There’s almost nothing I love more than planning a project and selecting or shopping for fabrics. Well, except maybe actually completing a project. Putting together these fabric recommendation posts is a joy and I hope you’ll find this one helpful when planning and sewing your own Victory Tank.
First things first, grab yourself a copy of the Victory pattern if you haven’t yet done so. Come check out our Victory Pinterest Board or the #victorytankpattern hashtag on Instagram.
NOTIONS
Victory doesn’t require many extra notions but, tailor’s chalk or a washable fabric marker, and a pressing ham may be helpful. If sewing View B, you’ll need a safety pin or turning tool.
FABRIC SOURCES AND READY TO WEAR INSPIRATION
The Victory pattern works best sewn in light to medium weight woven fabrics with a nice drape. Suggested fabrics are: rayon challis, rayon crepe, rayon voile, cotton lawn, cotton voile, linen and double gauze. A lightweight lining fabric is also recommended. Lining fabric recommendations are: rayon bemberg, viscose batiste, rayon challis, rayon voile, cotton lawn, and cotton voile. We’ll go over some of our favorite suggestions in this post, but you can find even more light to medium weight fabrics on our Light to Medium Weight Wovens Pinterest Board.
SOLIDS
Versatile and classic, it’s hard to beat a good solid color fabric. Sewn in a vibrant hue, your Victory can make a statement. Vibrant colors, not your thing? Try a neutral or subdued color. Add extra interest with texture using an eyelet, jacquard (like the one used in Alexis’s Victory Dress Tutorial), or a slub textured linen or silk noil (like the one used in Cass’s Button Front Victory Tutorial). Note that the Victory Tank is fully lined and is turned through the straps. Thicker fabric will make turning the tank a bit tricky, so I keep that in mind when selecting the fabric.
PRINTS
While I love the classic nature of solids, I’m often unable to resist the allure of a good print. Since the Victory uses relatively little fabric for the main, it’s a great way to try out prints without the feeling overwhelmed by a full dress or more intricate top. If you want to keep it simple try a yarn dyed woven in a stripe or check. Add a pop of color to your outfit with a bright floral or tropical print or, if you’re into whimsical, try a novelty print like cats, dogs, or the kiwi print pictured above.
LINING
Lining fabric can sometimes be tricky to select, but doesn’t have to be. Choose something lightweight with a smooth face. Since this will be directly against your skin you’ll want something a little slippery and not scratchy. If you’ve used something like a rayon challis or voile for your main fabric, you can use the same fabric for a lining with great results. If your fabric is a linen or slightly heavier fabric, you’ll want to choose a lighter weight lining. Lining is another opportunity to add an extra special handmade detail to your tank. As long as your fabric isn’t too sheer you can use your favorite color inside or try a print for a fun surprise (I’m a big fan of striped linings).
We hope you have found some great resources for selecting fabric for your Victory Tank! If you need any help sewing you can find the full Sew-Along here.
