Hmm, I’m not sure about Meringue and Plantain together in the context of food, but in this case, it works!
I’ll fill you in – this week I sewed a two-piece outfit consisting of a skirt (named Meringue) and a top (named Plantain).
The inspiration for this achievement was from this week’s challenge at The Monthly Stitch. They are challenging us sewists to make 2 separate garments that can be worn together. Oh, and they have to be made using Indie patterns.
Right now, trousers – and certainly jeans – are a no-go for me. I’m very fussy on fit so I just can’t be bothered to try at the moment! I didn’t even consider making leggings; just straightaway knew I’d make a skirt.
The Skirt
I recently bought Colette’s sewing book, and I chose to make the Meringue skirt after seeing a nice one on another blog – I can’t remember who’s it was so please shout if it was yours!
Long story short, I LOVE the skirt. I can’t even express how much so.
I bought the fabric – a medium-weight cotton, almost denim-like – in a bricks-and-mortar store, which is fairly unusual for me. I get really overwhelmed by the choice when fabric shopping, but managed to get some nice pieces on that visit. And I can see how beneficial it is to shop in a proper shop as opposed to online because you can feel the fabric. I love this fabric. It is quite simply perfect for this skirt in terms of weight, handling, and design. Even if I do say so myself.
I am sooo happy with the fit. The pattern’s sizing was bang on. My waist is 27″, hip 37″ so I cut a straight 4 and it fits perfectly.
I’m proud of the zip!
Talking of neat – I love the scallops. How pretty are they?!
This skirt pattern gets a big thumbs up from me for many reasons, but the main one is the fact that it doesn’t need hemming. The scallops are finished with a facing, which is catchstitched in place. This gives such a neat finish.
Similarly, there is no waistband; just a facing. This is the only issue I have with the skirt – even with understitching, the facing tends to roll to the outside. So I will catchstitch it down like the hem facing, which should help.
The Top
I originally designed a different top to go with the skirt, however once it was made up it didn’t match as well as it did in my mind. I will share it with you soon, though!
So I had to think fast and make something with some fabric I have in my stash. So I made up the Deer & Doe Plantain Top with some black jersey. I had less than a metre of it but I managed to cut short sleeves.
This was my first time making this top – and it won’t be the last. It was so straightforward, and I’m really happy with the fit.
If I’m honest, it is a bit baggy to be worn tucked into the skirt, but it’s not too baggy to be worn outside a skirt/trousers etc!
And the length is perfect for me – I am used to lengthening tops now but this is nice and long; just how I like it.
The only change I made to the pattern was that I added a strip of lace down the back. This is not purely aesthetic; I didn’t have enough fabric to cut the back piece on the fold so cut two pieces and sewed them up the middle with a tiny seam allowance. My knit-eating sewing machine didn’t enjoy that at all and made quite a pig’s ear out of it. So the lace covers up the seam and you’d never know!! Plus it looks pretty and ties in with the blue of the skirt – result!
Now let’s take bets on if all my makes for Indie Pattern Month will be blue and white?!
Beth x
P.S. Thank you to all that voted for my stripy dress in the final of the dresses challenge – I’m gutted that I didn’t win but the competition was tough!
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Well done with those scallops, I was struggling with sewing curves at 6.30 am this morning and have now drawn them on to try again later!
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Thanks – it felt like a very beginner-ish thing to do but it helped so much!! Good luck with yours!
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Lovely outfit and it was a neat idea to use the lace. I have the Colette book too and I think I’ll be making this skirt now I’ve seen yours – it’s gorgeous!
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Thank you. I would love to see you in a Meringue!
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Ha! Watch this space… 😉
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Your skirt is awesome! That zip is so invisible! Good job! And love your touch with the lace on the top! I am yet to make the plantain,! Lined up on the list!
I am sure you will get more changes other contest!
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Thanks! I am becoming a pro at invisible zips even if I do say so myself 😛
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Meringue and plantain looks pretty delicious to me! You said nice things about my meringue skirt when I wore it for MMM last month. It wouldn’t be that one would it? (Probably not). Good luck with TMS competition this week!
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Oh yes it was yours!! Thank you for the inspiration!!
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That skirt is adorable! So nicely done!!
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Thanks! 😀
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I feel the same way about fabric shopping. It si so hard not to get overwhemed by all the choice and leave with the loudest print not the fabric that you will actually want to wear. (I even have a stack of unused novelty prints to prove my point!). The fabric of your skirt is lovely though so well done!
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Haha I challenge you to use those novelty prints!
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Lovely, and your sewing is so neat!! Envious 🙂
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Hehe thanks!
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Gorgeous outfit Beth! I especially love the skirt – such a classic look! All the best hope you win 😀
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Aw thanks, you too! (I voted for your Flora by the way 😛 )
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Lovely outfit, good luck in the competition. Were the scallops really tricky? 😀
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Thanks 🙂 No they were more time-consuming than tricky. The instructions in the book were excellent. I drew on the stitching line so I knew they’d end up being level. So you just sew the facing and skirt RST along the drawn on stitching line, clip etc, and turn right sides out. Easy peasy as long as you can sew curves 😛
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I think this is the nicest version of the Meringue I’ve seen anywhere! Good luck in the separates category!
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Wow thanks. I’ll definitely make more Meringues but I wonder if any will top this one!
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I agree with everyone else – this is a great pairing. The scalloped hem skirt looks great on your slim legs and I really like the blue lace on a black T -its actually really striking and brings the outfit together. Good luck.
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Thanks, Kate. I love the scallops – as does my 6 year old who now wants a skirt with scallops! (Or waves as she calls them!)
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Lovely Beth, I saw this skirt somewhere else and really liked it too. Love your polka dot version and great save with the top. The two look perfect together 🙂
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Thank you 🙂 Well I was wearing it with a black RTW too earlier in the week so I thought I’d just recreate that!
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Nicely done! Polka dots are so cute! Nice save on the top!
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Thanks a lot. I loooove polka dots!
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The scalloped hem looks great – so neat!
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Thanks. I took my time on it and it paid off!
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Great separates – I can see them going with lots of other things. The lace was an inspired idea and is a fab design feature on its own. The scallops are so pretty too. Good luck this month:)
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Thank you 🙂 I can’t tell you how much I love the skirt. I’ve worn it 3 days this week.
The lace was one of those ideas that suddenly came to me and it worked! I will probably do the same thing again even if I don’t have a back seam there!
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