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Simplicity 8338 workout tank top - pattern review

It's a new year and that means it's time to get in shape! The best motivation is a super cute self-sewn workout top, right? Definitely.

I had bought a really cute nylon-spandex remnant from LA Finch Fabrics a while ago, thinking I might make another swimsuit but since I really didn't need the last swimsuit I made (I have a TON) I decided I could use it to make myself an exercise top and Simplicity 8338 was right there in my pattern stash waiting to be called into service.



I decided to make view B with the gathered back. While C is also pretty cute, can you imagine doing a downward dog in that? It would probably fall off ☺and I'm not really into that.

Pros of this pattern

  • Really simple directions and easy to construct!
  • Each back is printed separately on the pattern tissue so you can easily make different views without having to trace anything.
  • I was able to make this from just 5/8 of a yard of 60" fabric, this is less than the pattern says you'll need. Suspiciously, the pattern envelope says you need more fabric for view A which has a straight cut back than view B which has a gathered back...so maybe the envelope is not very accurate.
Cons of this pattern
  • Holy moly there is a ton of ease! I measure a size M bust, L waist and XL hip but I made a straight size medium and it's still plenty big. If I had graded to my size for waist/hip it would have been like wearing a tent. Actually when I looked at the pattern pieces I could already tell it would have been way too large for me if I'd done an XL hip.

  • You're supposed to bind the neck/armhole. This is just my preference but I hate sewing on binding with a passion and I will do anything to avoid it. I used the pattern pieces for the binding but cut them out as narrow bands instead. Next time I'll make the bands a smidge wider to give myself some room for error but I'd already cut them when I realized they were for binding and I didn't have enough fabric to cut new ones. I didn't sew super accurately in a couple of spots and my band is really thin as a result.
Overall a quick and easy project, I can't wait to go to the gym and wear my new top!


Update: as part of the "2020 quarantine collection" I made a second version of this and it is fabulous with the reverse coverstitching I added. I used maxi-lock swirls color change thread in color tie-dye punch and wow does it pop! I'm gonna look cute when my gym re-opens!


I will say, having done this another time, serging the gathered back on to the top piece is very challenging. I machine basted them together before serging and I still have a little pucker in the exact same spot. I actually unpicked this second and tried a third time and same little pucker. Blerg.

I also took in the hip about half a size, since my first one was so big. This is still a loose fit but much better than the original. That means I measure an XL hip and made a S/M (about halfway between) and it's still plenty big.

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