Sewing Maternity Clothes « Back to Group Discussions

[flatlander]

Is anyone else planning to sew some maternity clothes during their pregnancy? I'd love to hear what you're making!

I've been thinking of making a couple of things from Handmade Beginnings 24 Sewing Projects to Welcome Baby by Anna Marie Horner. I think both the Lingering Layers Skirt and the Mariposa Dress and Tunic look nice.

And I'm just finishing a summery dress (Kwik Sew 3675) that I think will work well during pregnancy and after for nursing.

I've run across some interesting websites with free tutorials. If anyone is interested I can round up the links and share them.

[heyitskalista]

I'd love some links if you're willing!

I don't think I'll need too much since this is my fourth but its always nice to have a few new pieces! :)
 

[purposefuldoula]

Originally Posted by flatlander 

Is anyone else planning to sew some maternity clothes during their pregnancy? I'd love to hear what you're making!

I've been thinking of making a couple of things from Handmade Beginnings 24 Sewing Projects to Welcome Baby by Anna Marie Horner. I think both the Lingering Layers Skirt and the Mariposa Dress and Tunic look nice.

And I'm just finishing a summery dress (Kwik Sew 3675) that I think will work well during pregnancy and after for nursing.

I've run across some interesting websites with free tutorials. If anyone is interested I can round up the links and share them.

I just bought this book and am waiting for it to come in the mail right now!  I have Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little One's but am definitely wanting to sew more for me right now.  

I did just buy a few t shirts from the Gap last night a size up so I can sew some elastic to the side seams.  I love my maternity shirts like that because they don't look that maternity-ish. 

Here's a few links of things I'd like to try to make for myself: 

http://www.momtastic.com/diy/168710-diy-maternity-round-up

http://craftsnob.com/2011/08/maternity-empire-skirt/

[darkblue0729]

I have made two of these...and they are awesome! One I did with a t-shirt and fabric, the other I did with a fun patterned big skirt and a t-shirt, the latter was crazy easy, like 10 minutes and done (if even!)

I also did some crazy frankenstein surgery on a pair of skinny jeans I love and turned them into maternity jeans, and even without a how to guide, they look pretty blazin'

[zebrachick83]

This site is great for upcycling normal clothes into maternity wear.

http://diymaternity.com/

I plan on making some skirts, a couple of dresses, and a few tops. :)

[flatlander]

I like the DIY maternity link too. Here are two more links that have a lot of tutorials:

http://www.luvinthemommyhood.com/2010/03/maternity-sewing-tutorial-roundup.html

http://www.luvinthemommyhood.com/2011/05/maternity-sewing-tutorials-roundup-2011.html

I LOVE this skirt:

http://pinkpicketfence.typepad.com/pink_picket_fence/2009/04/thriftstore-refashion-maternity-edition.html

[flatlander]

Are you ladies game for posting photos of what you've made? I'd love to see what others are sewing. 

[purposefuldoula]

Zebra and flatlader, thank you so much for those links! Those are so great!!

I think when I start making stuff, I'll post pics back to this thread. Sound fun?

[flatlander]

purposefuldoula - Sounds very fun!

Here's another link, it's not maternity specific, but it seems like it would be relatively easy to adapt it:

http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/2009/04/spring-sewing-spring-ruffle-top-tutorial/

[Jackies]

Originally Posted by purposefuldoula 

http://www.momtastic.com/diy/168710-diy-maternity-round-up

 I love the Tunic Top on this site. I was worried about having to buy maternity clothes for work, but I can make several of these and save a bundle. Thanks for posting.

I just requested the Handmade Beginnings book from my library. I can't wait to check it out.

[darkblue0729]

Shoot I meant to post a link to what I made lol....this will make more sense:

http://doityourselfdivas.blogspot.com/2011/10/diy-perfect-maternity-dress-revamped.html

that is what I made two of!

[purposefuldoula]

Here is one of two of the t-shirts I did today. I just bought a size larger than I normally wear and added elastic to the side seams. Instant maternity shirt! 

[Harmony96]

Ohhhh I should not have looked at this thread, because 1) I already have WAY too many other sewing projects that I don't have time for anyway, and 2) I already have more maternity clothes than regular clothes, lol.

But I love all these links. And I DO have a maternity dress project in mind. I have a pattern for a princess seam dress, where the princess "seams" turn into pleats at the skirt. I'm thinking it will be a fun project to modify that pattern for maternity (adding side ties, adding room in the tummy area, making the neck opening a little larger and eliminating the zipper), so I'm going to give that a try.

[flatlander]

I saw this maternity shirt tutorial recently. 

I think it looks really nice, and I like the idea of elastic shirring in the back to make it fit comfortably. But I've never sewn pintucks before. They intimidate me. :)

[mamadiamond]

i plan on turning too-big jeans into maternity jeans by just cutting out the front waistband and sewing in a stretchy fabric panel. i'm 6'2" so it's hard to find regular pants long enough, and basically impossible to find maternity pants long enough. i may also make some maxi dresses just using stretchy fabric sewn to a tank top or tee. i like the idea of sewing elastic into tees...do you just sew it on top of the existing side seam?

[flatlander]

When you sew the panels on the jeans, do the panel go under your belly or over it? I've seen a skirt reconstruction that is the same as you described, but it's not obvious to me if the belly is covered or not.

I found this tutorial about sewing elastic in to a tee. It look like the elastic is sewn right over the inside of the seam.

[darkblue0729]

Flatlander, as far as how big your belly panel is, it depends entirely on your comfort. I prefer the under belly style, especially in the summer so I detatch the waistband of my jeans  in the front half using a seam ripper, cut a low swoop in the front from side to side and attach a panel that goes around the entire waistband for comfort-the panel 'is' the waistband in the front, and merely a covering for the rear half of my jeans if that makes sense. So far I'verepurposed three pairs of my skinny jeans into maternity jeans and they look and feel great. HTH!

[purposefuldoula]

Darkblue, pics please!!
 

[flatlander]

darkblue - yep, it makes sense. Do you find that the pants stay up with the homemade under the belly band? I didn't like things over my belly last time, but I also didn't have enough hips after my waist filled out to keep pants from slipping down.  It was kind of annoying. 

I would love to see pics of your maternity jeans too, if you have any to share. :)

[Mamabeakley]

I went shopping for maternity clothes today and came home hating all maternity clothes.  Categorically.  I think what I actually need are some thai fisherman pants.  And a lot of shirts.  We'll see.