Deer and Doe - Plantain Tee

I haven't posted anything here for a very, very long while. Initially it was because work took over my life, and since then I have grown a whole new person! Since she's been around I've realised the importance of doing things for myself and I'm making a really conscious effort to get myself into my sewing cave and get things made.

When I was pregnant I made lots of button down shirts in preparation for breastfeeding. My Mum laughed at me and said that it wouldn't be very practical or discreet, but I was having too much fun to listen.

And now those beautiful shirts are hanging in the wardrobe as I've discovered that yanking a top UP for access is easier, quicker and more discreet than unbuttoning (and having to rebutton afterwards). Mum was so right.

So I found myself wearing the same ancient stretchy tank tops under cardigans day after day. Something had to change. I had limited funds (maternity pay), limited time (naps are shorter than expected) and limited energy (new baby, 'nuff said). Luckily around that time I saw that Deer and Doe had updated their free Plantain Tshirt pattern. Perfect.

It is described as: T-shirt fitted at the shoulders and flaring at the hips, with elbow patches.

https://shop.deer-and-doe.fr/en/sewing-patterns/20-plantain-t-shirt-pattern.html

This really was the perfect pattern. My post baby body loves the flattering scoop neck along with the flowy bottom half. I started by making the long sleeved version but left off the elbow patches as I was trying to save time and energy. 

Can I please apologise in advance for the un-ironed state of the following garments. Ain't nobody got time for ironing.

Flamingos!

 I loved this and wore it every single time it came through the wash. It seemed absolutely ideal for my new life of yanking my top up, carrying a bubba around the place and it even seems to hide sick stains reasonably successfully. Win.

As the weather turned more Summery, I decided a short sleeved version was in order. Being lazy and always in a hurry, I didn't print the actual short sleeve pattern piece, but just chopped off the one I had already traced.

Cacti!

I love this too. It is a sturdy cotton jersey and holds its shape even when Flower is wriggling on my hip. No unwanted exposed skin here! It also holds up well to being pulled up and down multiple times a day. After countless washes the fabric is starting to lose its oomph. The blue is fading and slightly bobbly. But I'll wear it until it dies.

Three wins was too much to ask, right?

Then we come to the dud. I've had this viscose jersey in my hoard for a while, intending to make a wrap dress from it. Perhaps I should have saved it as it might be a better weight for that, but in its current form it is too flimsy for the life that I now lead. Every time I carried Flower ANYWHERE, the neckline was dragged out to my shoulders. The neckline bagged out eventually. I unpicked and resewed the neckband, but it just caused puckering as the fabric isn't really tough enough to be resewn. And it still pulled off my shoulders!

 I still love the fabric and the colours, so I might go back and have a final go at the neckband, perhaps adding in some elastic or using a cotton jersey instead? All thoughts welcome.

Anyway, there you go. My three nursing friendly tops. And I'll definitely be buying up some Deer and Doe once the sewing funds are back up and running. I'm intending to keep this blog updated for a bit now - it helps to keep me sewing, which helps to keep me sane!