Category Archives: sewing

the shirt I can wear for about 2 more weeks

So, I used the tips from Jessica (which she got from Mary Beth) and took a stab at a Built by Wendy top for my tired-of-tight-t-shirts self.

maternity shirt

I just used some fabric I found on my magic-basement-shelf-of-lots-of-craft-stuff-that-I-didn’t-remember-I-had, and made the mistake of using the size of the pattern that I had already traced and cut out pre-pregnancy (it was way too big then), adding several inches at the sides and bottom of the front, of course.    Fortunately, after peeling it off from the first trying on, I was able to rip the pieces apart and just use a smaller seam allowance .  Phew.  (It is still a teeny bit tight around the bust– I’m going to have to do some serious armpit seam reinforcement today.)  It looked a little to tentish to me then, so I stretched and sewed a little piece of elastic in an empire waistish spot.  That was just what it needed.  Oh, and I skipped the elastic in the sleeves.  My arms don’t need tourniquets, thank you very much.

 Also, on the maternity clothes sewing front, my book finally got here from Japan!  Consequently I’ve spent some hours studying it, the patterns, and some good blog entries about sewing clothes from Japanese books.  I think I’ve got it as figured out as I’m going to before I actually plunge right in.  I’ve got one pattern traced and some half-price fabric from JoAnns to try it out with.  Maybe I’ll get to it today?  That may be wishful thinking.  There are Christmas decorations to unearth and put up, and a stable set to design and build for the Ward Christmas party next weekend…

But I do need something to wear to church tomorrow.

for those of us who are large and in charge (or– how to make a maternity skirt)

So, I’m feeling pretty huge.  Or, more accurately put– I am huge.  I do not own a scale and seldom step on one unless I have to.  My appointment with my midwives yesterday was one of those must-stand-on-the-scale moments.  Geesh!  I knew that my maternity clothes that were staples last time around were feeling tight, but it was quite a rude awakening to discover that I’ve gained about as much weight in the 28 weeks I’ve been pregnant as I did my entire pregnancy with Ian.  So, I could curl up and cry like my hormone bathed instincts direct, or I could sew myself some clothes.  And sew them I must because I don’t want to shell out the money to buy cute ones from the Gap and I am just tired of tight, thin fabrics that highlight every waistband  and the exact shape of my bra and all the squishiness it needs to get through to stay put.  Maybe with the return of ’80s leggings will come the maternity mumu?  Oh, I guess that would be a bit cold through a winter in Colorado.

My friend Jessica has been doing some maternity sewing (and she got a new sewing machine).  These tops are cute, and definitely on my list of things to try.  Nothing clingy.  Perfect.  I’ve also been dreaming about this book.  I mean, don’t you just want to live in a Japanese craft book?  Maybe I should just buy it — but would anything possibly fit?  I’m not sure I’m Japanese craft book dimensions these days.  (edit: In a fit of panic that someone else would buy it, I DID just buy it.  Thank you all of you who have filled up my PayPal account by buying things from my shop!!)  I’m also considering buying this pattern— it is for knit fabric which has the potential for the clingy revelations I’m ready to avoid, but I like the cross wrap thing, and the nursing convenience is definitely a bonus–you know, for those still pretty humongous days once the baby is born and nursing happens constantly.

Anyway, the most comfortable thing I have to wear is the skirt I made this summer, but one skirt can only go so far.  I needed another.  I know there are other blogging mamas out there that might need some new clothes too, so I thought I’d take some pictures as I sewed and show you what I did.  I’m not really impressed with my tutorial photo taking abilities, but hopefully you’ll get the idea.

To start with, I got 2 1/2 yd. of fabric for the skirt and 1/2 yd. of a stretchy knit for the waistband.  Then I drafted my pattern with the help of Amy’s 5 minute skirt tutorial.   Instead of doing the waist measurement around my waist, which can’t really be called a waist, I measured around UNDER my belly– about where my hip bones stuck out once upon a time.  Also, for measurement B (refer back to Amy’s instructions) she says to add 22 inches to your waist measurement.  That was way too much– partly because I started out with bigger-than-waist waist measurements and because both fabrics I’ve used (denim and velveteen) had a bit of structure to them.  So, draft your pattern, cut your fabric, sew it together, finish your seams, press it, and turn it right side out.

Once you’ve done that, you can make your super stretchy maternity waist band.  I used the full half yard of rib knit I bought, which makes about a 9 inch waistband.  I am not much of an under the belly maternity bottoms wearer.  I can’t seem to keep those things up and having to constantly pull my pants up drives me batty.  I like to have some coverage, and some to fold over.

maternity skirt making

Cut your stretchy knit fabric an inch or two shorter than your waist (underbelly) measurement.

maternity skirt making

Then sew the two short sides together to made a big tube, wrong sides together if your fabric has a wrong side.

maternity skirt making

Fold your tube in half, opening up and matching your seams, wrong sides together.  Now you’ve got a doubled tube with raw edges on one side and a folded edge on the other.  Use pins to mark the fold directly across from your seam and on the center of each side.   Use pins to mark the center of each side of your skirt, too.

maternity skirt making

maternity skirt making

Stretch your waistband over the top of your skirt, matching the two raw edges of waistband with the raw edges of your skirt and lining up your marking pins.  Pin at those marks first, then  stretch and pin to fit in between those pins.

Now, sew it all together with the knit fabric on top so you can stretch as you go.  It’s really easy.  Don’t worry too much about getting all your stretching perfectly even.

Try it on, hem it how you like, and you’re good to go!

maternity skirt on

(Blurry photo courtesy of the 6 year old.)

 

 

new dress to cover the baby bump

There really is someone in there, and he moves and wiggles– and creates some giggles!

new dress to cover the baby bump

So, I have 4 kids and am half way through cooking up a 5th.  That means I’ve been pregnant for about 45 months of my life, and during each of those months I’ve had to clothe my expanding belly– even for church every Sunday.  But, this time around I feel like I’m at a loss as to what to wear every time Sunday rolls around.  What did I wear those other 40 months?  Beats me.  So, I spent my Saturday making myself something soft and stretchy and comfy, even hoping it would be cute, to wear to church yesterday.  I had many yards of this heathered mauvish soft cotton knit that I found on the closeout  rack at JoAnns a year or two ago for just $3 a yard sitting on a basement shelf, so I cut into it and hoped for the best.  I used Butterick 3385, which is a shirt pattern, and with a few modifications– making the sleeves long, using knit instead of woven fabric, and the obvious addition of enough length to make it a dress– I’m pretty happy.  It’s not quite as fitting and flattering as I had hoped– but there’s room to grow, so come January I’ll still be cozy in my super soft new dress.  It’ll cover my belly at peak expansion quite nicely.