Pregnant Child in the City: Taking Matters Into My Own Hands...

As some of you may know, I used to be a school teacher. I spent nearly five years in the beautiful South teaching Drama and English. There were days when I absolutely LOVED it and days when I considered leaving and becoming a Starbucks manager (better pay/benefits, free coffee, no detention slips to hand out, etc.).



Thankfully, the good days outweighed the bad. But change can be a good thing...

Long story (sort of) short, I went back to school in 2008, studied Fashion Design at IADT Chicago, and earned a degree. It led me to form my own business (A Common Thread), and opened my eyes to a whole new world. A world where terms such as "seam allowance," "understitching," and "pin tucks" became part of my daily vocabulary.

In other words...I finally learned how to sew.


Two years have passed since my first classes began, and I am now making weekly trips to Vogue Fabrics in search of knits. The reason: I'm Taking Matters Into My Own Hands (literally). My hope: creating a functioning maternity wardrobe that is figure-flattering, cost-effective, and very personal.

So when I say Taking Matters Into My Own Hands, I mean just that; I've started using those skills I learned in design school to sew and create pieces I can actually wear, both now (at 28 weeks pregnant) and afterwards!

Yes, sewing a garment can take hours, and it might be more time-effective to just pop into A Pea in the Pod and stock up. That's certainly the case when it comes to tee shirts, jeans, etc. But if you're like me, and dressing up is a joy instead of a chore, you want looks that are flattering to your growing shape in colors/styles you love. And if you can create a look for the price of 3 yards of fabric (plus time for construction), why not try it?

Maternity wear has come a LONG way from the days of I Love Lucy and her polka-dotted circus tents. And while I do, in fact, love Lucy, I don't necessarily want to dress like she did while pregnant with Little Ricky.



Even if the last time you held a sewing needle was junior high Home Ec, there are some easy styles you can create that will flatter your burgeoning belly. Some suggestions...

Fabric Choices: stretch knits, jersey, and poly-jersey, stretch suede (!)

Patterns: I highly recommend Kwik-Sew or Burda for these styles; they both use fairly up-to-date clothing trends, and they are pretty affordable as far as patterns go ($9.99 and up).

1) Knit tunics--By adding extra room in the side panels and around the belly, you can make a chic staple work for you and baby.


2) Cowl-neck tops--often, these will be found under "Knits" in a pattern book, not necessarily maternity. However, if you chose an empire-waisted style, leave some room at the sides, and it will fall over your bump pretty naturally.


3) Asian-inspired kimono dress--my favorite so far. I really wanted a raspberry-colored dress (not beret!) for our first baby shower, and didn't find anything I really liked in the stores. I ended up finding a Kwik Sew shirt pattern (see below) and awesome stretch suede fabric, and with some sleeve modifications and extending the length, A Dress Was Born!!!





Have any of you readers had luck with making your own pieces for maternity wear? What recommendations can you make for those ready to embark on their own "ready-to-wear" line? :)