Layering the Lago Tank and Teen Spirit Top

The free Lago Tank by Itch to Stitch was one of my very first garments I sewed. It actually introduced me into the world of PDF pattern designers and the treasure trove of free patterns available online.

The Evolution from Lago #1

I made two of them just over a year ago, the first of which taught me about neck and arm bands and led to some interesting experiments on the best way to distribute stretch (it involved various cookware.)

I’m happy to report that technique has evolved over the last year. Quartering–which had once seemed so complex thanks to the convoluted instructions in Tilly Walnes’s Stretch! sewing book where I first learned about it–is now a breeze. No, you don’t have to measure and divide and math. Use your seams and center notches to your advantage to mark the quarter points, match them up, then stretch between those points and insert more pins. I’ll have to write up a more detailed description than that someday with some helpful visuals.

Lago 2020: Cotton Lycra

Craving some more pop-over silhouettes, I revisited the Lago so I could pair it with the G+G Teen Spirit Top. I also wanted to give it a go in cotton lycra since I’ve somehow acquired a small pile of it. I’m not sure why I keep expecting something different each time: it really is not my favorite type of fabric. It can make some comfy leggings and undies, but so can other fabrics which I like a lot more.

But I went with CL anyway because I’d ordered this particular geometric print from Made of Love as part of their weekly newsletter deal and it’s totally up my alley, and I thought to see how I liked this make in cotton lycra. (Sorry to anyone who wants to snatch some of this fabric; it seems to officially be sold out.)

Redrawing Ye Olde Pattern

Since my pattern pieces were from April 2019 which had been my first encounter working with a garment pattern and grading and such, I thought I’d re-do it. So I did. And it was dumb. I used the size chart instead of the finished garment measurement chart and ended up with a really baggy, ill-fitting disappointment.

I didn’t have anything to lose, so I dug my old pattern pieces out of the trash and shaped the sides of the bodice based on those pieces. This made it a tad tighter than I was going for, but salvaged it enough to become something I would actually wear.

In Conclusion

It’s still not the quickest sew ever with those 3 bands needing to be quartered and stretched, but it’s a very, very simple project, and I love how it layers with Teen Spirit–especially this particular Teen Spirit in this slinky, loose weave sweater knit from a Boho Fabrics clearance box. (Boho is my absolute favorite for fabric selection; they have so many styles that call to me. If they offered free shipping, I’d be in deep trouble.)