  • choice of wide or narrow shoulders
  • an optional pocket
  • detail stitching
  • a lovely wee rolled hem (with easy instructions on how to do it without a rolled hem foot)
  • bias bound neckline and armscye finishes (pattern pieces included!).
You can make Hunter in a huge range of fabrics, from quilting cottons for a crisper look, to lawns and linens for everyday to crepe de chine, georgette and silks for a stunning evening cover up over strappy dresses and playsuits.

Quick and easy, with beautiful detail and clean drafting for a gorgeous fit, Hunter is a modern nod to classic vintage attire.

The Hunter Tank Pattern - Available Here!

I'll be posting a few Hunter Tank tutorials during June, including how you can get a rolled hem without a rolled hem foot (it's easier and neater than you might think!!). 

I'm so proud of this pattern, it's my first brand new pattern back since having Oscar and I think it's such a sweet little top (er, I might be biased there...), so the question is, what do you think?!?

xx
J
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ps) The chambray Hunter Tank is worn with a Felicity Dress Skirt.
20 comments on "Introducing The Hunter Tank, A New Summer Sewing Pattern"
  1. Congratulations on the new pattern. It looks really pretty and very versatile. Xx

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  2. It's lovely! I will have to wait til it's summer here though, or I'll sew it now, wear it now, and freeze to death!

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    1. Me too! I wore mine during this summer while I was drafting and testing the pattern and it was lovely, wish I could keep wearing it...

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  3. I love it! So pretty and unique

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  4. Ooo I love it! I've been looking for tops that will work for nursing but also with a skirt :-) would you make a size bigger to be able to pull it up to feed, or should it be OK?

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    1. Hey Rachel!! Okay, I would size up, only because when you breastfeed, who the heck knows how big they're going to get (I would insert a crying/laughing emoji here!!).

      I haven't tried this, but you could possibly give this a go in a knit too? But don't cut on the bias, cut with the stretch running across - then, depending on the fabric stretch you used, you would probably negate the need to size up completely, you could even downsize possibly. And you'd then be able to wear it once you had stopped breastfeeding too.

      I'd love to know how you got on if you did try it!!

      xx

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  5. This is gorgeous! It looks perfect with the circle skirt.
    xo

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  6. I love this pattern! It is on my 'to buy' list!

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  7. It's a lovely pattern, congratulations!

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  8. I adore this style! It looks like the bust shaping has been rotated into the tie. Do you think the resulting gathers would be too extreme after a really big FBA (32G)? Will you be showing an FBA for this pattern? Thanks!!

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    1. Hey lovely Lady! There are side bust darts in there for shaping around the bust so you definitely can easily do an FBA on this pattern :) Since it's a loose pattern before you tie it, you can either make the dart larger or rotate some of that fullness into the tie. It'll make it a bit thicker, but I don't think that'll make a big difference to the overall garment.

      I wasn't planning on doing an FBA tutorial, but I totally can!!

      xx
      J

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    2. Awesome! I'll just use the side dart for my FBA. Done, and I'm buying it! I can't wait to make some Hunter tanks!

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  9. Love Love Love it!!! Thank you so much for making this pattern available Jennifer! I am going to have to add it to my Summer Wardrobe line-up ASAP!

    Brigid

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  10. Hey, I love this pattern. But I have never done bias binding, cut anything on the bias or a rolled hem. Is the pattern beginner friendly?

    I love all your patterns, they are perfect for someone wanting a vintage inspierd wardrobe that actually fits!

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    1. Hey Sara! Thanks for your lovely comment :)

      I would say the pattern is beginner friendly, the major thing about cutting on the bias is to be very gentle with it to avoid stretching it out, especially along the neckline and armscyes. There are instructions provided on basting those areas first before doing anything else, but it still pays to be really gentle with the top until it's finished in those areas.

      The pattern comes with patterns for the bias binding, so you don't have to do much there either (except be gentle with them as well once cut). You could buy pre-made bias if you wanted too though, which would make it an even quicker to sew.

      A number of my testers had never done a rolled hem (or inserted it using the method I layout in the instructions) and all of them loved the end result and found it an easy method to follow. There are a few more steps than you'd need if you had a rolled hem foot, but it does result in a lovely and clean little hem without needing to splash out on expensive feet you might use once a year.

      I'll be doing some tutorials during June for Hunter, including the rolled hem, but I think if you're feeling like you want tackle some new skills, Hunter is a quick pattern to try those out on. It doesn't use a tonne of fabric either, so if you need to make a muslin or 2 to practice and get the fit right for your body, you won't feel like it's been wasted.

      I hope that helps!! But let me know if you have anymore questions.

      xx

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  11. Hey there, I love this pattern! I bought it ahead of the bundle and the tutorials because I just couldn't wait to make it. I have made my first one out of a fun floral pattern linen, but have run into a problem. When I tie the ties there is so much excess...room/fabric in the front. I cut a size 14 based on my measurements and was wondering if I should use the size 12 for the front pieces next time. My idea is to take a couple of darts down the front to help get rid of the bulky excess. Has this been an issue before and/or do you have any suggestions for me? Thank you very much!

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    1. Hey Kelly!

      Can I ask what cup size you are? I draft for a D cup, so doing a small bust adjustment could be helpful if you're a smaller cup size :) If you don't want to worry about doing bust adjustments, you could try taking a small amount of fabric out of the centre seam. You would make the ties slightly thinner over all, but I doubt you'd notice it when tied.

      You could also definitely try the size 12 front piece to see if that helped with the pooling. Possibly cut the centre seam as a size 12 and the rest as a 14? If the fit is okay everywhere else?

      Sorry I can't be much help here - if you'd like to send me a photo I can take a look to see if it's the cup size issue? Doing an SBA isn't as hard as it sounds, it's just the opposite of an FBA and would leave you with a garment that fitted while keeping the proportions :) My email is jen@jenniferlaurenhandmade.com

      xx
      J

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  12. Hi! Looking forward to making this tank for the summer. Might be a stupid question, but I’m just wondering if it NEEDS to be cut on the bias. I have a fabric I’d love to use but I don’t have quite enough for the pattern pieces when placed on the bias.

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    1. Hey Heather, I haven't tried it not cut on the bias, but I suppose you don't need to. The bias cut does add to the fit and shaping of the top and it gives it a little more 'give' so that it's nice and comfortable to wear, but I think you should be fine with it cut on the straight.

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