Sewing Maternity Clothes - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[travelmumma]

Ok creative Mummas!

All my PJ bottoms are too tight now... Am thinking of stretching them out as wide as possible, and sewing the elastic down to the sides of the fabric, then cutting the front out to make a belly panel.. that way the back and sides will still be elasticised..

I am a novice- would this work?

[darkblue0729]

Originally Posted by purposefuldoula 

Darkblue, pics please!!
 

I took THE worst pics last night, I need to have my hubby take some better ones with his iPhone today...so please bear with me and my blur-tastic pics :)

The first pic I used the bottom of an old balck stretch tank top for the waistband fabric. The second pair I used this weird grey leotard that happened to be the same color as the jeans for the waistband. Again, sorry for the crummy pics, and for my meesy room, lol.

[purposefuldoula]

I see what you did! So fun! I may have to do that to some of mine. Also, LOVE your big tattoo!!! 

[flatlander]

travelmumma - It sounds like you might be describing something similar to this belly panel. And then adding elastic around the waist? I don't have a ton of experience sewing maternity clothes specifically, but it seems like that would work. I might start with the belly panel, and see how they fit. Then add the elastic if needed. Or try making a waist band similar to what darkblue did with her skinny jeans. Please take pics and let us know how it works!

darkblue - Awesome! They don't even look maternity! I'm always curious if the stretchy t-shirt material really keeps pants from sliding down the butt. But you love these and they work well for you, right?



 

[darkblue0729]

Flatlander, thanks! I was pretty nervous about the material at first, but my thriftiness/curiousity got the best of me...they work great, and they don't have the uncomfortable lump of elastic in the band that a lot of maternity jean do...annnnnnd the jeans cost me nothing to make as I had everything on hand .

travelmumma, making a belly panel in the front will work fine, elasticizing the back and sides shouldn't be too bad, just get thin elastic and sew it similar to how purposeful doula did in her homemade maternity tops and it should turn out great.

[travelmumma]

Hahaha  I just finished making some maternity PJs. They look like awkward backwards chaps!! I will post a photo when I can.

My Husband is going to wet himself laughing at me wearing these tonight!!

[segolilymama]

I made one dress already; I'll have to get a picture at some point to post. I looked through maternity patterns at the fabric store & hated them all; I did have a dress pattern that is empire-waisted and I just added a bit more fabric to the skirt for roominess. I have a bunch of jersey that I planned to use for other projects, but I am thinking would be more useful as maternity clothes, since I gave everything away after DS3 6 years ago! I also love making things that can be used afterwards, so I am thinking some wrap dresses will be fun :)
 

[purposefuldoula]

Though these aren't maternity clothes, I had to share the gowns for baby that I finished a few days ago out of some old tshirts:

I posted the link a few days ago, but here it is again for anyone who is interested.

[kel]

These are awesome! We are on the same wavelength (surprise surprise) because I was just wanting to make some super soft, not $30, cotton baby gowns!  I was just going to search out some super soft thrift store tees and baby gown to take apart and use as a pattern, but thanks for the great link!  xox

[Jackies]

Those look great, purposeful! I loved the pattern so much that I cut it out from one of my shirts that I wear all the time and DD would wear as a dress when she was little. Then I realized my sewing machine could not be fiddled into working like I thought it could. Luckily a friend of mine was coming over and I asked her to bring her machine. I made a matching hat too, although I remembered I'd seen a pattern after I'd cut out the gown, so I had to piece the hat together a bit.

I saw in the comments that you can upsize the pattern by adding width at the fold, so I'll hopefully make some bigger ones too.

[segolilymama]

Those gowns are awesome! I am planning to make some of those, too.

I made two of the dresses from here: http://doityourselfdivas.blogspot.com/2011/10/diy-perfect-maternity-dress-revamped.html

I made one with a black t and a pretty green, pink & yellow patterned fabric; the other is with a grey t & purple fabric, and has already become my most favorite item of clothing :) I've tried to take some pics but I just get these washed out crappy things, lol. Might try again if I have the energy...

[nhklh]

I need to come back and look at this thread when I'm not about to leave the house for a lovely walk in the sunshine :)

My poor sewing machine hasn't seen the light of day for about a year.

[Harmony96]

I made a TON of those gowns. They're so fun. The hunt for a suitable t-shirt is fun, too. One time, I found some ladies' plus-size pajamas and robes and stuff, BRAND NEW, on clearance for 90% off, and they were all suuuuuuper soft. It was great. Most of mine have a hat, too, but I didn't have a pattern so I just had to kind of make one up, lol. It works well enough. Thanks for the tip on upsizing by adding width at the fold. I'll have to remember that.

[kel]

This link is AWESOME - doing this *today*!

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

[lulubikes]

I've been planning to do the skirt refashion all preg, but haven't actually done it! I have some skirts waiting in my sewing room to modify! I've been so busy and when I sew, I want to sew for the baby! I started on one of those baby gowns the other day!