Okay, here we go!
You’ll remember that last week on Monday, I bought 15 yards of stretchy, comfy, maternity-wear fabric to be transformed into a new maternity wardrobe for yours truly (so I would stop feeling sorry for myself and my 4-month-looks-like-6-month baby bump;)
I got a’sewing Tuesday during nap time, and was pleasantly surprised with how easy and quick my fashions were turning out. By Sunday, I had completed four new dresses and three new tops! Here they are in order of completion. Please forgive the nerd wearing my clothes.
Dress #1: Black Maxi. Sort of inspired by this, but not really. It’s just a super simple, super stretchy, go-to dress.
I used a Shade top to make the pattern for the bodice, then used a Polo jersey dress to create the angle for the skirt. The ruched sides were all me:) I considered adding an embellishment of some sort…a bow or flower yadee-yadee. Then, I thought it might be more versatile plain, so I can add a sweater, cool necklace, belt, what-have-you…and I think I like it that way.
Shirt #1: Mistakes Happen! I underestimated the stretch in this cotton material, and went ahead and used the same shade top to cut the bodice, but I left the neckline high to make it boatneck. I quickly realized that there was no way I would fit into that shirt, pregnant or not! Luckily, I had a little extra fabric, and was able to add in panels on the sides to widen it. The ruched seams in front would have been the side-seams without this change…yep, obviously not happening!
I made it extra long, ruched the front two seams, and added simple sleeves with an elastic hem in them. I love the fit of this shirt. I may have worn it four times since Tuesday…which might have been every other day!
You can see that there is a lot of growing room in there…which is nice, because if I am one thing, it is growing.
There’s a great shot, eh? I’m showing off the boat-neck with my bulging tendons, and showing off the length with my fully extended arms. Beautiful.
Dress #2 Ruffled Wrap Wall. Yeah, the material looks a little like a brick wall. Somehow it got into my basket, and luckily, I think it takes on a sort of cool, aztec, modern art appeal in this wrap dress! My favorite part (other than the fact that it wearing it feels sort of like pjamas!) is the semi-sweetheart neckline. Look close. It lays really cool, unlike the typical V-neck of wrap dresses.
Again, this one has a lot of room to grow. I used an old DKNY wrap dress as a pattern, and changed dimensions for the belly, added 3/4 length sleeves, and made the sweetheart neck. The ruffle idea came from this cool (and expensive) dress.
I wore this to work on Wednesday, and one of my co-workers was floored that I was “daring enough” to sew with lycra. I actually love working with knits and stretchy material, but I think using a serger makes it a million times easier. In fact, this dress was made using the serger only! Easy, breezy. Moving on…
Dress #3 For Getting Huge. I love love this fabric. As I browsed online for inspiration on how to use it well, I spotted this baby, and knew that was the direction I wanted to go.
Of course, I made a few changes. Especially since the fabric I used is almost sweatshirt-like and that dress is made with lightweight polyester. I did love the scoop neck, sleeve length, and especially the big, flowing circle skirt. I added pockets (seriously, every dress with a full skirt should have pockets!) and changed the tie to a front-knot belt.
One nice thing about everything I’ve made is that they are all pull-over-the-head dresses. No buttons or zippers or (heaven forbid) velcro! This one maintains a fitted middle with about ten rows of elastic thread sewn along the waistband in the back…I spotted that in the back shot photo. It’s genius! That way I’ve got tons of stretch, but it sucks back in to a nice shape.
When my mom and sister saw this one last night on video-chat they said, “Wow, you can get huge in that!!” Perfect. Because I do get huge.
Shirt #2 Military Tunic. Whatever, I couldn’t think of a better name, okay? This, again, is a super simple shirt. I used a long-sleeve shade to cut the bodice, but I added about 12 inches to the length and an inch on each side, so it’s nice and baggy. Oh, and my arm sort of covers that from the hip down it is open on the seam, real tunic style.
The material is a fun, stretchy, thermal texture, and after sewing it all together and ruching the sides and sleeves, I decided to add some design quality by hand-painting red stripes on the front with fabric paint. I love the finished look!
