Maternity wear circa 1975. Can you dig it?
I've been scouring the internet for decent maternity patterns. I've found a few, but I really enjoy the ones from the 70's for some reason. I ordered this pattern and made it up right away when it arrived. It would have been a super quick if I hadn't made so many dumb mistakes. But I have an excuse-- my brain cells are depleted. Does anyone else find it a little creepy that being pregnant actually reduces brain cells? Hopefully only temporarily.
I originally moved the bust darts down 3/4" after holding up the paper patten piece and seeing that they were pretty high. When I sewed them up and tried on my top, they were way to low. Bust darts that are too low do not do anyone any favors imo. So I unpicked and moved them back up to the original pattern placement. Now they are too high again, but higher is definitely better than low. Next time I'll go somewhere in between. I also had to unpick and straighten the shoulder seams. I knew when looking at the paper pattern piece that the shoulder seam was at too much of angle for me but decided to sew it up as is. I should have trusted my instincts and straightened them out in the beginning. My original hemming job was absolutely hilarious. I've never hemmed anything so crooked before. The front angled down to one side while the back angled down to the other. So I also had to unpick all that decorative stitching and straighten everything out. There was lots and lots of unpicking. But I'm glad I persevered.
I used a brushed cotton interlock I had in my stash. It's heavier than a
tee shirt knit but lighter weight than sweatshirt fleece. It feels
like a really thin sweatshirt. I used a decorative stitch on either side of every seam that mimics
the look of "athletic" stitching on active wear. The idea for that
came from Tanitisis. I used a turquoise thread to break up the otherwise drab olive green.
I didn't like the way the split at the neckline looked on it's own so I
folded down the edges and pressed to make it look like a little collar.
I'm not happy with the points on the "collar" but they'll do. I would
actually like to make this again in a black drape-y knit but I think I'd
round off the edges there at the neckline split.
It's very comfortable and casual. And great for a burgeoning belly! I haven't been in to maternity wear that clings and hugs every curve thus far. I think I prefer the loose and blouse-y over the snug. I guess I prefer the "tent" silhouette, though I've never liked that term. But maybe I'll change my mind as I get bigger. What do you think? Is the tent silhouette totally frumpy and unflattering? Maybe I should make something snug and compare...
I love the top! You should wear whatever you are comfortable in, be it tent, muumuu, whatever. :-) I wish I could say those brain cells return after delivery, but...
ReplyDeleteOh I love it, the way the neck folds down and the stitching, very cute!
ReplyDeleteGrrrreat work! You always amaze me with your mad skills.
ReplyDeleteI think the snugger stuff looks a little better once your belly is bigger and rounder, and you're past the is-she-or-isn't-she? phase. Plus you're so hot all the time early on, that clingy stuff can be uncomfortable, I found. I also became really sensitive to fabric chafing during pregnancy for some reason, so anything snug was uncomfortable if it rubbed.
ReplyDeleteGreat top by the way!
This is so cute! I love the decorative stitching-- what a nice detail! You look great!
ReplyDeleteFab top, I love the simplicity of it, and the coloured top-stitching really makes it shine. It would be great to have several of those.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne is right about the snug fit looking better once your belly is bigger. I found that I loved my super stretchy, *soft* sweaters that were snug all over. Bonus: No drafts!
imo, loose tops look better with tights and snug tops look better with skirts. i guess in my mind, it's a proportional thing, not a belly thing. btw, that top is timeless. i have those patterns from the 60s and use them as tops, dresses with obi sashes, belted pants outfits, everything. close it with a frog and you have a party top.
ReplyDeleteI love the contrast stitching. Whether pregnant or not, I've always kind of followed the rule of one snug item. Tight pants look better with a bit looser top, or a fitted top with something with more volume on the bottom. You've done just that here, and I think it looks great.
ReplyDeleteThis is so cute and I really like the embellishment on the top. You should definitely make it again! As for tight vs. loose, I always wonder if the pregnant women wearing the tight tops were comfortable because when I was pregnant comfort was my first and foremost consideration.
