Sewing A Maternity Wardrobe: Full-term Review
Two months ago, I showed you the clothes that I had been frantically sewing for my expanding pregnant belly. As promised, I am here checking in again at 37 weeks to update you on how the garments fit now that I can't get much bigger. There are also a couple of new makes I've added to my wardrobe since my last post that I will show you at the end :)
I hope this will help my fellow pregnant sewists get a few ideas for patterns to attempt (or avoid!) in their own quests to sew a maternity wardrobe.
Givre Dress by Deer and Doe Patterns
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| At 26 weeks vs 37 weeks |
Starting with my most worn make over the last few months, the 3-6 month maternity version of the Givre dress has been amazing! So very comfortable and flattering. It has stretched easily over my growing bump without distorting the fabric much at all. I've worn it on walks, around town, to hospital appointments and received lots of compliments on it.
I highly recommend the pattern - you can get a good deal on it on the Deer and Doe website when you buy the maternity and standard versions together. It also comes with a sleeveless option...
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| At 28 weeks vs 37 weeks |
I'm not sure whether it's because I made it in white, or because I cut the standard pattern rather than the maternity version, but I don't like it anywhere near as much as the black. It ripples a lot more around bump. Still, it has been very useful on hotter days, and is very comfortable.
Reeta Shirt Dress by Named Clothing
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| At 28 weeks vs 37 weeks |
This is another outfit that has had plenty of wear. I think dresses have generally been more successful for me than separates, since I don't have to worry about waistbands sliding down or cutting into bump. I made it in my normal size and there is still enough space now to feel comfortable and airy, great on a hot day. I've stopped wearing it with a belt, and it's not quite as flattering, but it's still pretty, and it's really practical. With it opening fully down the front, it will be perfect for breastfeeding later:
And during pregnancy I have used the buttons to avoid taking it off during hospital scans!
Hazelwood Top by Tessuti Fabrics
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| At 24 weeks vs 37 weeks |
I still love this jumper and you can't even see the bump! It has been difficult to get much wear out of it because it's so cropped. I was hoping to find some good maternity leggings to pair with it, but that has proved very difficult without being able to try anything on in shops during the pandemic.
There is a longer version you can make, and in a softer, drapier fabric I think that would work really well as a light autumn jumper. Mmm, I'm tempted to do that now, in a nice autumnal colour...
(literally did just wander off and scour the internet for a suitable fabric - oopsy)
Ninni Culottes by Named Clothing
Unfortunately, despite still fitting and looking good from the front (as shown above with the Hazelwood Top), the baggy shapeless style of these trousers just makes me feel like a bit of a whale from the side!
I think the way the fabric hangs vertically off my bump and bum just makes me look a lot wider than I really am. They also have an annoying habit of doing this constantly:
As a result, they have hardly been worn, even around the house. Not recommended as maternity wear!
Libby Shirt by Sew Over It
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| At 23 weeks vs 37 weeks |
I had intended to make a second version of this pattern, since I love the easy style and think it will still look good once baby is out. However, this one was pretty short at 23 weeks, and is now just tooo short. I reckon it would still look great had it been an extra two or three inches long at the hem. But I don't have enough of my second fabric to try that out, so I shall just hold onto it until a later date now.
Wilder Gown by Friday Pattern Company
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| 20 weeks vs 37 weeks |
Hugely popular both amongst pregnant and non-pregnant sewists on Instagram (where I came across it), this really is the perfect bohemian maternity dress. I wore it out elderflower picking in July, and just felt so hilariously wholesome, I love it. Still looks beautiful with a full bump, and still feels mega comfortable too.
If you undo the tie at the neck, it can be opened up and potentially used for breastfeeding. I'm not quite sure yet that the slit is deep enough for that, but I will probably just unpick some of the centre seam to make it more accessible if not.
