Hello! I'm back with another not-seasonally-appropriate but much loved DIY to share. And, it's a matching two piece set–often called a two-piece-setacular here in the sewing world. Just like last week's swim top, I made this set for my trip to Hawaii last month. It was a really lovely trip and so nice to get away and explore the islands. Before the trip, I had a long list of things that I wanted to make (isn't that always the case!). I didn't get through all of them but I did manage to whip up this cute set. The top is an early version of my Miri Tank Top that I had never fully finished and the shorts are the Flint Shorts by Megan Nielsen.
Let's start with the fabric. This is a lovely yarn dyed cotton that I bought in Michael Levine in downtown LA at least five years ago. As far as I know, the store is no longer open. They had closed for renovations in February 2020 but I've heard that it's now permanently closed. It used to be one of my favorite stores in downtown LA, and a true mainstay of the district. It's really sad that it's no longer there. (One big caveat, is that I have not been to the fashion district since before the pandemic. Hopefully, I get down there sooner than later. During the pandemic, I've mostly been working through my stash and only bought a few things online for specific projects.)
Anyway, this cotton is a great fabric for both the tank and shorts. It's easy to sew with and has some structure so you can really see the design lines of the garment. (By the way, both patterns would work just as well with a fabric that has more drape. But if you really want to see the shape, a medium weight cotton is a great option.) I did a little internet searching but unfortunately wasn't able to find a very similar fabric online. One of the nice things about working through my stash during the pandemic is that I'm finally using some of these fabrics that I like to call "deep stash" fabrics. You know, the fabrics that have been there so long that I can't quite remember where, when or why I bought them. Of course, I'm pretty sure I bought this because you just can't go wrong with yarn dyed chambray-esque cotton.
Cottons like this are great for warm weather garments because they're so breathable and easy to clean. I probably bought 2-3 yards of this fabric and had plenty to cut out both the tank and shorts. It's pretty exciting when I can get two full garments from one cut of fabric. Although, is it weird to have a bunch of things from the same fabric? Definitely and indicator of a handmade wardrobe.
The tank top is my latest sewing pattern, the Miri Tank top. This is view B of the pattern which features a V-neck and angled back neck and arm openings. The neck and armholes are finished with a facing for a very clean and easy to sew finish. View A has a rounded neckline and rounded armholes. This pattern comes in sizes 0-32 with A/B, C/D and E/F cup size options for all sizes. I designed this pattern for beginners and it features techniques that are approachable and useful skill builders. I'm wearing a size 12, C/D cup with a 1/4 inch square shoulder adjustment. My measurements are upper bust 35.5", full bust 39" and I'm 5'11". You can learn more about the pattern here.
This is one of the early versions and I made a few tweaks since this drafting. Mostly, I think the neckline is a little lower in the final version and the length is a little shorter here. I had already sewn the facings to the top so I only had to sew the side seams and the hem to finish this up.
The shorts are made using the Flint Pants and Shorts pattern by Megan Nielsen. I first made this pattern back in 2017. I made a pair of shorts in a black mystery fabric and pants in a teal linen. The black shorts have been one of my most worn items and I think they've gotten a bit stretched out over the years. So, when I found myself with a bit of leftover cotton fabric, I thought it was a great time to make another pair of Flint shorts. (And just check out that pattern matching in the back!)
My favorite thing about these shorts are the closure. Instead of elastic or a zipper, it's more of a wrap style that is held in place with a button and a tie. I like that I can tie the closure a little tighter or looser, as needed. They have a fitted appearance but it's easy to loosen them a little, which I always appreciate. Plus, they're really quick to sew.
When I bought the pattern back in 2017, it was in a S-M-L size range. I make between a small and medium and drop the crotch 1.75" to accommodate for my height. In between a small and large is equivalent to a size 10 in the current range and matches my measurements really well. The Flint pants and shorts pattern is now available in two size ranges, 0-20 and curve range 14-30 (up to a 58" hip). You can check out my original blog post about the Flint pants here. And, I have a video talking about some of my favorite shorts patterns here.
I really love this set. It’ll most likely be stored in the closet for the next six months but I’m sure I’ll get a lot of wear from it later on, both as a set and separately. If you don’t have a copy of the Miri Tank pattern yet, you can find it in the shop. Happy sewing!
