Do you know what the best deal is? Getting three different patterns in one! That’s right, you read that correctly: three free patterns! With the Sylvan pattern, you can make a racerback dress, a tank top, or a cropped tank top. For these garments, we recommend that you use knits with more than 60% stretch, such as a rib knit or bamboo jersey. If you want to get extra trendy with these simple garments, you could cut the back a different color than the front!
Purchase Materials Used Below:
- Dress: 2 yards Dusty Aqua Tubular Cotton 1×1 Rib Knit
- Tank: 1 yard Heathered Rose Quartz and Gray Tubular Cotton Jersey
- Note: This fabric has less than 60% stretch, so we sized up when sewing the tank version.
- Cropped Tank: 1 yard Dusty Aqua Tubular Cotton 1×1 Rib Knit
- MDF257 – The Sylvan Tank Sewing Pattern (free download below!)
Alternative Recommended Fabrics:
1. Cut out your pieces with the widest stretch going across the body as you lay out your fabric and pattern.
2. Change the stitching on your machine to a stretch stitch or overlock stitch.
3. Place front and back together face to face, pin, and sew at the shoulders and side seams.
4. Fold your armscye bindings in half face to face and sew along the short edge.
5. Fold the binding in half, wrong sides together, pin, and prep to add to the armhole.
6. Matching seams, pin the armhole binding to the armscye, matching right sides together.
7. Create the neck binding exactly like you just did for the armhole facing. Mark the center back seam with a pin.
8. Make sure the binding seam is at the center back of the garment, pin the binding face to face along the neckline, and sew.
9. Pin neckline binding to the garment and sew.
9. Regardless of which length you chose, finish with a rolled hem.
10. Prefs fold lines out and press the binding seam allowances toward the inside of the garment so all bindings lay flat. Note: if the fabric has elastic or synthetic fibers, use a pressing cloth and a low heat setting so you don’t melt your fabric.
32 comments
You read my mind this week. I have been looking for a versatile tank top/dress pattern. Can’t wait to make this in so many colors. Thank you.
Thanks so much for this pattern!
thanks!
Definitely size up if you don’t think your fabric is over 60% stretch. I’m normally a size 4/6 but did a size 8 to be safe and wow it was tight. Used a waffle knit fabric. Also, the front/back sides were mislabeled as both “back” (at least when I downloaded the pattern on 6/8).
I have been looking for a tank dress pattern! This was right on time. Thank you!
J’adore
Very good thanks
Thank You for this pattern. I’ve been looking for a dress pattern that was an easy to construct for this heated weather we’re going to have this year.
Thank You so much for share it. I will try tomorrow.
what is the format of papers 1, 2, 3,…18
Hello!
Our patterns are all formatted to be printed at home in both A4 and US letter sizes!
Definitely size way up! Great and support easy pattern but runs very small.
Love this pattern! Was good to follow and was my first time sewing something and it came out great!
Even wtih 60% stretch fabric I went up 5 sizes. Size chart puts me at 0/2 and I made size 12 in my second version. Unless it’s compression or activewear fabric, I can’t imagine wanting negative ease on the waist in this design. Now that I’ve figured it out I’ll make more for sure.
I am just thrilled with your patterns! You do such a nice job of writing and designing them! They don’t give me a headache trying to figure out how to put each sheet of paper together after printing them. They’re just such a pleasure to work with! Thank you so much!
I made the tank dress this weekend, it’s an easy sew. I’m happy with the result. I do have a little gap on the side bodice but I’ll adjust the in my next one. I did size up. Thanks for the pattern. I’ll be making more in the future.
LOVE, LOVE YOUR PATTERNS: EASY TO PUT TOGETHER AND INSTRUCTIONS A+. FINISHING UP MY BEAUTIFUL SYLVAN TANK DRESS, AS WE SPEAK. MOOD PATTERNS MY NEW GO-PATTERNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. I MADE THE FULL SIZE BEFORE ALTERING THE PATTERN, THEN SIZED DOWN FOR FIT, NO PROBLEMS NOR HASSLE., EASY AS 123. NOW READY FOR NUMBER 2 OR 3?..
This pattern is awesome and super easy to make. Definitely SIZE UP 1-3 sizes
Might make this for winter layering in a fleece; I’ll size up to a 14 (I’m usually 6/8, but I see from the comments that, unless you’re using absolute spandex, you need to size all the way up lol) and pre wash my fabric to ensure a good fit 🙂
I think the link to download is broken. It doesn’t seem like it’s working for me 🙁
Hi Anna, we’re so sorry about that! We were making updates to our site, but everything should be working well now. If you still can’t get the pattern, email info@moodfabrics.com and they’ll send it over!
Hi there, made this dress but took out my roller hem because it was so wonky ! Ended up being a lettuce hem which doesn’t look good on a tight dress.
Is it possible to do the hem in the same way I did the neckline, with band? Would I just measure the circumference of the bottom of the dress and cut out a band the same size ?
Would appreciate any advice. Thanks !
Hi Kira, you could! Or you could serge the raw edge, use Soft Stretch by Heat n Bond to make a nice and clean folded hem, and then use a stretch stitch along the hem.
Thank you Elizabeth for the tip! Went and bought the heat and bond and it worked really well! Unlike other comments here I found I didn’t need to size up but I suppose that depends on one’s comfort with tight fitting clothes.
Yay! I’m so glad! I always have heat and bond in my sewing stash. It’s my secret weapon when I work with knits. 🙂
I registered my email, but did not receive the link with the free download for the tank top.
Hi Joanna, we’re sorry about that! Email info@moodfabrics.com and they’ll send the pattern over. 🙂
Saw all the comments about sizing up.. wow are they right! I initially thought I was about a size 6, but ended up making a size 16!! It didn’t turn out baggy, except in the underarms (turns out the front pattern was too wide), but it fit well after those minor changes.
I also found that the tank top cut line was a bit too short… Give yourself a few extra inches!
Overall this was a great beginner pattern, as this is the first garment I decided to try. I will be saving this pattern for the future!
Hello, I tried downloading a couple of times, but didn’t receive the link via email. Is this still available? (I checked spam, too). Thanks!
Hello, Please email info@moodfabrics.com for any issues with pattern downloads.
Hi. I just tried to download this pattern, but the link isn’t highlighted on my email. can someone help?
Hello, Please email info@moodfabrics.com for any issues with pattern downloads.