Replies

1. 
   Michelle | Jun 20, 2005 12:05am | #1

    I'm also sewing for a daughter who is expecting.

   I tried two options

   1. sewing a panel of ribbed fabric in the front ie from the waist line to approx.  20 cm below the waist.

   2. creating a ribbed fabric 'band' from the waist line to approx 20 cm below the waist all the way around, which seemed to look more like a design feature than a maternity garment, particularly if you are able to match the ribbing to the fabric.

   Regards,

   shelly in Jerusalem

2. 
   suesew | Jun 20, 2005 03:10am | #2

   A lot depends on the design. If there is a waistline you will need to add some at the top of the skirt and at the side seams on the bodice. I just altered one for a bridemaid who was 3 months pregnant and was simply able to let out the side seams. If this young woman is going to be very pregnant on the wedding day, perhaps you could gather a little fullness for her across the front. It doesn't make too much sense trying to hide the obvious. You do what you need to do to make her comfortable.

1. 
   CLeoCre8 | Jun 20, 2005 06:52am | #3

   I was 6 months pregnant when I got married and I made my own dress. I took an empress dress  pattern and just added more fabric in the front. With that extra fabric I made two deep pleats (or I guess you could gather it but the pleats blended in better) It worked wonderfully for me. And allowed me to expand abit since the dress was sewn a month before the wedding.

3. 
   antibelle | Dec 30, 2005 01:22am | #4

   I recently made two custom bridesmaid dresses for two pregnant women. Even though they ordered the dresses three months early, and I developed the pattern early, I had to save the fitting for the last week so that they wouldn't grow too much. The dresses were two piece spagetti strap tops with an empire waist and made to be A-Line for them (more fitted with princess seams for the others) and a slightly A-line skirt from Dupioni silk in a lovely mint color. I discovered some of their desires for their fitting were different than what I planned on. I thought that you would want to wear the waistline "above the hump" to insure the skirt wouldn't fall off. A strechy panel wasn't much of an option because the top needed to be shorter to be closer to what the other girls were wearing, although some added length did help. Instead of "above the hump" though, I discovered they, and probably most young pregnant women, are used to low waisted clothing that let the belly breath. So I adjusted and even scooped out the front of the waist some, so they could wear it below. Also it was a faced waistline instead of a waistband - helpful. They liked that even though the top stuck out like a tent, you could see that their hip width was small, as the skirt was hanging from the smallest point and as they said "Everyone will know I'm pregnant, not fat". Leaving the skirt hem extra long to find the hem lenght at the fitting was helpful with the two piece style, so that we could balance the proportions of the longer top with the length of the skirt. That way they wouldn't have to look short, round and cut in half. A longer skirt (mid calf) helped give some lenghth and balance overall, but also not swath them head to toe in fabric. Making clothes for someone who is pregnant and in the limelight is a work of love!

   I also recommend looking at some of the pregnant bridesmaid dresses online for inspiration - there are more than you would think.

1. 
   kkf | Jan 02, 2006 12:00am | #5

   This is a topic close to my heart... or should I say my belly. I have modified lots of "regular" patterns to maternity, since I generally dislike much of the maternity rtw and there are not that many maternity patterns out there. Generally speaking, I cut an L-shaped line through the bottom of the bodice to the bustline, and then over from the armscye, keeping a hinge point at the bust point. I add 5" to the length at the cf, and 3-5 inches at the bottom (depending on how much belly ease there is to start with, and the desired fit), closing up the dart formed at the bust. Then just draw an arc from the new cf to your new side point. I sometimes add a little to the back width, but I carry most of my pregnancy weight in the front (this varies widely from person to person). My favorite modified patterns using this method have been the Textile Studio Santa Monica T, the Loes HInse Sweater Set and the new Kwik Sew twist-front top 3378.HTH
   Kristi (who also can't stand a panel over her belly, though not because of non-pregnancy fashion-- just a sensitive belly)