How to Customize Maternity Clothes

Maternity clothes should fit well.

If you're pregnant and worried about what will happen when your clothes don't fit anymore, there are many ways around the situation. With the maturity of pregnancy, many women find their clothing becomes too short or too tight. Customized maternity clothes offer women the freedom of style, fit and comfort. An expectant mother can feel confident by customizing her wardrobe during this important time in her life. There's no better time to learn to sew.

Things You'll Need

• Maternity sewing pattern
• Sewing machine
• Needle
• Thread
• Scissors
• Clothing
• Fabric

Instructions

From Pattern to Perfect

1. 

   Learn how to use patterns.

   Start with a sewing pattern. You can get maternity sewing patterns at any fabric outlet or online pattern site such as Butterick or Burda. Use the size chart on the back of the pattern to determine which pattern size will best fit.

2. 

   Choose colorful fabrics.

   Select your fabrics for your maternity clothes. Knits, cotton and other stretchable fabrics work best to expand with your growing figure.

3. Following the directions from your sewing pattern, then lay out and cut your pieces of fabric to construct your clothing.

4. 

   Sewing machines make the process easier.

   Using a sewing machine, follow the detailed steps in your pattern instructions for stitching together your clothing ensemble.

5. Try your maternity clothing on and adjust the fit as needed. For waist and bust lines, you can turn clothing inside out. Measure the excess width, and stitch an additional seam allowance down both sides of the piece of clothing.

   For pant lengths, you can turn up any excess length in the legs at the butt cuffs to the inside of the leg and stitch across a half inch to an inch from the bottom, or if you prefer, you can simply roll them up.

Maternity Clothes From Things You Already Own

1. 

   Blouses can be altered for maternity wear.

   You can transform shirts and blouses from your closet with a little sewing engineering by adding a little extra tummy room with a panel of fabric. Start out by measuring your shirt and marking the center of the bust line.

   Mark just below the bust line and trace a large upside down "V" or triangle down the front of the shirt. Cut the marked portion of the triangle out. Using cotton, satin, sheer or knit fabrics, cut a retangular piece of fabric. Your fabric should measure the front width of the shirt.

   Using a needle and thread, fold the fabric in half and pinch together about four inches total. Weave your thread through the pinch portion of fabric to gather it. Place the gathered portion under the peak part of the cut out portion of the shirt. Pin in place. Then pull fabric to about two inches from the edge of the cut sides and pin. Stitch along the trainagle from the wrong side of the shirt.

2. Add a stretch panel to a pair of jeans to make room for an expanding belly. Lay out your jeans flat with the front side facing you. Measure and mark with a pen, two inches on either side of the side seams and just below the zipper . Using a pair of scissors, cut out a large half circle from the front of the jeans.

   Using the cut out piece of jeans as a template, cut a piece of elastic or stretchable fabric two inches bigger than the jean template. Turn jeans inside out and stitch the fabric panel over the opening. Fold over the excess fabric on the top waistline and stitch across to hem.

3. Another option for adjusting your jeans to allow room for your growing belly, is to cut a "V" in each side of your jeans at the side seams. Insert a piece of elastic to cover the opening of the "V" from the wrong side of the jean. This works well during the first few months of pregnancy and can be expanded by step two as you progress.

4. 

   Skirts can be easily customized.

   Skirts, like pants, can be altered to accomodate your pregnancy. Trace and cut a half circle from the top front portion of the skirt, leaving two inches on either side of the skirt's side seams. If the skirt doesn't have side seams, lay the skirt out flat and mark where they would be before proceeding to cut.

   As described in Step 2 of this section, cut a fabric panel and stitch an opening of front of the skirt.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose fabrics that are airy, comfortable, and have stretch.

• Creating your own custom maternity clothing isn't for everyone. If you can't sew, enlist the help of someone who can.

References

• Burda Maternity Sewing Patterns
• Butterick Maternity Sewing Patterns