Tuesday, September 07, 2010

Modified Maternity Skirt


I am finding that many of the maternity garments that have slowly been finding their way from my sewing machine into my closet have been on some kind of journey. A few have passed straight from yardage into maternity wear, but most of them have undergone significant alteration since the yardage stage.



This newly-finished and delightfully silky floral skirt is a perfect example -- my mother-in-law passed it on to me in the form of an unfinished dress that she had decided not to complete. This was several months before I was married, actually! It sat in my stash, waiting for the perfect opportunity.



When I came across it recently, inspiration struck -- why not make it into a maternity skirt? I chopped off the bodice, cut a curve for a maternity panel, and then used my cut piece as a pattern to make a stretchy panel from a thrifted camisole. A zig-zag stitch brought the two together.



I salvaged the silky bias trim from the camisole, and found that it made the perfect waistband -- just wide enough for a piece of elastic! Total cost was about 50 cents (free dress, 1/2 of a $0.50 tank top, some 1/8" elastic, and thread).



I've been delighted with just how simple it is to modify existing skirts for maternity. In fact, I have yet to purchase an actual maternity skirt because I've not had the need. Which is a blessing, because long maternity skirts are almost impossible to find -- not to mention *horribly* expensive.



Frugal and fun maternity sewing -- it just doesn't get any better!

9 comments:

  1. You are just GLOWING! :) I love your maternity/baby updates ... you're so creative, Shannon, and I love seeing how that works out as you prepare for the arrival of your new little one!! Do you know when you're due?

    Thank you so much for sharing maternity sewing tips. I'm bookmarking them so that I can make things for pregnant friends ... and in the hope that I'll be able to do similar sewing soon. :)

    Blessings,
    Luci

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  2. I think I knew you were expecting..but Congratulations again anyhow! May you, daddy and baby be very blessed.

    And lovely skirt...I wish I'd had your creativity when expecting!

    Lots of love,
    Sommer

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  3. How pretty! You did a great job transforming the skirt into a maternity skirt, Shannon! I'm so excited to see photos of your precious one once it is born!

    Blessings,
    Elizabeth

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  4. What a beautiful skirt! And such a good idea to modify things to make maternity outfits! =)

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  5. How resourceful and you look adorable!
    Blessings,
    Mrs. Hope

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  6. What a great idea Shannon! And it even looks like something I could maybe manage, with my woeful sewing skills ;-) I'll have to bookmark the page for potential future use!

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  7. Lovely! I am also newly pregnant with #3 and am starting to try to figure out how to make some maternity skirts!

    I saw a website that is giving a free maternity skirt away, you just have to leave a comment. It's at www.newcreationapparel.com

    They have some beautiful stuff, a lot is around $20-$25 :)

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  8. wow! I love what you did with that old dress! What creative skills you have!!! You look SO wonderful! I'll bet you both are as excited as can be! When are you due? Around Christmas time?

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  9. Thank you for your sweet comments and congratulations! I look forward to experimenting some more over the next few months, before the baby comes. :-) Never having been pregnant before, it's difficult for me to "guesstimate" how big or adjustable I need to make things -- I guess I'll find out!

    Blessings,
    Shannon

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