Today I bring you the hardest working garments in my wardrobe – my Protea matching set. I wear this top and skirt together and separately so often that I have started to worry people will start to notice.
When I was originally working on the Protea sewing pattern I desperately wanted to make myself a matching set using this “Banksia and Myrtle” fabric from The Scenic Route. I had bought this fabric without a clear plan, I just fell in love with it! The possums, birds, cicadas, Banksia flowers – oh everything was just too charming and I was obsessed. I hoarded it without a plan and was terrified to use it. But when I was working on Protea I knew it would make an amazing matching set. I almost didn’t have enough fabric, and it was SUCH a tight squeeze to fit it all in!
I loved how this set turned out so much that I actually ended up using these pieces as the final pattern samples. The top is the View D top with round neckline and flutter sleeves and the skirt is View E which is a two tiered skirt with an elastic waistband and optional drawstring. I added the drawstring because I helps me know what is the front of the skirt! ha! And obviously the skirt has pockets, because what would be the point of sewing if we couldn’t add giant pockets to everything?
The thing I love so much about this set is the versatility. I have a skirt, a top and a “dress” when i wear them together. My husband Chris is so confused that he actually calls this set a dress because he can’t keep track of what is going on with it all haha! Here is a little side by side of the pieces worn separately and together. I actually wore the skirt with a Briar tee for our family photo shoot in 2023.
When we travelled to the USA a few years ago for my sister in laws wedding, this set was one of the most useful things i packed, due to being able to wear them separate, together and dress them up or down.
I have to be honest – after how useful this set has been, I’ve become a matching set super fan, i’m starting to think maybe making matching sets from now on is a really solid plan for getting the most use out of my makes. As much as I adore my Protea dresses – i can’t go past the versatility of this matching set.
