The tale of two Plantains

This fall and winter has definitely been the season for the Deer and Doe Plantain in my sewing room.  Hardworking basics are a wardrobe staple, and this top checks that box for me.  This is the 3rd and actually 4th Plantain I've made in the photo below.   

The Plantain is a free download from Deer and Doe patterns.  You can find my first one here and my second one here.  Depending on fabric choice and design modifications, each top looks a little different and wears a little different.  The top I'm wearing here fits tighter than the others because it was a thick terry-clothish fabric and I did not cut a little larger to take the thicker fabric into consideration.  Note to self:  thicker fabric = larger size

Free pattern to download

I made a size 38 with serged 1/4" seams, raised neckline @1/2" and narrowed center front and center back nominally.  Running out of fabric, I made the sleeves as long as the amount of fabric I had left and really like these 3/4 length sleeves.  I'm showing the top on its own today, but it's actually been a great little layering top and with the thicker fabric, quite warm.  I tried a new sleeve and bottom hem stitch and now I can't remember!  Sorry!  I used one of my stretch decorative stitches and it blends in so well I can't tell what stitch it is.  This is what happens when info doesn't get jotted down on my little notecards as the work is completed.  *sigh*

The other Plantain I made for my daughter, Melissa.  She wasn't sure she liked the way it fit to wear in public, but she likes it as a comfy top.  And the bonus is that it's a perfect match to her Happy Cats pants I made for her.  :)

Loved this blue fabric on her.  So soft and such a great color for her.  We wear the same size.... so this is another size 38 with 1/4" serged seams with the sleeves lengthened looooong per her request.

Up close look at the sleeve detail I did for her.  Mimicking a sweatshirt type of finish, I made a turned under band and serged it on after lengthening the sleeves.  All necklines are finished as per Deepika's technique.

Paired with the pants it looks like it was all planned to go together!

Pants were made from a fun flannel fabric using McCall's Pattern 4979 you can see here.  This is my TNT comfy pant pattern for her.

You can see more how the top fits her here with the loooooong sleeves.  These photos of her were taken a few months ago when she'd just arrived home from her day on campus.  She was so tired, but graciously posed for a few photos for me.  These pictures have just been waiting for me to write this post.  She's very sweet.  :)

So that's probably it for the Plantain this year as we head into Spring and Summer weather. 

Happy Sewing Everyone!