SPIDER WEB TANK x LITTLE KIWI CLOSET
This review is my honest opinion of a pattern I received free of charge as a pattern tester for Little Kiwi Closet.
Now that Mars is a little older and able to sit up on her own, shirts work a bit better than they used to on a scrunched up newborn body. And even though its probably won't be warm enough for her to wear it without a cardigan, the Spider Web Tank by Little Kiwi Closet is too cute on her.
The Spider Web Tank + Tunic was another tester I did this spring. Its a knit pattern and has two lengths and a few hem styles, like a straight hem, drop sides, ruffled, and curved, which I chose for my tank length garment. The special feature is the back detail (the "spider web"), which lends itself to endless stylings. Lydia includes one option with a sort of bow vibe, but I created my own using a simple cow hitch knot.
This tank was a perfect project for using up the rest of my fun Art Gallery Pug Ville Vert cotton/lycra after having made her some newborn leggings and lining the pockets on Ren's Geneva Cardigan. How quirky are those pugs? I love it.
Some thoughts on this one...Mars is a petite thing and I think on the smaller sizes (I made size 0-3) some of the tank-ness is lost and it looks a little more cap sleeved, but I actually don't mind it too much. But if you're wanting a true tank, you might have to do a little adjusting. There are two options for finishing the neck--band or binding--and the band version on the smaller size really increases the overall width of the shoulders. So if I were to do it again, I'd probably go with the binding method. And speaking of the neck and arm bands, this is definitely one of those patterns where top stitching really makes a difference. After I finish the bands everything looked, well frankly, wonky. Things just weren't laying right even after a good press and it was lacking a little finesse. I went over the neck and arm bands with my trusty double needle and bam! Instant upgrade. The topstitching with the double needle helped it lay a lot better and as always, really upped the professional factor. Finally, just as a fair warning, turning the strips for the back detail can be a bit of a challenge. Between the narrow width and stretchy knit, it took me a couple tries to figure out the most effective method for turning those suckers. Luckily, Lydia added a quick youtube video in the instructions showing how she uses a bodkin to easily turn the straps. I've only ever used a safety pin to turn narrow tubes but it looks like this simple gadget is going on my shopping list!
Overall this was a quick sew and for those smaller sizes, an excellent scrap buster. I like that every tank you make can be completely different thanks to the multiple hem styles/lengths and the limitless back details--and if you're looking for a plain tank, this pattern's got you covered too with a plain back option as well. I might have to dig out some more knit scraps to make another one with the ruffle!
How would you customize the "spider web" back detail?
