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From: MaryW
Date: 09-01-2004, 09:33 AM (1 of 17)
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Here are a few things I found on a list. They are pointers and tips on how to make maternity clothes from a regular pattern. These were published in a flyer from Stretch and Sew in 1974 but should still be relevant. Remember, this is not something I KNOW to be accurate, rather something gleaned from other seamstresses. Top 1--Ok, for the tops, the first thing is to add length to cover the expanding tummy. For a pattern such as a t-shirt or blouse, you A it out on the side edges (both front and back) by 1 1/2" each side and connect to the underarm. Then, for more fullness in front, you slash at center front and spread 3-5", tapering to nothing at the neck. Top 2--If your top has a yoke, you do the same length and side seam alterations as the first to the lower front/back, then slash and spread the center front 7-8", adding the fullness throughout the lower front. It will be gathered back into the yoke during construction (or you can take the fullness up in pleats). The flier shows illustrations of gathers evenly across, gathers just over the bust area, and pleats over the bust area. Top 3--For a top with a center front pleat, you will proceed as for the first top, but add a total of 7-8" the whole length of the top, which will then be pleated at center front. An easy way to do this is to cut pattern tracing material the width of your half pattern plus 7-8", fold in half, mark a line 3-4" from the fold all along, place the pattern with the CF edge on the marked line, then draw in the neckline and bottom hem line, and trace the rest of the pattern. Pants--These are a little more involved, and the directions are written for a simple, no-pocket pull-on pant pattern, so you might try it with that first before moving onto a more complex pant pattern. First, on the front, extend the crotch shelf at the inseam 2" and lower the curve slightly (you want front and back inseams to measure the same). Then measure up and out 2" at the waistline seam (a) and at the crotch seam (b); mark dots. Connect (a) to the side waist seam and (b) to the lower crotch curve, extending both lines so they will meet and form a new CF and Crotch seam. They do say that if the baby is carried low, either the top or bottom extension can be eliminated. There is also the suggestion that, during the later months of pregnancy, the side seams can be opened 8-9" and a triangular insert of "body rib" (I assume this is some kind of heavy/firmish ribbing) can be inserted for extra room. MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: pucktricks
Date: 09-02-2004, 04:39 PM (2 of 17)
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Mary, I loved seeing your tips, because I just found out a few weeks ago that I'm pregnant and had just bought some very cool patterns today that are maternity, but will be glad to try and modify my other patterns. Oh..... I'm so excited.  Ticia |
User: pucktricks
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 570 
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From: plrlegal
Date: 09-02-2004, 05:19 PM (3 of 17)
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Congratulations Ticia! Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: pucktricks
Date: 09-02-2004, 07:15 PM (4 of 17)
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Thanks, we're having an ultrasound tomorrow to make sure that all is well and proceeding normally. Ticia |
User: pucktricks
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 570
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From: Mother in Law
Date: 09-03-2004, 12:25 AM (5 of 17)
| Congrats here too. I just made a pair of maternity pants for my daughter in law who's due in Feb. They came out cute and WalMart here had the ribbed stretch fabric for maternity pants. I had to alter her pants..........she's a size 12 in the waist and a size 16 in the hips. That was quite a task. But they came out cute. Thanks Mary for the tips I'll have to try the shirts next time. |
User: Mother in Law
Member since: Total posts: |
From: pucktricks
Date: 09-03-2004, 10:43 AM (6 of 17)
So, to further up on my surprising news. We just found out about an hour ago that we're having TWINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Which, is really rather shocking, since it doesn't run in either family, but we're very excited by all this.  Ticia |
User: pucktricks
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 570
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From: MaryW
Date: 09-03-2004, 06:11 PM (7 of 17)
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OMG, what news! Get sewing girl, 2 of everything. MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: pucktricks
Date: 09-04-2004, 09:32 AM (8 of 17)
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Yeah, I will as soon as I can keep everything down. Ticia |
User: pucktricks
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 570
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From: Mother in Law
Date: 09-04-2004, 08:23 PM (9 of 17)
 Twins!!!!! "Two by two they came" Oh that is great I think. Is this your first? That is wonderful. Keep us informed as you progress.
