There’s a bit of a theme going on with today’s post. These co-ordinating spots and stripes were part of my (quite extensive) haul from the recent Leeds meet up. I bought a metre and a half of each, I’d been planning a Breton Deer and Doe Plantain for a while so navy and white stripes were high on my shopping list. Leeds market is so good for fabric, I overdid it a bit but compared to the limited choice I have at home it was a matter of ‘get it while I can’. I kept asking myself ‘will I regret it if I don’t get it?’ the answer always seemed to be yes but I’m pleased I didn’t leave any of them behind!
Anyway the Plantains were made exactly the same as my others, I think I have eleven now!
I’ve been wanting to try the Maria Denmark Kimono Tee pattern for a while. The pattern is free when you sign up to her newsletter. I had a little under half a metre of each fabric left and just managed to squeeze the pattern on. The neckline is finished with either self binding or fold over elastic. I’d run out of fabric and didn’t have any FOE so I just turned the neckline and sleeves over twice and stitched them in place with a twin needle.
The Plantains will of course get a lot of wear, they are perfect with jeans and a cardie for work, which is probably why I’ve made so many. I’m so pleased I got around to trying the Kimono tees though, they’re perfect little tops to wear with a skirt, something I realise my wardrobe is lacking. I will definitely be making more, especially as they use so little fabric and are such a quick make.
I wanted to make a dress out of the red stripy Ponte but couldn’t decide on a pattern. I contemplated making a Lady Skater but the curve of the waist would make the stripes off balance so that plan was shelved. As the Plantain fitted so well around the top I thought I’d have a go at lengthening it into a dress.
There isn’t any rhyme or reason to the following measurements, I just traced the original pattern and added a bit. I posted a picture on Instagram and was asked what I’d done so I’ve gone back, measured and taken a couple of photos and I’m hoping it makes sense!
I wanted more of a boatneck so raised the neckline by 8cm and reduced the width of the shoulders by 3cm.
I lengthened the centre front and centre back by 24cm and followed the curve of the side seam down until it was 37cm from the centre. I also curved the hem slightly, the same as the original pattern. I made the same adjustments to the back piece (but didn’t alter the back of the neckline)
I added patch pockets using my trusty cardboard template and sewed the pockets on first. Once I’d sewn the shoulder seams I decided to take another inch off to widen the neckline a little more. I constructed the dress the same as the original pattern.
I was a bit unsure whether it would work but once finished I tried it on and did a little happy dance! Like the tee, it fits perfectly around the shoulders and bust before gently skimming over the lumpy bits, the perfect little knit dress! I think it comes into the secret pyjama category as well as it’s so comfortable, without any restrictions around the waist.
I think next time I will have a play around with the neckline, raising it higher and taking a bit more off the shoulder seams, just to make it more of a boatneck. There’s also the opportunity to vary the sleeve length which will make it useful for the cooler months.
So that’s all the tweaking that’s been going on. I’ve been planning to tweak the Deer and Doe Bruyere into a shirt dress since I made the original, I’ve got the fabric (a blue/grey Chambray) contrasting Liberty for the pockets and facings, I’ve even got the buttons and the top stitching thread but the poor thing just keeps getting bumped. Now I’ve got a stash of shiny new fabric I think it,ll be waiting a little longer. So much to sew – so little time!
Just Sew Therapeutic 
Lovely, as always 🙂 I’ve been thinking of doing a Tshirt-pattern-hack-into-a-dress this weekend, and it’s good to know the plantain turned out well for that!
Thank you! The Plantain is such a good pattern and even better as it’s free!
Oh loveliness all arounound👏👏. You look fabulous in the red dress! A perfect combo of pattern and fabric😃. Those shoes are cute too. I love the ideaof a cardboard pocket template. PuRe genius! We are fabric twins btw- I have all these fabrics in my stash too😁
Thanks Hila! I’ve got a set of various pocket templates, I can’t make anything without pockets! Love that we are fabric twins too! 😊
What a super practical dress – goes perfectly with your clogs too. Beautiful pattern weights!
Thanks! I keep scouring charity shops for the paperweights 😊
Thank you so much for sharing your plantain alterations! Busy day ahead for me ….
Hope they made sense, looking forward to seeing yours!
I love the red dress – it looks really comfortable! Now I wish I had bought some of the stripy fabric!
Louise
I think this was the only fabric I bought which I didn’t have a plan for. I’m just about to cut into your lemon fabric from the Birmingham swap, it’s going to be a Maria Denmark Edith dress!
These all look fantastic! That plantain fits you perfectly and I love the dress. The fabric is perfect and the changes you made are great – thanks for sharing!
Thanks Heather, I’m so pleased I managed to squeeze the extra t-shirts out, there’s something very satisfying about using every last scrap of fabric!
I’m definitely going to have to make a plantain dress one of these days. I just need to find some knit that’s a bit heavier weight than anything I have in my stash. Your dress and tees all look great!
I’ve been looking for a basic knit dress for a while as an alternative to my Lady Skaters, the Plantain’s such a good fit around the top, it’s great that it works around the bottom too!
Very nice dress! And it looks super comfortable too! I have the Maria pattern too, but like many I have I haven’t tried it yet. I do like Maria’s newsletter though!
Thanks Linda! I really like the Kimono tee, I’m just about to cut out her Edith dress and a Blouse, the blouse only takes up a metre of fabric!
What great tops, and I love your hack on the Plantain. That’s a great idea.
Thanks Lynne, I’m really pleased I tried the Kimono tee, I’ve a shortage of tops to wear with skirts so will definitely be making more, especially as they take less than half a metre of fabric!
that stripey plantain dress looks smashing. As you’ve sewn all your fabric up already into so many lovely garments I think you definitely made the right choice to buy it!
Thank you! This is only a quarter of the fabric I bought though, I’ve got enough to keep me busy for the next few months!
Just realise the blue and white stripe fabric I impulse bought today is very similar to yours above. Maybe I need to finally get around to making a plantain myself with it!
You did such a great job turning the Plantain into a dress. It is very flattering on you. I usually steer clear of knit dresses as they do my lumpy bits no favor! This dress looks very forgiving and comfortable. Very nice! Love the tops, too!
Thanks Tracy, I tend to shy away from anything too fitted below the waist, a bit of flare can hide a multitude of sins! 😊 x