The second best thing to being pregnant yourself- I fully admit that I loved the 45 months I was pregnant!- is watching your own daughter blossoming with her own baby! Katelyn is almost halfway there and although the morning sicknesss is still plaguing her everyday, she looks radiant to me! Of course watching her throw up on the driveway when she stops by in the morning to give her sister a ride to work isn’t such a beautiful sight, but many of you can appreciate the excitement that accompanies the thought of that wonderfull newborn smell of baby, and the spoiling to be done!
Which brings us to fashion. Of course! Maternity fashion. I haven’t given a moments thought to maternity wear, and more specifically maternity sewing patterns for um 20 years! I made up for it in the past few weeks!
I have this very annoying habit -well, annoying to my children anyways- over over researching everything sewing wise. I throw pattern after pattern idea in front of their eyes. “what about this one?” “or this one” “Oh and there is this really cute vintage one” Pity them their hell!! At least I research! Sometimes I even get some sewing done!
After an exhaustive online and in pattern drawer(s) search of Maternity patterns, and comparative pregnant women clothing shopping I came to the following conclusions-
I took a gander through the offerings of the “Big Four” pattern companies to find that, while they all have a “maternity” section (I had to do a search on Simplicity to find that section) , the collective offerings were minimal. Simplicity has 4. One was a scrub pattern, which I was pleased to see, even though Kate has no need for scrubs! Vogue and McCalls have no maternity patterns under the maternity tab, and Butterick has one pattern. In the past few years Burda World of Fashion (BWOF) has had a maternity section in its August issue. The issues that I have that include this are August 2005,06 and 07. This year was the exception – what the heck Burda?! Patrones has a few pregnant person patterns as well, and one issue had a section that showed you how to wear the same fashion while pregnant and after as well. I will look those up at a future time. I haven’t the time nor energy right now to try to translate! Burda Patterns – the ones you find in the fabric store has 8 in the current collection, and Kwiksew has 3, although they are pretty “bleh”.
While I love vintage, it is a love that I did not pass on to my daughters. Therefore I didn’t expend a lot of time or energy on looking for vintage maternity patterns I decided to stop looking at vintage patterns and devote my time in a more constructive manner!
My Picks- From BWOF and Jalie
I still have to run these past Mrs Thom (Katelyn) so they are subject to change. Kate works as a field biologist for a seed corn company, so her work wear needs are more casual than for someone who works in an office setting.
1. Burda World of Fashion 8/2006
3 patterns caught my eye. I can see the tee (125) as a simple basic in the vee neck or changing it to a scoop neck. I really, really like the ruching at the front. It lends itself to some cute neckline treatment variations as well. The blouse would be cute in simple white over jeans or leggings. I can see it in blue or grey too. I’m not too sure about the pants. The legs are a bit wide- an easy enough fix- but the style may be too corporate a look for Madame Kate. 
Jalie
Jalie has great basic type patterns that lend themselves well to adaptation. These two will make great maternity wear.
Jalie 2806. Either the fallover look or the ruched stye, although I will forgo the tulip sleeves. In a longer length over leggings, the band at the bottom would also be cute- remember Kate is a very trim 24 year old and can easily wear that style. 
2788 – According to this pattern, just using a fabric with more stretch is the way to go. I think I may add a titch more to the side seam and the length however!
Enough for today.
Next up- Non traditional patterns from Vogue, McCalls and Simplicity that can easily be adapted to maternity
In the future- How to adapt traditional patterns to maternity – or- how you can learn from my mistakes!
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Ottobre has also run some maternity patterns in some recent issues. Love your picks.
I was going to suggest Ottobre too!
I always forget Ottobre. I will give it a check!
I don’t know if it is any help or not but I just found a place online called Modern Sewing Patterns or m-sewing.com. I’ve never heard of them but they do have a few maternity patterns.
Funny, I was also going to suggest Ottobre. For me it’s always the obvious choice.
