Adding a shelf bra to the Marbella Tank

 

The Marbella Tank released and we’ve had lots of questions about adding a shelf bra to the tank.  I’m here today to show you how to easily add a shelf bra to this tank.  The only thing extra that you’ll need is a little more of your main body fabric, and some elastic.

The first thing you’ll need is your pattern with it graded (if needed), and cut out, or traced.  Lay your pattern pieces on top of each other, so that the bottom of the armscye and the bottom side hem are lined up.  I used the shorten/lengthen line on my pattern pieces as a guide for where to cut the bottom of my lining.  My shorten/lengthen lines were slightly off, so I drew a line to match on my pattern so they would be the same length.

Next, you’ll cut out your pieces.  Cut your front and back main tank pieces, lace back pieces (if that’s the option you’ve chosen), and a front and back lining cutting at the lengthen/shorten line. 

With my pieces cut out, I then sewed my lace together according to the Marbella tutorial for the lace back option that I chose.  Now you’ll take your main back piece and lay it with the right side up with the center back marked.

Take your lace back piece and line it up to the back, according to the Marbella tutorial.  For the lace back option that I chose, the back center and the lace center line up.  You’ll put your lace with the wrong side facing up, so the right sides are now together. 

Now you’ll take your back lining piece and place it on top with the wrong side facing up.  You should now have three layers, your main back (right side up), your lace back (wrong side up), and your back lining (wrong side up).  Sew these together along the top (where the clips are in the picture) with a 3/8″ seam allowance, then set aside.

Next, take your main front piece and your front lining and place them right sides together.  You’ll sew along the two armscyes and the neckline with a 3/8″ seam allowance.  You won’t sew the shoulder seams or the side seams, you’ll want to leave these for now. 

Next, you’ll pull back the lining on both the front and back.  Place them right sides together.  

Pulling back the top piece, we’re now going to insert the lace shoulder into the front strap to enclose the shoulder seam and sew the shoulders together. 

Using a safety pin, or bodkin, insert the lace shoulder into the front strap, being careful not to twist the lace in the strap when inserting (the right side of the lace will be facing the right side of the front main).  Align the lace end with the raw edges of the front strap. 

Sew the end with a 3/8″ seam allowance.  Pull the straps out so the the right sides are now facing out.  Iron the neckline, back and armscyes, being careful around the lace.  

Open up the lining and the main pieces.  Place the linings right sides together, aligning the seams, and the main front and back right sides together, making sure that your straps aren’t twisted.  Pin along the sides seams, and sew using a 3/8″ seam allowance. 

Now you’ll want to try on your tank inside out to see if you want to remove any length from the lining.  Keep in mind that depending on the elastic size that you choose will determine how high up the finished lining will be.  I used a 3/4″ elastic for mine, so when finished it would be 1.5″ shorter.  So, if you use 1/4″ it would be 1/2″ shorter, 1/2″ elastic would be 1″ shorter, and so on.

After determining how much to remove, if any, you’ll want to try your elastic on to see how long to cut it.  You can determine how tight or loose you want it.

Sew the ends of the elastic together by overlapping the ends and sewing with a zig zag stitch.  Quarter both your lining and your elastic and place the elastic at the edge of the lining, matching up the quarter points.

Sew the elastic to the lining right at the edge using a zig zag or serger.  You’ll need to stretch the elastic to fit.

Flip the elastic to the inside of the lining and top stitch the elastic to the lining using a zig zag stitch, twin needle, or coverstitch.

Flip the lining to the inside of the tank, and now you can top stitch the neckline and armscyes, if you chose.  Lastly, you need to hem the bottom of the tank, according to the Marbella tutorial.  And you’re all finished!  Your gorgeous Marbella tank now has a built-in shelf bra.  If you have any questions about this tutorial, of you need any help, feel free to ask questions in our Facebook group, or in the comments here.  Also, don’t forget to share your creations, and enter our monthly contest!

 

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