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With summer quickly approaching I wanted to take a look at 3 DIY Dresses that will give you some ideas for adding to your self sewn wardrobe. This is a 3 part series featuring my very favorite color blue. Today I am talking about the Pony Tank Dress by Chalk and Notch and the maxi hack I used. Make sure to check out the second and third dress in this series.
Sewing Pattern Review: Pony Tank Dress
- Pattern and Fabric Recommendations–
The Women’s Pony Tank is an instant digital downloadable pdf sewing pattern from Chalk and Notch found here.
The Pony Tank is a knit top or dress with an A-line shape and curved hem.
Size Range: 0 – 18
Recommended fabrics: Rayon Jersey, Bamboo Jersey, Modal Jersey
- What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern–
I love the a-line shape, the longer length for rear coverage as a top and the slight racerback that still allows you to wear a regular bra.
- Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing it?
No, but it wasn’t supposed to 🙂 I wanted to create a flowy maxi dress and added additional length to achieve the look. I also wanted to round out my neckline. See pattern alterations for more details. I have made this pattern as drafted three other times prior to making these modifications. This allowed me to get comfortable with the pattern before hacking it. The other 2 tanks and 1 dress I created did look like the pattern. My other tops and dress are posted on my instagram.
- Were the instructions easy to follow?
Yes, the pattern has very clear illustrations and steps to follow. If you have never sewn a v-neck before, this is a great pattern to start with. She has very clear directions and walks you through to make the process easier. This dress comes together quickly and easily if you are familiar sewing with knits and a v-neck doesn’t totally freak you out!
- Fabric and Size Used:
I used a lightweight seasonal knit from Hobby Lobby. It has nice drape and horizontal stretch. The recovery on this fabric isn’t fantastic but it worked alright with the bands and has not stretched out. Since this is seasonal I was unable to post the link directly to the fabric. Other great fabric options for this dress/top can be found here.
I cut a size 4 in this dress. My measurements put me in the 2-4 range. I found on my tanks that the shoulder width was a little too snug on the 2 so sized up to the 4 and am happy with the fit.
- Pattern Alterations/Design Changes:
I changed this pattern to a maxi dress length simply by adding length at the lengthen line on the pattern. I measured from my under arm to where I wanted the dress to fall (take that measurement and add your hem allowance to determine your new pattern length). Next I laid the pattern cut apart at the lengthen line onto my fabric (see picture below). I added in the additional length needed in between the two pattern pieces. I then used my ruler to create a line connecting the two pieces. You will have to redraw the line as it won’t perfectly line up. Lay out your ruler until you like how the pieces are coming together. Then, cut and sew your pattern as directed. By adding the length at the lengthen line instead of at the hem you avoid too much width at the base of your pattern. This pattern already has an a line shape and simply adding to the bottom would result in a very wide dress. I found that adding the length at the lengthen line on the pattern still provided plenty of walking ease and retained the shape of the dress. The other alteration I made was to slightly round the neck curve so it was less of a vneck. The only reason I did this was for simplicity! Sometimes I don’t want to fuss with getting a v-neck just right, so I took the lazy way out on this dress.
If you would like to see a video on how to create a maxi length dress from a top pattern, I found this helpful You Tube video:
- Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Most definitely yes. I have made 2 pony tanks for myself, 3 for gifts, and 3 pony tank dresses. This is a great pattern for a simple flowy top or dress. It is perfect for hiding the tummy area, if like me you don’t love tight clothes in that area. It is long enough to give you some coverage on your rear which I also love. You can easily modify this pattern for the maxi length or rounded neck. With a little extra work you can add sleeves (just need to add to the back piece as it has a slight racerback shape). This pattern is listed as appropriate for an advanced beginner and I agree with that rating. While it is a simple pattern, creating the v-neck and working with knit fabrics are always a little more challenging.
I hope you enjoyed the first dress in this 3 part series on easy DIY dresses. Here are the other two posts in this series for 3 great Dresses Patterns for Spring.
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- DIY Maxi
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- McCalls
Until next time, Happy Sewing
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About 18 years ago I decided to teach myself how to sew. Long before blogs and resources available today which meant it was often disastrous. But I never gave up because I loved it so much. Today I love helping others get started on their own sewing journey. You can read more about my family and I