When I was last pregnant (26 years ago, sigh) the maternity offerings were more numerous but very blah (peter pan collars, anyone?). Anyway, at that time, in the back of the big Vogue pattern book at the sewing store they had a section that gave you a list of any of their patterns that were “appropriate” for maternity wear, up to about 7 months. Maybe more, if you didn’t get too big. This was a fairly comprehensive roundup of the patterns with no waists, tunic styles, loose dresses, etc. These were FAR more stylish and worked very well until I completely blimped out.
Maybe they have the same type of list? Or you could figure it out yourself?
I have always held on to the maternity clothes — just in case. This is going to be fun to watch!
Hello Connie,
I know a cute, cute Issey Miyake pants pattern that can me transformed for maternity very easily. Let me see if I can find it on Ebay. To your Jalie list, you could add 2787 that my sister loved and wore so much http://www.flickr.com/photos/10695105@N06/3079088210/in/set-72157610599584651/ . And I reviewed it on PR. There is also Jalie 2793 that is so easily transformed for maternity and into a dress if you want. I did it and I do not have half of your skills http://www.flickr.com/photos/10695105@N06/3080857961/in/set-72157610599584651/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10695105@N06/3125650689/in/set-72157610599584651/ I also review it on PR.
I liked that Jacket a great deal http://www.burdafashion.com/en/Magazines/Archives/123_Jacket/1270777-1463237-1654561-1654572-1654838.html but never had the time to sew it for little sister. I like the tunic in the same issue of BWOF. The pattern you have up there are soo nice. My sister had a great blouse (retail wear) with invisible zippers on the sides to enlarge it as she needed it. If I see anything I will send it to you ! I am exited for you !
Connie, it is me again. I told you I was exited. Ok I want to share this with you http://www.cheekymonkey.ca/BellyBelt.htm I used it for my sister.
It could be worned with this http://www.fertilemind.com.au/product.asp?product=440575&category=372979 Which you will make in 10 minutes.
I found this http://www.fertilemind.com.au/product.asp?product=372935 for later
A nice dress to copy ( I know no need for that at work)
The best baby carrier in the world according to me, my sister, her friends and more http://www.mamankangourou.com/index.php?l=en fully ergonomic, confortable, washable and so easy to use.
Ok I stop now !
When I was pregnant in the early 90’s I made some Laura Ashley dresses from McCalls that worked because they were full skirted and high waisted although they weren’t sold as maternity.
I made a few maternity things when I was pregnant last winter/spring. My favorite was a Burda top, but it might not be your daughter’s style.
http://knitting-jenny.blogspot.com/2009/04/maternity-top-3.html
There are definitely a lot of non-maternity styles out right now that can be easily adapted (or just made as is). I’m excited to see what you make.
Please let your daughter know the secret to morning sickness is one 16oz glass of cold water. If she drinks the water as SOON as she gets up (in the bathroom)in the morning it will make her expell all the bile in her stomach that has built up during the night and afterwards she will feel great. As long as you try to avoid not getting it out the longer you will feel sick. My mom gave me this remedy years ago and it worked for me twice:)
Wow- so many great ideas! To all of you – thanks, I will take a really close look at each and every one of them! Thanks for sharing in my excitement.
Hmmm . . . much cuter than when I made my maternity wardrobes! There wasn’t much choice then, either. What an awesome mom you are to make her clothes.
Also perhaps worth noting that Ottobre 2/2009 (the first women’s one this year) has a very good nursing top (pattern no 6). I’ve made two each this summer for both of my breastfeeding daughters. The design is well thought out and the sizing was easy to adapt and I added an FBA which they need anyway even when they are not feeding. I also varied the sleeve depending what each wanted. I’ve been very pleased with how they went together and ended up and my daughters like them. Won’t be long before your daughter is needing nursing tops! Congratulations to all concerned and best wishes for a happy and healthy pregnancy and a bouncing baby.