Because of the red stripes, I went ahead and finished all of the edges with a red, rolled-hem. Voilá! Hang in there, we’re getting close to the end (for now:)
Dress #4 Knot Typical (pause for laughter at my intended pun). For this baby, I used the pattern that I made months ago when remaking some shirts for Design Mom. I stayed true to the pattern in the front and on the sleeves. The ruching on this shirt made it a perfect fit for maternity. But I had enough fabric to turn it into a little dress…so I did!
I cut the back as all one piece, then added the skirt to the front to match the back. This is the lucky dress that was chosen for this Sunday’s meeting. My maternity debut:)
Oh, and again, we’ll be wearing this one for a while. I love that the lightweight material and the short sleeves will wear well into spring and summer, when I’ll be ready to pop.
Last but not least, Shirt #3 Stolen Stripes. I was browsing one of my favorite shops (can it be my favorite if I don’t own a single thing that they make, yet??!) Madewell, and came across this fab sweater. I love it. It is perfection. I will not fit into it for over a year. So I decided to steal the vertical stripe idea and incorporate it into my own maternity shirt! Great thinking, huh?
You guessed it! I used a shade for the bodice pattern. Lengthened it by a whole bunch (to the end of the fabric, however long that was) and created some extra long sleeves to keep me warm. Cute huh? I may have walked into the Madewell store this week while wearing this shirt and felt a little more in-style than I usually do;)
This look says “Yeah, whatever, I’ve gained 15 lbs but still look hot in my skinny jeans with their random cuff-pocket and my new custom, Wellmade maternity shirt.” Of course, I’m speaking with those eyes to my dear husband behind the lens who needs no convincing of my cuteness, even as I grow before his eyes…
So, there you have it. Week one (of one…maybe two) of Makin’ Maternity.
I’ve still got pink striped cotton, gray spandex, and white and green polka-dot jersey from my binge. I’ve also got a really cool blue cotton print that I was planning to use for my bridesmaid dress for Emmy’s Wedding, and ended up being too sick to pull together. I’m thinking rather than wait until Spring 2012, I should use it for a cool mama dress. Then again, I’m doing okay on dresses for the time being!
26 Comments
Miranda! Congrats on being pregnant (it has been way too long)! I cannot believe how talented you are. These maternity clothes are darling! When you start your clothing line, let me know. We'll invest. I hope you, Dave, and Milo are doing well.
Much love,
Em Burdette
Am super impressed with all your cute stuff! Feeling very inspired to got off the computer and back into the sewing room.
Hey Miranda,
It's Andrea from Clayton (*jazz hands!*).
I have been blog stalking you forever.
I had to come out of hiding to say that this is INCREDIBLE. I think you should probably open a clothing/accesories boutique. Seriously. Wow.
I'm glad that you are doing so well. Milo is darling!
I love, love, love dress #3 For Getting Huge. (haha!) It is gorgeous! I also really like the stolen stripes shirts.
Mir… you are amazing!! oh my gosh how in the heck did you sew that fast? I am so impressed… so darling!! Congrats on being prego!
Wow those are amazing! I can't believed you sewed all of those so quickly. I want some of those maternity dresses!
I think my carelessness and overconfidence is what allows me to be a really fast seamstress!! I just go for it, don't think too much, and "make it work!"
Miranda Hermosa, sos tan talented que hasta cosés como una pro. Amé todo lo que hiciste. Estás más linda que nunca, la belly te sienta de maravillas. Los extrañamos mucho!!! Besos a Milo y Dave!!!
oh i like you, miranda. so talented and beautiful. i'm so happy to call you my friend. maybe we can play scrabble and eat yummy salad this friday? i'll buy the salmon and whatever. i'd like to bring a "friend," too…
Love it love it love it! I love that you know about cool stuff that I don't, like Madwell! And I think your black and white dress is way cuter than the one you patterned it after. Great work!
Miranda, These look amazing! You are so creative! You make me want to learn to sew! I love the red lines you added to the tunic and the black and white items. Thanks for sharing!
You are so cute preggers. It was fun seeing you at Christmastime. I just wish we lived closer. Love you!
I really do love those clothes! While I'm not pregnant now, I do hope to be one day and I love these. Did you have a pattern? I especially love the twist front dress and the striped shirt.
Beautiful. Congrats on being pregnant.
