How does that fit?
Most of the questions I get lately are related to items I’ve made and how they continue to fit/wear as my body continues to change during this pregnancy. I’m currently 38 weeks pregnant so I thought it was great time to do a little review. I made a few new items for myself during this pregnancy, but I also tried to shop my closet to see what would fit through the majority of this time frame. I selected a few different items that have been my favorites to wear. For reference my current measurements are bust: 37, belly: 40, and hips 41 inches. I am also 5’1.
Kila Tank- Tank tops are a great layering piece during pregnancy and most times, if they are long enough, you don’t need to buy or make anything that is maternity specific. I made this Kila tank last year and it’s still working great for me. This is a size 4 based on my previous measurements. The fabric I used is also a very stretchy rib knit so it’s great to use something with lots of stretch and recovery. On this tank I also made a modification to raise the neckline and you can read that blog post here.
Elizabeth Suzann Florence Pants- These pants I made with a more specific goal of being pregnancy friendly. I made the size large and lowered the rise of the pants so that they could more easily sit under my belly. I left the elastic waist nice and roomy and they are still working great without getting too tight. You can read more about these pants here, but overall, they are super comfy and I plan on adjusting the elastic postpartum so that they will still work for me. I will for sure give an update on how they fit after the baby is born.
All well Studio Pants- These are another pant where I lowered the rise to sit under my belly and you can read the post with details here. Most of my pant patterns are high rise so I was running out of options for clothing this past winter. These ones are still fitting great, once again I left the elastic nice and roomy to last me through the pregnancy. I plan on adjusting the elastic as needed postpartum to continue to wear them as well.
Stellan Tee- This T-shirt is my tried-and-true tee pattern. I love the boxy fit and the slight drop shoulder and I’ve made it enough that I know what modifications I like for me personally. I wear a size small and I added three inches in length to the original tee pattern to make it fit over my belly during pregnancy. The length has still been great through this whole time and I can wear it with the lower rise pants that I’ve made like the All Well Studio Pants seen here. The great thing is later, if I want a crop tee which I prefer when I’m not pregnant, I can just cut off the extra length and re do the hem.
Zadie Jumpsuit- I made this jumpsuit when I was 23 weeks pregnant and I’m excited to say it still fits at 38 weeks. I made this in a size 14 and I did make some modifications to the rise and the bodice length, since I’m only 5’1, and this was a recommendation I often saw on Instagram from other sewists. You can see all the details for this make on this post here. I think this is a great pregnancy option and I think will be great for postpartum too. The legs are really wide overall so I think if I make this again in the future, I might taper them slightly, but that’s more of a personal preference then a fit issue. I’m excited to see how it continues to fit me and will update if I make any changes to the garment later on.
Peppermint Magazine Wrap Skirt- I was so excited to make this skirt and I thought since it’s a wrap and adjustable that would be perfect for pregnancy. I made this at 18 weeks and it is still fitting 20 weeks later! You can read the bog post here, but I made the size E and I decided to add 1.5 inches to pattern piece 1 which is the right front skirt just to give me a little more coverage. I wasn’t worried about it not fitting in pregnancy, but I just wanted to give myself extra converge so the skirt wouldn’t flap open when walking or from a breeze. I’m happy with the fit and I think I would do that modification regardless of being pregnant. This has been one of my favorite garments and will continue to be a staple in my wardrobe this summer.
Krissa Crop- This top I made a few years ago, but I love that I was able to introduce it into my wardrobe as the temps started to rise here. The back is open and just buttons at the neckline, so it’s really easy to wear as my body changes. I love having some crop options for when I wear a high waisted skirt like the wrap skirt. I made this in the size 8 without any modifications and it still fits great.
Wiksten Shift Dress- I made this last year in a size 4 without any modifications. It still fits great at 38 weeks and it’s so nice to have items already in your closet that you can wear before, during, and after pregnancy. The boxy silhouette allows plenty of room for a growing belly. I also have the longer version with the waist tie, you can see that here, and that one still fits perfectly as well!
I hope this serves as a helpful resource for other sewists during pregnancy. It’s been fun to sew while pregnant, but I was trying to be mindful not to over make, or make items that wouldn’t work once I’m no longer pregnant. I think I struck a good balance for myself overall. I think some key elements for making clothes during this time is looking for garments that have a looser fit, adjustable, or easy to alter when needed. If you have any other questions feel free to comment below or on Instagram! Also check out my Instagram I made a reel for these outfits so you can see them in motion!