Pattern Review: Women’s Good Sport Tank by Ellie and Mac

Hello again! I’m excited to share a pattern review with you from Ellie and Mac called the Women’s Women’s Good Sport Tank (aff links). This is my first handmade top that is considered an athletic tank and I’m excited about it!

I will share a few details in the beginning of this post and the pattern review will be after.

Fabric Requirements: (Yard/Meter)

The recommended fabrics are 4 way and 50% stretch knit fabrics.  Technically the fabrics that I chose did not meet these requirements, however I intentionally picked more ease in the sizing for my tank for higher drape in the end garment.

Fabrics: I wanted to share about the fabrics that I chose for this pattern.**  All three fabrics are from the Simply by Ti website.  I decided to approach this pattern by colorblocking three different fabrics for one garment.  What is fun about this pattern is that you can get by with using small pieces of fabric scraps to make this top.

Below shows a photo of a label with the quantity I had remaining of the baby terry oatmeal fabric from my stash (I had 20″ of a 60″ wide fabric for this piece).

My version: Low neckline, straight hem, peekaboo back, hood and pocket omitted.

I have a coverstitch machine, a Janome CoverPro 900CPX.  I don’t always take the time to finish my hems with the coverstitch machine but I decided to for this project.  I do want to note that a CS machine is not required for this project.  I find that my machine sews best with flat fabric (not sewing hems in the round).  Prior to sewing this tank together, I sewed each hem flat first (the peekaboo back hems, the sleeve hems, and the bottom hem).  I’m so glad I sewed the garment in this way, the coverstitched details are so fun!

Pattern Review

Pattern Description:

The Good Sport Tank Sewing Pattern will make you feel sassy and confident!  It features tons of options so that you can make lots of different tops.  There are two necklines, hood, pocket, curved or regular hem and open back and peekaboo back options.  This looks fantastic going to the gym and even amazing sewn with a dressy fabric and worn over a bralette or tank!

• Muscle tank style

• Curved hem option

• Peekaboo or open back options for the back

• Low or high neckline option

• Hood option

• Pocket option

• No trim pattern pages

• Pattern pieces for all parts

• Layers printing feature

Pattern Sizing:

My sizing: I chose a Small – Bust, Medium – Hips, Large – Hips

Technically my upper bust sizing falls more in the XS range but I intentionally upsized the bust for a drapey fit.

I graded across the Small – Large sizing with a french curve ruler.

I chose to also grade across sizing at the peekaboo back.  I cut at the Small cutting line along the top back location. Following around the Peekaboo curve there is a location where the small and large pattern lines intersect.  At this location I switched to the Large cutting line through the Hip location.

Did it look like the photo/drawing when you finished sewing? Yes

Were the instructions complete and easy to follow? Yes. One area to note, when I first sewed the top, I had a droop at the printed fabric in the back (see photo below).

When I unpicked the side seam and unpicked the basted stitches (of the two back fabrics together) I found that the rayon knit fabric was larger then the baby terry fabric. This happened when I cut the fabric out on my cutting table. Rayon knits are so lovely to wear but you have to be really careful when you cut out.  You can easily stretch the fabric when you lay it on your cutting table.

To fix this issue I spread the fabric out flat along the curved back and let the extra fabric fall into the seam allowance (as shown in the photo below).

After this fix, the back drapes much more uniformly and does not droop.

Fabric used (did you use the suggested fabrics in the pattern)?

Tank front – I chose a lovely Jade Under Armour Wickaway Jersey.  This fabric is a 2 way knit with less then 50% stretch.  I picked this fabric as I had a small amount leftover in my fabric stash.  I love the performance benefits of this fabric with its wickaway properties.

Tank back right & neckband – Turquoise Ivory Aztec Geometric Rayon Spandex.  This fabric is very soft.  I picked this one to pair well with the Jade fabric.  I also thought the knit would drape well with the peekaboo back.

Did you alter the pattern in any way? No

Was there anything you disliked or would change? No. Keep in mind with the tank, the purpose of the tank is to show off a bra or tank top worn underneath. The sizing around the arm holes is intentionally wider as is the peekaboo (or second, more open option in the back).

Would you sew it again? Yes. I’d like to go down one size and try the curved hem/high neckline combination.

Would you recommend it to others? Yes! I like that this top can be worn with a sports bra for a workout top or with a bralette for a summer tank. I wore this top out with a sports bra and linen shorts and it felt amazing on a hot and humid summer day.

Do you consider the pattern beginner/intermediate/advanced? Advanced beginner (the recommended fabric is knit fabric).

Does the pattern include layers for easy printing? Yes

Seam allowances used in the pattern: 1/4″

Is the pattern cut or no cut pages? No cut pages

**I’m a Simply by Ti Ambassador and received the fabrics mentioned in this post as complimentary fabric in exchange for review and promotion.  The views expressed are my own.