So lately I have been seeing cactus inspirations everywhere. On towels, plates, clothing, you name it. And succulents have over night become the go to house plants these days (sorry orchids). I am not sure where trends get their start, but me being ever the trend-follower and not trend-setter, I decided that I had to have a cactus shirt for the summer! Stumbling around Pinterest, I found this adorable tank top from one on my favorite clothing lines: Show Me Your Mumu. However at $66 for a little ol’ tank top, I decided to pass on it.
Then enter the cactus fabric. On a recent trip to Chicago, I found the smallest, most jammed packed fabric store I have ever been to and inside I discovered an entire section of fabric for $4 a yard! And in this section next to the faux furs and the Obama quilting cotton, was the cutest knit cactus fabric. So naturally I snagged a few yards and began my dream of owning a cactus tank top.
I used the same Together Tank pattern from Debbie Brooke Designs that I ‘ve recently completed (see here) as this is definitely my new favorite go to pattern for tank tops. I decided to extend the length by about 1/2 an inch because I remembered that the other one was just a tad short when I lifted my arms. And I used the same cactus knit print on both the front and the back instead of using a different fabric as in most Together Tanks. 
The fabric, I must point out, is much thicker than it looks. Even though it has some good stretch to it, it’s definitely closer to a fleece knit then it is a jersey a jersey knit and although it worked for our nightly walk, I don’t think this fabric would make it in Charleston in the middle of summer. But at $4 a yard I couldnt say no. And I bought enough that may a cool Southwestern blanket or quilt could be in a future…
I wore this new tank for a walk around the neighborhood with Will and the dogs last night so naturally I wore my green New Balance because duh…green. And paired it with some old school jorts that have been in my closet since before I knew Will, long before I knew how to sew, and longer than my thighs and I care to admit. 
Will told me he thought the “lines you sewed into the sides” were pretty cool. Thanks babe. And they’re called darts. But sure, we’ll go with lines. 
In the end I used less than a yard so I probably spent closer to $2-3 on this shirt! So even though the “buy” is probably more summer friendly and definitly more flowly, I finally got my cactus tank top that I wanted and found that you never know what you might if you walk into a new fabric store!