@ Heather,
I usually create the patterns for my projects from existing clothes that fit me well. That way, I'm pretty sure I'll like the way they fall. For the twist front shirt however, I used a pattern that I had made months ago from a Banana Republic shirt. It was more complicated then I could figure out by just looking at it, so I actually cut it all apart at the seams so I could follow how it was put together! Luckily, I figured it out and have made a few of them since. This was the first I made into a dress, however, and that part I just sort of made up as I went!
Let me know when you're in need (and congratulations are in order!) and I'll walk you though the process, or send you a pattern, if you're interested!
xo Miranda
Way to go, Miranda! I wish I had sewing skills — there's so much I picture wearing that I could never create for myself. You looked darling at church on Sunday with your new dress. And I don't know if you saw but Ann Taylor Loft totally copied your Design Mom shirt!!
So I got an email tonight from a sweet girl Lauren saying thanks for some t-shirt making tutorials I had on my site, and in the same paragraph that she linked to me on her blog, she had linked to you saying that you were doing a maternity series. I'm doing a maternity sewing series too so I came here to check it out, and I was like hey! I know her! So try to remember WAY back JUNIOR year of highschool we were in the same Girl's State group. We took a picture together that I've always liked, so I remember your face. And am I crazy, or were we in the MTC together too? I think so..?! And I even think I saw you around BYU too. Anyway. LOVE all the sewing goodness. I'm a crazy seamstress myself, so all this sewing/repurposing makes my heart sing.
LOVE LOVE LOVE that wrap around "brick wall" dress. THat print looks like every single print from my last Anthropologie catalog–delish.
my site is madmim.com if you wanna come visit!
oh ps I'm Miriam (as-was Mitchell, now Tribe)
my goodness me – I am absolutely floored by these adorable maternity creations!! wowza! I especially love that rouched black dress – so chic!!
DIY Maternity
Oooh I love that black and white dress – dress number 3. I too think it's nicer than the ASOS one. Did you make up your own pattern?
I think I might have to have a go at making a dress, I'm even outgrowing my one bought maternity dress!
Sonata,
I did make my own pattern for that one. It turned out great. I just used a dress that I liked the fit of as a sort of base idea, then raised the waistline and added the circle skirt. You should definitely give it a go!
xo Miranda
Hi Miranda,
That's an impressive amount of sewing in one week!
How did you adjust the wrap dress pattern? I've made a couple of skirts by taking an inch or so off the top of skirt pieces and putting a stretchy band in instead of a stiff waistband, but I'm stumped about how you managed to make a maternity wrap dress!
Cheers
Emma
@EmmaHi there Emma! For the wrap dress I began by tracing the pattern of a wrap dress that I already had (non maternity) and then I added about 6" to the inside wrap, to ensure that even with a growing belly, I'd be all covered up! I didn't mind if the front flap ended up a little more centered than fully wrapped around, but I wanted to make sure that inside stayed all the way at the side seam. Does that make sense? Other than that small adjustment, the pattern was the same…except that I made mine 3/4 sleeves and tea length rather than short sleeved and knee length.
email me if you need some more tips!
Miranda
I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to make the knot top with some fabric I have on the way now and the maternity wrap dress and the green stretchy top BUT I have tried very un-successfully to make things from my own clothes before. You mentioned to send a pattern to another poster would you send me some sewing mojo help??????
Sarah Butcher
I love this! You are so crafty. My talents are only for quilting, knitting, and crocheting blankets. Sigh. Clothes would be wonderful to make
Beautiful!
Kelli
Thanks Kelli! It certainly is fun to make up whatever I want and make it to wear. Not to mention so much less expensive! I would LOVE to be a better quilter (I’ve designed my second and am considering actually buying the fabric to get started…). Knitting and crocheting are both way outside of my comfort zone, though! You go girl!
I love the black and white dress. That is definitely my style! I have ALWAYS loved a circle skirt (makes me want to twirl) and the fact that it has pockets just adds to my adoration. Do you have instructions somewhere on how to make it? I am still tweaking my sewing skills, but my mom is kick butt on a sewing machine. I am hoping between the two of us, we could knock this out!
But I would love a little guidance from you, “the pro!” PLEASE HELP! 
Thank you! I’m so happy you like it!
So, to make one you could use THIS recent tutorial. You can easily add pockets when sewing the side seams of the skirts. This version I made had ruched backing, but really with a knit, it would be great without as long as you size it correctly!