What to make and sew for pregnancy

As the weeks pass, my pregnancy progresses and my body shape continues to change, I’ve been working out what garments from my handmade wardrobe I can still wear. I often get asked for sewing pattern recommendations for pregnancy and nursing and my own personal preference for handmade garments during that phase in life is to make use of regular sewing patterns, that aren’t specific to maternity or nursing but lend themselves to changing bodies due to their style and design.

In this blog and accompanying video I’m sharing my top favourite garments that I’ve found most comfortable and practical for pregnancy.

Tops

True Bias Zoey Tank

My number 1 has got to be the True Bias Zoey Tank made using our range of Meet Milk Derby Tencel Ribbed Jersey fabrics. I’m a huge fan of this wardrobe basic anyway, and for pregnancy all I’ve done is lengthened the bodice by 4 inches, with no other adaption from my regular size. This is perfect for layering other jumpers and tops over. It’s super comfy, stretchy and lightweight so I end up wearing one with almost every outfit!

Megan Nielsen Jarrah Jumper

This pattern is another top favourite of mine anyway, bit it's looser boxy fit really lends itself to a changing shape. I’ve got so many versions of this classic jumper party and my most recent version, using our bright coral sweatshirting, has been so comforting and cosy to wear. Layered up over one of my trusty Zoey Tank Tops it's great!

I didn’t need to make any adaptations to the size and pattern that I normally make so I know this snuggle fest of a jumper will serve me well for years to come!

Closet Core Jenna Shirt

I’m also a huge shirt fan, with my most made shirt pattern of all time being the Grainline Archer Shirt. However, when Closet Core Patterns recently released the Jenna Shirt I knew straight away I wanted to give it a go! It has a dress version and two shirt versions and for my first version of what I’m sure will become a much made and loved pattern, is the longer shirt version A.

The sizing is slightly different from most other Closet Core patterns as its labelled with XXS - 4X rather than the regular numerical labelling. My current body shape put me between a size S and M, but my past size in Closet Core Patterns puts me at the top of the size XS. Based on the oversized fit and looking at the garment measurements, I decided to make the XS as I think I’ll be more likely to wear it in the long term once I’m not pregnant.

I’m really pleased with the fit over the shoulders and it's a great one to style in lots of different ways, again layered up over a Zoey Tank Top.

The design has lots of really nice details and as I was using a loose weave embroidered cheese cloth cotton fabric I decided to make the sleeve placket, undercollar and side seam gusset detail in a cute Liberty Tana Lawn. It really picks out these details and also made them much easier to sew and the lawn is much more stable to work with!

Dresses

Named Kielo Dress

This cleverly designed, non-maternity pattern, is perfect for a growing changing body due to it’s unique wrap style. Designed for stretchy, jersey fabric, it is super comfy to wear and the wide shape over the tummy area, that then wraps around means there is plenty room for movement and growth.

I made this new version out of one of our printed viscose jerseys - we’ve got a huge range at the moment - and it would also look great in a classic plain as well using our Tencel Jersey(lighter weight fabric) or Loopback Model Jersey (heavier weight fabric).

I made my regular size for this version despite my current bust measurement putting me in a bigger size and I found that due to how stretchy the fabric was the sizing still worked out well, in fact I had to sew the sleeve seams with a bigger seam allowance one I had tried it on for the first time to make them more fitted!

Closet Core Ebony

I made this dress years ago and I wear it often in the winter with tights anyway, but its been great for a changing body as the style line of the dress is so A-line, making it very swishy with plenty of room.

I used a Liberty Viscose jersey for this version and as it was many years ago we don’t have this particular one anymore but we still have LOTS of other great viscose, bamboo and modal options. I’d suggest jerseys with these fibre contents over cotton jersey as it tends to hold it’s structure more and would therefore give a fuller effect and you might feel like its sticking out too much.

The pattern is now out of print but can be bought as a PDF from the Closet Core website (in this link) and you can make use of our A0 pattern printing service to have it printed for you!

Tilly and the Buttons Indigo

This is another dress that I regularly wear anyway and it’s looser fit around the waist with the gathered skirt allow for lots of room for a changing body.

Leggings

I often get asked about leggings for pregnancy too and there are a few options to choose from.

The Megan Nielsen Virginia leggings has a maternity option with the waist band being lower, which would sit ‘under the bump’.

The popular Helens Closet Avery Leggings can be hacked for a maternity version following the blog linked here on the Helens Closet website. The Pattern is only available as a PDF as well, which you can also get on the Helens Closet website. My top tips video for making the regular version of the pattern is linked below.

Other patterns I’ve made before and worn during pregnancy

You can check out my blog post below, that I wrote while I was pregnant with my little boy for even more regular sewing patterns that lend themselves to a changing body shape.