Sew with Christine: The Verano Tank Dress & Top Video Workshop
The Verano Video Workshop
In The Verano Video Workshop, I will guide you through every step of the process for making all eight views of my Verano Tank Pattern. Literally everything is covered! I start with measuring your body, preparing your pattern, what fabric, notions, & tools to select, & how to layout, cut, & mark your fabric.
Next, there is a whole section on common pattern adjustments, where I teach you nine of the most common pattern alterations, including bust adjustments, blending sizes, & how to shorten & lengthen your pattern.
After that are all the lessons for each view of the Verano Tank pattern. Each pattern variation is taught from beginning to end in eight individual classes. To keep things as clear as possible for you, I used quilt weight fabric with a print, so it has a very obvious right & wrong side, plus I sewed with contrast colored thread for all of the stitching, making it easy for you to follow along at home!
As I take you through all the views, you will learn how to sew every detail with me: bust darts, bias binding, gathering, four different pocket styles, buttonholes, & so much more.
This class has 14 hours of footage (seriously guys), AND includes the digital pattern, for the low price of $85!
How to Use the Workshop
If you’ve never taken a video class like this, here are a few basics for you! First, this is a pre-recorded video workshop. So what that means is you can follow along at your own pace, whenever you want, regardless of where you live & your timezone! You can go back & rewatch things as much as you want, over & over again, & sew at your own pace in the comfort of your home.
The videos are hosted on a website, so once you purchase the workshop, you have access to that site anytime you want. The pattern is downloadable from the Introduction lesson, for you to save on your computer & use to sew along with me. That’s it!
A few VERY important details to note:
- Both of The Verano Video Workshops come WITH the digital version of the pattern for no extra charge, aka FREE! So if you want one of the classes, there’s no need to also buy the digital pattern! It’s all included, making them an even better deal!
- If you want the printed version, that is purchased separately, and can be found here.
- Due to the nature of the videos and digital files, there are no refunds on the video classes. So if you purchase the mini class and then decided you want the full class, I am so sorry but there won’t be any refunds on the first one you bought since there’s no returning digital material. I hope you understand!
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The Verano Tank Pattern
Earlier this year, before Covid-19 hit the United States, I had a ticket for a springtime trip to Mexico. Thinking about that trip, I designed the Verano Tank to essentially serve as my travel wardrobe. I knew this pattern, each view made in a variety of fabrics, would serve all occasions while away, regardless of the situation. I sewed a long black linen View D for a nice dinner out, a brown cotton gingham View C for tossing over my bathing suit while at the beach, a deep orange linen View B for daytime sightseeing, and a rayon View A for throwing on with shorts. Needless to say, Covid-19 delayed both the launch of the pattern and my trip. But regardless of my vacation, I knew this pattern was something I wanted in my closet, and maybe you need it in your closets too!
The Verano Tank is a modern tank top & dress with four views, all with the option of either a solid or a button front, for a total of eight different variations! All the views are sleeveless, have bust darts, & a flattering scoop front. Each view also has its own pocket style, so between the eight views and four pockets, there are many mix & match opportunities!
View A
View A has a shirt tail hem, chest pocket, & ends at the upper hip. Whether you pick the solid or button front version, this is a major wardrobe staple! It’s perfect for layering in all seasons. Wear it under a cardigan, with pants or a skirt, or make it as a pajama top. The options are endless with this kind of tank!
View B
View B is actually where it all began. I saw a ready-to-wear dress that was similar to View B with buttons, and I knew I needed one in my closet. It is so incredibly chic looking, but also essentially just a long tank top. It couldn’t be easier to wear and yet also look so pulled together! View B has sewn-down side seam pockets, & a shirt tail hem that lands around the knee.
View C
View C has the same tank top options at the bodice, but is cropped just above the natural waist. It has a gathered skirt with two patch pockets, and lands below the knee. I essentially wanted View C to be a chic sack dress. The kind of thing you throw on with a big sunhat and flip flops to hit up the farmer’s market. I have made more of this view than any of the others and love it with a cozy cardigan on top, which has been perfect for my stay-at-home 2020 life.
View D
View D is the glamorous option, with a two-tier midi length full gathered skirt attached to the same cropped bodice of View C. The pockets on View D are sewn into the side seams & the waist, so they are locked in place. I love a highly functional pocket, especially on a fancy frock! Even though there is a lot of drama with the gathers, this is still essentially just a fancy tank, perfect for lots of occasions. I love the idea of making it in something fancy for the winter with a turtleneck or pussy bow blouse underneath.
