Athletic Tank Top In Recycled Polyester Lilac Recipe

Prepare pattern and fabric

Prewash the recycled polyester fabric in cold water and air dry or tumble low to remove finishing chemicals and pre-shrink. Press lightly with an iron set to the polyester/synthetic setting.

Lay out pattern pieces

On a flat surface, lay the fabric with right sides together. Place the tank front, tank back and any mesh panels or racerback pattern pieces according to the grainline. Use weights or pins to secure the paper pattern.

Cut fabric

Carefully cut the main body pieces and mesh panels following the pattern. Transfer any notches, darts, or alignment marks with a fabric marker or chalk. Also cut single fold binding strips to the lengths specified by the pattern (neckline and armholes).

Shoulder seams

With right sides together, align front and back shoulder seams. Stabilize the seam with a 1/2 inch fusible stay tape on the wrong side along the seam allowance. Sew the shoulder seams using a stretch stitch on your sewing machine (narrow zigzag or stretch stitch) with a 3/8" seam allowance, or use a serger. Press seams open toward the back with a light hand of the iron.

Attach neck binding

Prepare the single fold binding by pressing it in half lengthwise with the wrong sides together. With the tank right side out, pin the binding (raw edges aligned to raw neckline edge) around the neckline, stretching the binding slightly so it lies flat but not distorted. Sew using a 3-step zigzag or stretch stitch, catching both binding layers and main fabric. Fold binding to the inside, press, and topstitch close to the inner folded edge with a narrow zigzag or coverstitch if available.

Attach armhole binding

Repeat the binding process for armholes: pin single fold binding to raw armhole edge, stretching slightly, sew with a stretch stitch, fold to the inside and topstitch. If using mesh side panels, baste the mesh to the body pieces first along the edge, then treat the combined edge as the armhole edge when applying binding.

Side seams

With right sides together, match side seam notches and pin. Sew side seams from hem to armhole using a 3/8" seam allowance and a stretch stitch or serger. Finish seam allowances with a serger or narrow zigzag. Press seams toward the back or open lightly.

Optional racerback assembly (if using mesh)

If your design includes a racerback mesh insert, join the mesh insert to the upper back and front accordingly using a 1/4" to 3/8" seam allowance. Stabilize the seams with fusible stay tape if needed, then finish edges and proceed with binding as above.

Hem

Turn up the bottom hem 1/2" to 3/4" (depending on the pattern), pin or clip, and press lightly. Sew using a twin needle for a professional-looking stretch hem, or use a narrow zigzag/coverstitch. Trim any loose threads.

Stabilize and topstitch

If you used clear elastic at shoulder seams or around the neckline/armholes, make sure it is secured with small zigzag stitches as you sewed seams. Topstitch any decorative seams if desired with a narrow zigzag or coverstitch for durability.

Final pressing and quality check

Give the tank a final press using a low-to-medium heat setting suitable for polyester. Check all seams, hems, and bindings for evenness and secure stitching. Try on for fit and tweak if minor adjustments are needed (take in side seams slightly, shorten hem, etc.).

Attach a care label indicating machine wash cold, tumble low or hang to dry, do not bleach, and cool iron if needed. Fold the tank neatly or package on a hanger for display.