ReplyDeleteForgetful? Or is it just the foetal cells in your head? XD (seriously, but it's pretty curte tho').. You look very huggable in this-Jalie do a lot of good (stretch knit) preggie patterns so does Megan Nielsen. Burda do a few as well. I have two past issues of Burda(1 and 2) that I can trace patterns from (and send to you). Let me know if there's any you like (just email/tweet because I'm not on blogger so I won't see your response if you just reply here). I also have a fair few Patrones maternity patterns I can trace if you like (knit top, pants, jumpsuit, zipper sweatshirt, dresses etc-Patrones sizing is 2 sizes above Burda i.e. I'm a 34 and 38 in Burda and Patrones respectively)-let me know and I'll send you scans.
ReplyDelete*cute
ReplyDeleteThe perfect maternity top! :) I love everything about it, and particularly the bright blue topstitching, pure genius. I favoured the tenty silhouette for myself in pregnancy, although those days are a very far off blurry memory for me now :D
ReplyDeleteYeah I forgot all kinds of stuff when I was preg ... but I still do so not sure what that's about. Anyway, this is a fab top and doesn't scream tent to me so can't help you with that one. I really liked the snug tops and loose trousers thing when I was pregnant because for once in my life I actually had cleavage! LOL.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you're making vintage maternity patterns, I can live vicariously through you as I feel if I was pregnant ( and nothing going to happen there btw) I would be drawn to 60s and 70s patterns....I say you're rocking the look, and have managed to make a perfect version for contemporary living!!
ReplyDeleteI think the tunic looks just fine but it's a fine line. The way you styled it makes it work but I'd definitively always wear slim bottoms with it. I love your boots btw.
ReplyDeleteTerrific looking ensemble on you. You are one stylin' mama!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a cute pattern, and the top looks great on you.
ReplyDeleteI've never been pregnant (and am never likely to be!) but if I was I think I'd favour looser clothing, particularly in the later stages. I think as long as you pair a loose top with a more fitted bottom, as you've done here, you're fine.
Great top, and belated congrats!! With my last baby, I found myself making a lot of maternity tops/dresses that were more fitted at the top and looser over the belly. I just modified a lot of normal patterns, mainly. But I definitely have a weakness for 70s maternity wear, or what I've seen of it from vintage patterns, 70s era childrens' books and photos of my mom pregnant with my oldest sibling. So cute! They seem to be a nice mix of maternal (without being matronly), modest, fashionable and sweet.
ReplyDeleteHave fun sewing for yourself and prepping for baby!
I made a 70s maternity dress and love the "tent"ness of it :) But I switch between fitted in loose looks. My mood is ever changing.
ReplyDeleteYour top looks awesome! The contrasting seams are a good touch.
I think this is a very cute maternity blouse. :-) I'm not so much on the super tight belly baring stuff...some of it is cute on, but most of it almost feels just a little TMI if you know what I mean? However, I also know that when the 7th month rolls around, it's harder and harder to find anything that fits over the basketball-shaped belly--been there, done that. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThis looks wonderful!
ReplyDelete70's silhouettes can be pretty fabulous! I love drapey, loose clothing, and *I'm* not even pregnant! Keep wearing and sewing whatever the heck you like! :)
ReplyDeleteCute, cute! I love the decorative stitching. And I'm loving your boots! Where did you find those?
ReplyDeleteThanks! I ordered the boots from Kohls. They were really inexpensive and very, very comfortable. I got lucky!
Deletelove the top stitching (like everyone else apparently). i like your affinity for 70s maternity patterns, i like a lot of 70s styles, too. what's great about this style is that you can easily adapt it for non-maternity wear later. also (long story but) in my old job i learned from a psychologist who studied "mommy brain" aka losing braincells when pregnant. what happens is sort of like when you exercise muscles. what you're really doing is creating tiny tears in the muscle and when they heal they grow bigger. the same thing sort of happens in a preg lady's brain. her brain is basically building up more brain cells to prepare for having kids when your brain will have to work even harder. :)
ReplyDeleteWell that makes me feel a little bit better!
DeleteBahahahahaha! Love it. One of my first retro pattern purchases was a 70s dress that ended up being a maternity pattern---oops! Belated congratulations, BTW, I have been an unforgivably haphazard blog reader this fall, so I am super late to the game. Happy babymaking
ReplyDeleteWell now that's a bit loverly :) You're looking great!
ReplyDeleteCute top! I preffered looser tops myself as anything snug made me warm. The brain cells come back, as having kids is good mental exercise ;)
ReplyDeleteThe contrast topstitching is such a great touch! Very cute little smock (isn't that what they called maternity tops back in the day?).
ReplyDelete