For me the summers seem to fall into the same uniform: Greenpoint shorts and a t-shirt. Every day same combo. I'm sure anyone else who works from home feels the same way. We just want something easy. By the end of summer my farmer tan of short sleeves has become more than evident on the days I venture something sleeveless.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not afraid of sleeveless, it's just that it's hard to find a tank that actually fits a petite frame. The armholes are always too low, the shoulders are falling off and the necklines are too low. But last summer I resolved to fix this. I designed the Cornwall tank to fit a personal wardrobe gap and it's evolved along the way, to the point where I want to share it with you!
Each iteration of my Cornwall tanks offers new wardrobe opportunities. The double V neck looks nice on nights out with some jewelry and the scoop neck is easy breezy. In fact, yesterday was the first outing after the photoshoot so I wore it out to a few errands and did some light garden work, where it proved to be a much cooler option than my knit tees.
The Cornwall tank features 3 different necklines: the wider scoop with a lower back, a double V and a high crew neck. Now before we go too far I want to address a major fit point. I wanted to make the high crew something that didn't require a closure like a keyhole and loop- something that you can pull over your head. Back when I worked for a major retailer we hand minimum neckline opening circumferences that I revisited for this style. I'm not going to lie, it is a snugger fit as you pull it over your head. I've done some fancy grading to make sure the smaller sizes aren't too small and I've also included a measurement for neckline opening in the finished garment measurements to compare with your own head circumference. Go ahead! Wrap that measuring tape around your head and ensure that you'll be able to get through the neckline. If the measurements are too small, then grade up in size to the appropriate circumference.
Gaping and long armholes are always a fit issue for tank tops regardless if you are petite or not. This is a bust shaping issue. If the armhole is gaping then you need a deeper dart. Well friends, I've got you covered here as well! The Cornwall Tank features 3 different cup options B,C,D to accommodate a range of shapes.
This is probably going to sound dumb, but the reason I didn't release this pattern last year was that I just couldn't decide on the right length. Last year cropped was all the rage. And as much as I would prefer tops shorter in general, I don't think a super cropped tank is timeless. I finally landed on the Cornwall tank to be on the shorter side, but long enough to cover the waistband of your pants or skirt. But of course there are lengthen/shorten lines if you would prefer it longer or shorter.
The Cornwall tank is designed for light to medium weight woven fabrics. It's perfect for linen and light weight cotton.
The center front and center back seaming were purposeful in order to squeeze this tank into a minimal amount of fabric, and also create some color blocking opportunities, if that floats your boat. If the center front seam is not your look, it's easy to trim off the seam allowance and cut it on the fold. However, for facing construction, you will still need a seam at the center back.
What do you think, will the Cornwall Tank be your summer staple as well? Grab your copy today!