Apparently, the Tanita top pattern by Fibre Mood isn’t too out of season just yet… so I’m showing it to you quickly before it is.
It’s also the second of the tops you’ve already spotted in the photos of the barrel Twig Woven Pant trousers.
As with many of my recent projects, I sewed it to showcase a Tissœurs fabric.
The fabric, a Tissœurs double gauze with a diagonal check print, called for a pattern that would show it off without making me deal with pattern matching. A stylish, quick project!
| ITEM | SHOP | QUANTITY | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanita top pattern | Fibre Mood magazine 20 | 1 | €0 (already paid for itself) |
| Gaufrette Confettis Vanille double gauze | Tissœurs | 1 m | €17.95 |
| Printed cotton bias tape | Stash | 0.8 m | €0 |
| 1.5 cm elastic | Stash | 0.8 m | €0 |
| Thread | Stash | 1 | €0 |
| Total | €17.95 |
The Tanita top pattern
The Fibre Mood Tanita top is a loose-fitting top with a boat neckline and batwing sleeves, gathered with elastic at the hem and sleeve ends.
It comes in two versions: a short crop top and a longer one. I made the short version.
This pattern was published in Fibre Mood magazine issue 20, June 2022, priced at €15.90. Proof that it’s never too late to get your money’s worth out of a magazine!
This Fibre Mood issue really caught my eye with the Nina dress (sewn in white linen) and the Meryl dress (still not sewn).
The pattern is also sold on its own as a PDF on the Fibre Mood website, in A4 (22 pages) or A0 (2 pages).
Sizes range from XS to XXXL (EU 32 to 60), for a bust of 76 to 146 cm.
It has only three pattern pieces (two if you use ready-made bias tape like I did): the front and back, cut on the fold, and a bias strip for the neckline. When I say it’s quick… it’s hard to get simpler unless you sew a poncho.
But Mr. Ouch…
Fibre Mood rates it level 1 out of 5, and I agree. The Tanita top pattern is perfect for beginners, or for anyone who wants a quick little top to sew. I barely glanced at the instructions.
Tracing went smoothly. As with all the print magazine patterns, seam allowances are not included, so I added them by hand (1 cm on most edges, 4 cm at the hems). With the PDF, you can choose whether or not to print them.
With such simple lines, you can’t get the drape wrong. It’s not just a rectangle with armholes. Fibre Mood really knows how to do this, maybe from all the practice…
Sewing the Tanita top
Fabric requirements: 1 m instead of 1.25 m
The pattern calls for 1.25 m of 140 cm wide fabric and 1.35 m of 1.5 cm wide elastic.
But for my short version in size S, I fit everything into 1 m of 145 cm wide double gauze.
The fabric: Gaufrette Confettis Vanille double gauze
The Gaufrette Confettis Vanille double gauze is part of the Tissœurs Sorbets collection. The print reminds me of the waffle texture of an ice cream cone: diagonal lines form diamonds, with a colourful dot at every intersection.
I love it! This print is truly one of my all-time favourites, even though I wouldn’t have bet on it at first…
The neckline bias tape, applied as a binding
My only departure from the pattern is the neckline. Fibre Mood uses an invisible bias facing: cut from the main fabric, folded in half, stitched to the right side, then turned completely to the wrong side.
Instead, I dug into my stash for a printed cotton bias tape in the same colours as the double gauze, also with a diagonal check, but on a much smaller scale.
So I applied it as a binding, leaving a thin strip visible to echo the fabric print. Simplicity on the diagonal, mini edition.
The finishes
For the finishes, I also kept things basic and effective:
- Construction seams (shoulder, side and underarm) finished on the serger
- Bottom and sleeve hems: a single fold, topstitched to form the elastic casing, instead of the double fold in the pattern
- Elastic threaded through the casings, then the openings stitched closed. For the elastic length, I skipped the chart and simply measured around myself
Sewing struggles: none
Simplicity on the diagonal, all the way through.
No nail-biting drama, no sympathy needed for my little mishaps. No unpicking, no piece cut crooked. A quick, simple project from start to finish.
Verdict: simple, basic, with one drawback
On the sewing side, the Tanita top pattern delivers: quick, simple, with a lovely drape, and it shows off my favourite print beautifully.
On the wearing side, I’m less convinced. Like every batwing top, it rides up as soon as you raise your arms a little. With the tight elastic, it’s neither very comfortable nor very flattering, in my opinion.
I’ve found the fix: replace the elastic with a drawstring. In practice, a piece of elastic with a ribbon at each end, the elastic part staying hidden in the casing. That way you can adjust the fit as you like. You know how it goes: it’ll get done someday… or not.
A small victory along the way: writing this post between weekends and evenings spent among moving boxes and renovations. We’ll see if I can do it again 🤷🏻♀️
Anyway, are you still sewing? I have the feeling sewing content is slowing down a bit everywhere… Is it just because I’m watching more painting & woodworking videos, or have you noticed it too? See you in the comments 😉
Tanita top FAQ
How much fabric do you need for the Tanita top?
For the short version in size S, the Tanita top pattern calls for 1.25 m of 140 cm wide fabric, but 1 m of 145 cm wide fabric was enough for me. Depending on size, version and fabric width, Fibre Mood lists between 1.20 m and 2.25 m.
Is the Tanita top pattern suitable for beginners?
Yes, the Tanita top pattern is rated level 1 out of 5 and has only three pieces, with no zip or buttons. The only slightly technical steps are the neckline bias and the elastic casings.
Where can you find the Tanita top pattern?
The Tanita top pattern was published in Fibre Mood magazine issue 20 (June 2022). It is also sold on its own as a PDF on the Fibre Mood website.
