Basketball, soccer, volleyball, softball- these have all been parts of my athletic past back in the middle and high school years. I did play one year of basketball in college, but let me be clear that I spent more minutes watching my teammates play than making any impact on the court.
As I have aged (to a whole 29 years!) my time in organized sports has decreased unfortunately. (What is that all about by the way? I would love an adult women’s basketball league!) However, I have discovered my exercise of preference is lifting weights with some occasional running. I love that these two activities can be enjoyed without solo or with a group and with minimal planning, like over a lunch break or after the kids go to bed.
I made this cheetah print shirt as a toile for an entirely different style of top (it did not turn out even close to what I had in mind!), but I realized I could at least make use of it at as a workout crop. After wearing it to the gym twice I quickly realized it was far too tight in the chest, the armholes were uneven and the tight sizing was not ideal for lifting.
My Ideal Workout Tank
After studying my tried and true workout tanks, I realized the features I prefer are a compressive fit, mid crop with no more of an inch of skin showing when worn with high waisted leggings, and presentable enough so they can be paired with jeans or shorts during the summer.
While I don’t own a cover stitch machine (although I am finding some promising Janome ones on eBay for under $400 as we speak) I know that I would want to finish the hems with my serger and use a twin needle for both seam security and a polished finish.
Making My Own
I typically prefer single color tops, but in pursuit of making my own I used the cotton jersey I had on hand. I do have a beautiful 2 yards of compressive cobalt blue, but I have a tennis dress in mind for this summer’s tennis league.
I followed Rebecca’s instructions from her blog post about making a reversible knit tank and it was so helpful!
I traced my own pattern from a knit top I’ve had for years, found at TJ Maxx. I added a generous seam allowance of about 1 inch to account for the stretchy fit. My first attempt at the shirt resulted in a good fit in the chest and waist, however the neckline slightly gaped. I realized that I should make the lining fabric slightly smaller than the exterior fabric to fix this.
Putting the Tops to the Test
The next top I “tested” at the gym with a back day workout- I found it had plenty of range of motion in the shoulders, just the right amount of crop, and a perfect stretch for larger movements.
Changes I Made to the Final Top
I was finally ready to cut in to my good fabric. I can’t find the exact link from Joann’s, but this fabric color and type from Spoonflower appears similar.
-decrease the front armhole by 1-2 cm
-hem tape to reduce wavy ham
Knit Sewing Tips
✂️ Cutting Knit Fabric
- Use sharp tools – A rotary cutter and self-healing mat are ideal. Dull scissors can tug and distort the fabric.
- Avoid stretching – Lay your fabric flat and let it rest before cutting. Don’t let it hang off the table—it can stretch out of shape.
- Pin or use pattern weights – Pins can shift in knit, so try pattern weights and a rotary cutter for precision.
🧵 Sewing Machine Settings
- Use a ballpoint or stretch needle – These glide between the fabric’s fibers instead of piercing them.
- Choose the right stitch – Use a stretch stitch, lightning bolt stitch, or narrow zigzag. Straight stitches can pop when the fabric stretches.
Thank you for reading along, sewing friends! Now I’m off to prepare my full summer wardrobe. Stay tuned!
Sewcial Cues 
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