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User: Mother in Law
Member since: Total posts: |
From: beachgirl
Date: 09-04-2004, 10:23 PM (10 of 17)
| Ticia, Congradulations !!!!! Hope you have a wonderful pregnancy & all goes wonderful for you. I had a set of twins 40 years ago. Ye gads, that makes me feel old saying that. Anyway had a 2 year old at the time. Twins are wonderful. Twice the work but twice the fun & that makes up for the lack of sleep & work. Twins run in my family ,Both my parents sides. Please keep us informed. Your so lucky. Theresa |
User: beachgirl
Member since: 08-31-2004 Total posts: 615 
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From: pucktricks
Date: 09-04-2004, 11:15 PM (11 of 17)
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This is my first. We'd joked about twins, and talked about how it would be funny if..... And then what do we get, but..... what we least expected. But, we're very excited, it's amazing what suddenly hits you that will change. I realized that once the babies are born that going to the grocery store is a two-adult trip, because I don't know how I'd manage 2 babies in their carriers, and other mundane things like that. So, we're having all sorts of fun starting to figure this out. Ticia |
User: pucktricks
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 570
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From: DorothyL
Date: 09-06-2004, 09:28 AM (12 of 17)
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Ticia -- Don't worry about to babies in the grocery store. Wait til you are chasing two two-year-olds. One goes one way and the other goes the other way. You will grow a third arm and eyes in the back of your head. You will also learn to cuss in baby talk, "Oh Poop!" Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: pucktricks
Date: 09-06-2004, 02:41 PM (13 of 17)
True. I was thinking about getting a leash  for that age. But, it'll be cool. If very tiring.Ticia |
User: pucktricks
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 570
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From: mommydionne
Date: 09-07-2004, 06:24 PM (14 of 17)
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good luck with twins, we have number 4 on the way but two at once is going to be interesting. When you do standard maternity patterns you may wish to slim them down (ie pant legs) and cut the tops a bit shorter, I'm tiny (ie 5-4 and 110lbs non pregnant) and found most of the clothes tended to drown me a bit. I actually preferred modifying my own patterns as the way to go. good luck (and the grocery thing is a two person job at first but most places have two seater carts now!!  )
Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838 
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From: pucktricks
Date: 09-07-2004, 08:02 PM (15 of 17)
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Thanks for the tip on the patterns, it sounds like you have similar body type to me, so that's a good one to keep in mind. Yeah, grocery store will definetely be a two adult job for a while. Ticia |
User: pucktricks
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 570
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From: MaryW
Date: 10-22-2004, 08:40 AM (16 of 17)
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I received this late last night via email. It is a link to another site that carries instructions on how to alter a jacket to fit later on in pregnancy. There are also instructions on a carrier once baby is born. It is a sound idea in my opinion, but be prepared for a LONG read. http://kiddiesgames.com/jacketinserts MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: Londa
Date: 10-22-2004, 10:50 PM (17 of 17)
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My DD is expecting (March ) - a boy - found out yesterday......... Anyway - in looking at the maternity wear, it is obvious to me that the current trend is to wear the pant below the belly, rather than over it. Stretchrite has the 2" elastic (SS6157) - and I put that in a pair of pants for my daughter. She likes them. Have any of you taken jeans that you wore 'before' and added a band of this with a soft knit around it? Have printed off the other hints here and will certainly study them. I think, too, that the Plus sizes have much to offer for use as maternity wear - especially Burda. Londa www.londas-sewing.com Londa
www.londas-sewing.com www.alondaoriginal.com |
User: Londa
Member since: 05-26-2004 Total posts: 39 
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