The Verano Tank is best with a lighter weight fabric, but from there the options are wide open. Linen, rayon, lightweight cotton, & silk, are ideal choices! The Verano Tank comes in sizes XS-4X. You can find a size chart here on my size chart page. This is a “two spool” pattern on my difficulty chart, making it a great project for beginners & a quick sew for experienced sewers. If you’re a newer sewer & unsure of your skills, stick to the views without buttons & simply work your way up!
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Your Instructor
Christine Haynes is a sewing author, teacher, and pattern designer. Christine grew up in Saugatuck, MI, a small beach community on the southwestern coast of Lake Michigan, where the arts were part of her daily life. Her mother taught her to sew around the age of 10, and it grew from a personal hobby, until it became her main artistic outlet, many years later.
She attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in the department of Film, Video, and New Media. After graduating college in Chicago, Christine moved to Los Angeles, CA and sold ready-to-wear garments for many years. When Random House approached Christine to write her first book, she left ready-to-wear, and turned her focus to teaching others to experience the joy of making clothing for themselves, through her patterns, books, and workshops.
While in Los Angeles, in addition to teaching, patternmaking, and writing, she was the shop manager at Sew LA. Following more than a decade in Los Angeles, Christine relocated to New York, NY, where she became the shop manager of Purl Soho. After managing Purl Soho for a few years, Christine returned to patternmaking and teaching, which she now does from her vintage bungalow in the small beach town of Grand Haven, MI.
Christine has written four books, How to Speak Fluent Sewing (2015, C&T), Skirts & Dresses for First Time Sewers (2015, Barron’s), The Complete Photo Guide to Clothing Construction (2014, CPI), and Chic & Simple Sewing (2009, Potter Craft), and has contributed to other books, such as One Yard Wonders (2009, Storey). Her articles have been published in Sewstylish, Sew News, Craftstylish, and Craft Zine magazines.
"Sewing empowers you to be in total control of all the details of your clothing–fit, fabric, style–and frees you from having to rely on trends and fast fashion, for a more thoughtful and conscious approach to your wardrobe." - Christine Haynes
Christine has taught thousands of students over the last 10+ years, from complete novice to advanced sewer, in workshops both in person and on-line. She has presented lectures and workshops at the American Sewing Guild Conference, Camp Stitchalot, 2016–2019 Camp Workroom Social retreats, the 2012–2016 Craftcation Conferences, and the 2016 QuiltCon West Conference.
Christine was a featured guest on seasons 2 and 8 of PBS’s Sew It All TV show, and her work has been featured in Threads, Mollie Makes, New York Times, New York Post, Los Angeles Times, Martha Stewart’s radio network, and NBC’s Today Show, among others.
Visit Christine at her site at ChristineHaynes.com and her her Instagram page. Sign up for her newsletter to learn about new releases, get exclusive discounts, and more!
"I had never attended a sewing class or made a garme
- Jean Johnson
"I've worked with Christine for over five years now, and she is one of Workroom Social's most thorough and patient instructors. Christine works hard to ensure each student gets what they need out of their class, recognizing that people have different learning goals. I especially love that no matter what level class she's teaching, Christine always walks students through the process from beginning to end without skipping steps. Even our more experienced students love the tips and tricks they learn in her classes."
- Jennifer Wiese, Workroom Social
Course Curriculum
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StartLengthening Your Pattern (7:25)
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StartShortening Your Pattern (4:45)
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StartLengthening Your Skirt (4:55)
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StartShortening Your Skirt (1:44)
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StartBlending Sizes (1:53)
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StartLowering Your Bust Dart (5:59)
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StartShortening, Lengthening, or Pivoting Your Bust Dart (2:58)
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StartFull Bust Adjustment (FBA) (14:34)
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StartSmall Bust Adjustment (SBA) (10:55)
My Fabric Sponsor
When I was planning this project, I new I needed a LOT of fabric. I had to make all eight views for my models to wear, plus I needed fabric to sew all eight views on camera, plus I needed some for the introduction section of the workshop too! Thankfully my dear friends at Ruby Star Society came through and provided me with all the fabric for both the photoshoot & the video shoot. I cannot thank them enough for being so generous! If you’ve never used their fabrics, you really should.
They have beautiful fabrics, everything from rayon, to coating weight, to garment-ready wovens, & even pre-hemmed toweling! And of course they also make beautiful quilt weight fabric that you will see in the Verano Video Workshop, that is the softest quilt weight on the market by far. It was a dream to work with while filming. Thanks again to Ruby Star Society!