This corset tank top is open in the back, and laced with ribbon like a corset. The lacing is just for decoration, it is not used to tighten the shirt or make cleavage. The corset tank tops just look awesome. These tank tops can cost you up to $35 when made by certain clothing companies. However, you can make one for less than $10 and with some basic sewing skills.
What you need:
Tank top
Fashion eyelets
Ribbon
Scissors
Needle
Thread
Ruler
Marker or fabric pen
Hammer
Pins
Sewing machine(optional)
Eyelet tool(optional)
Step 1: Find the center of the back of the tank top. Place the ruler horizontally across the back of the tank top, just below where the armpit ends. Match up each side so you know the ruler is straight. From the measurement you get, mark the center of the tank top with the marker. For example, if your tank top is 12 inches across, mark a dot at six inches. Drag the ruler down about an inch and mark center again. Keep working down and marking center, remembering that the tank top curves in at the waist and back out again for the hips. So, keep measuring to find center. When you reach the bottom, mark center above the armpits and to the neck.
You should end up with a broken line down the very center of the corset tank top.
Step 2: Marking the back strip to be cut out. Place the ruler at the top of the tank top, with the second inch at the center mark you made. The ruler’s beginning will be two inches to the left. Mark that spot. Then measure two inches to the right(inch four), and mark that. Slide the ruler down the corset tank top, marking two inches on both sides of the center line, until you reach the bottom.
Step 3: Cut out the back strip. Follow the lines you made to cut out the four inch long strip of material on the back of the corset tank top.
Step 4: Hem the corset tank top. The place you cut the material will fray if you don’t sew it. This is easily done with a sewing machine, but can be done by hand, too. Fold the cut side of the material to the inside of the tank top. Fold in no more than a fourth of an inch, and hold it in place with a pin. Fold the entire side, pinning the material in place. Once one side of the corset tank top is pinned, do the other. Sew along the folded material, removing the pins as you go.
Step 5: Figuring out how many eyelets will be placed on the back of the corset tank top. Measure the length of one side of the corset tank top, where you have cut it. Measure from very bottom, all the way to the top. You need to figure out as close to even as possible how many inches to place the eyelets apart. If your corset tank top is 24 inches long, you would place 12 eyelets at two inches apart. A tank top that is an odd 23 inches, would have 16 eyelets at one and half inches apart, but the last one would be slightly off.
Step 6: Adding the eyelets to the corset tank top. The eyelets come in two pieces. The smaller piece goes on the inside of the corset tank top, and the bigger piece on the outside for all to see. Start at the bottom of the tank top and do one entire side first. Place the smaller eyelet piece on the inside of the tank top so that the sharper end touches the material. On the opposite side of the tank top place the larger eyelet piece, sharper side touching the material. The eyelet pieces should press together with your fingers, holding them in place. Rest the eyelets and material on a hard surface and hit the eyelet gently with a hammer to force them to make a hole and hold tight in place.
If you use the eyelet tool, follow the directions that come with it.
Measure the chosen distance between eyelets, mark the material with a dot, and hammer in the next eyelet.
Repeat until both sides of the corset tank top are complete.
Step 7: Lacing the corset tank top. You will need some help with this part unless you can see behind your head and work with your arms backward. Cut a long strip of the ribbon. Put on the corset tank top. Have your friend lace the tank top so that it fits your body. They are not tightening the ribbon like a corset, but just filling in where the material used to be. Your back should show through the ribbon, that’s the point. When the ribbon reaches the end of the corset tank top, tie a double knot and then a bow.
Tips:
-Stretchy tank tops can be used for this, but can be harder to sew.
-Make sure you buy ribbon that will actually go through the size eyelets you purchase. The bigger the eyelets, the bigger the ribbon you can use.
-If the tank top you use doesn’t have a built-in bra, you can make one by cutting out the front of a sports bra and sewing it into the front of the corset tank top.
-The gap in the back of the corset tank top can be as big as you want it. If you want a six inch gap, measure three inches on each side of center. A seven inch gap would be three and a half. Eight inch would be four.