My second version of the Wilder Gown was intended for a wedding last month that had to be postponed due to Covid :( It's far too fancy for everyday use, but I wore it last week when Tom and I dressed up to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Again, I'm still super happy with it.
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| At 37 weeks (don't worry - it's Nosecco...) |
Stride Athletic Tights by Greenstyle Creations
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| At 27 weeks vs 37 weeks |
I haven't really had much need for this outfit recently. After two attempts at pregnancy yoga, I badly strained my side and could barely stand for a couple of days. Me and yoga do NOT get on. Now I'm sticking to daily walks, and while the actual fit of these leggings is pretty good, the fabric is really slippery and I have to pull them up constantly. So they have sat in my drawer unworn sadly.
In a fairly thick, structured jersey, I think they might have worked well as maternity leggings, but I just haven't had the time to experiment with that. I would probably make the waistband even higher though, to be sure I could wear them with my shorter tops.
North Shore Bikini by Greenstyle Creations
In my last post at 28 weeks, I sang the praises of the sports bra version I made (shown above with the Stride Athletic Tights). It does still fit, but I haven't worn it much because it doesn't offer great support, and I've found more recently that the elastic under the boobs causes me quite a bit of pain if I wear it while sitting down for too long. I have since switched to shop-bought bras. I know, what a cop-out!
More recently, I have made the full two-piece bikini version using a lovely rib knit from Funki Fabrics. I chose to cut the high rise bikini bottom, partly in the hope that it would sit over the top of bump and not slide down (wishful thinking!). I was also considering that further down the line, I might have sags or scars across my tummy that I would prefer to cover up.
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| At 30 weeks, at Pembrey Beach, South Wales |
I wish I had just made a one-piece swimsuit instead. It would have been quicker, and probably comfier than having thick elastic around the hem of the top and waistband of the bottoms. I also just find the height of the waistband really unflattering across my bump. But hey ho, they got a trip to the beach and a dip in the sea.
Pinnacle Top by Papercut Patterns
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| At 37 weeks, in viscose crepe |
They were really quick makes, they only have four pieces to sew together! And the pattern can also be made as a jumper, using an extra triangular panel to replace the V-neck with a higher round neck.
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| At 37 weeks, in dobby cotton |
Self-drafted Tapered Trousers
Worn with both Pinnacle Tops is my final maternity make, and one of my biggest sewing triumphs to date. I'll try not to bang on about these trousers too much, since they don't come from a pattern you can buy. But I am obsessed with them.
Unlike the very baggy Ninni Culottes, the tapered leg on these make me feel like there is still a bit of shape to me. And I gave them a super-high elasticated waistband which sits above my belly button and stops them from annoyingly slipping down below my bump all the time.
This is definitely the style of trouser I would recommend for maternity sewing. I've seen a couple of patterns on Instagram which look quite similar - the Clyde Pants by Elizabeth Suzann and the Miller Trousers by Paper Theory. Neither are maternity, so you would probably want to hack them a bit, adding extra room in the crotch, and heightening the waistband.
I used a black tencel twill, which is a fabulous fabric for trousers. It's soft and light, but has enough structure to drape really beautifully.
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| Clyde Pants (left), Miller Trousers (right) |
Anderson Blouse by Sew Over It
With all of my maternity makes, I selected patterns that I hope to still wear after birth. But this blouse is one that I have already had in my handmade wardrobe for a few years. Turns out it fits brilliantly even at this late stage of pregnancy. So I can already confidently recommend this pattern as a maternity make that will work well in your normal wardrobe later.
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| 2017 vs 37 weeks pregnant |
It is just long enough to cover my full bump, and has a ribbon around the hem that allows you to cinch it in underneath. And the long fitted sleeves, like the tapered legs on the trousers, help me to avoid just feeling like a round ball.
So there you are, a review of my maternity wardrobe at full-term. Not long to go for me now. Just a bit of time to sew some baby-grows from my fabric remnants.
Wishing all the pregnant sewists out there a happy and healthy nine months x
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