How to Design Your Own Maternity Shirt

Pregnancy does not mean sacrificing individuality. You can design your own maternity shirts.

Despite the large variety of available maternity clothes, it is still sometimes difficult to find exactly the right look or saying to express your feelings about being pregnant. Instead of going out and paying a lot for a shirt you will only be able to wear for a few months, you can create your own personalized maternity look. With a few widely available items, you can turn a regular large T-shirt into the maternity look of your choice.

Things You'll Need

• T-shirt
• Safety pins
• Elastic
• Sewing machine
• Transfer paper
• Computer/printer
• Iron

Instructions

1. Purchase a regular T-shirt at least two sizes larger than you would normally wear. This should give you enough extra fabric to accommodate your growing belly.

2. Put the shirt on and put a pin in just beneath the bustline on each side at the seams. Take the shirt off and turn it inside out. You should still be able to see where you pinned the seam. Attach the top of your elastic where you pinned the shirt, then stretch the elastic down as you stitch it in place. Once you have the elastic stitched in place, it will gather the sides. Repeat the same operation on the other side to gather up the fabric on the other side of the shirt.

3. Decorate your shirt by adding a personal saying or picture. An iron-on transfer can be made simply with a home computer and iron-on transfer paper from your local craft store. Create your saying on the computer, then flip it backward so that it will be properly oriented when you apply it to the shirt. Print the saying onto the transfer paper. Lay your T-shirt out flat and place the transfer sheet on top. With your iron on high, without using steam, iron over the back of the transfer. Be careful to avoid bumps or creases. You also can decorate your shirt using fabric paint from your local craft store.

Tips & Warnings

• Transfer paper comes in different types, depending on the type of printer, color of the fabric, or amount of heat necessary. Make sure you read the directions thoroughly before you start to ensure the best result.

• Try your transfer out on a similar fabric before using it on your final T-shirt.

• Avoid using copyrighted characters unless you hold a license to reproduce their images for your personal use.

References

• Homemade by Jill: Converting a Large T-Shirt
• Punk Baby Clothes: Funky Maternity Clothes

Resources

• Avery: T-Shirt Transfers