Sunday, November 25, 2012

Red Wrap


I get tired of my same old, same old brick chimney backdrop. And I like to play around with the seasonal goodies that PicMonkey puts out.  Sorry.


I decided to make something a little more snug for my bump after my 70's maternity top.  So I made up this Burdastyle knit wrap top from the 11/2011 issue.   Molly made up this same top a few months ago and I really liked her version.  I realized I had the perfect sweater knit in stash and that particular issue of Burda already.   Only I did a little slash-and-spread to the front piece to accommodate a growing belly.  I did a quick and dirty full belly alteration and added some length to the front so I could ruche the side seams to match the back.  It sort of worked.  I probably should have been a bit more technical about my alteration.  But my knit is super duper stretchy, so I wasn't too worried about it.


I cut a size smaller due to the stretchy nature of the sweater knit I used.  It's some sort of lightweight acrylic knit I found at Hancock last year.  Very warm and soft; two things I look for in clothing right now.  The instructions were pretty good for Burda.  This was the illustrated pattern of the issue, so that helped.  Only the illustrated instructions were not on the page the insert said they were on, fyi.  And after the instructions told you to put in the sleeve, they abruptly stopped.  I guess Burda figures you know how hem.  Anyway, those are nit-picky criticisms.   And actually, the hem is the only thing I'm not happy with.   Go figure.   My knit was so soft and stretchy, I should have stabilized the hem before stitching it.  It had to be hemmed, though, since this knit seems to unravel a bit at the edges.  Do you see that rippling?  I can't decide if I'll leave it, or fix it.   I like my top.  I don't love it, but I like it.  I like the soft, slouchy-ness of it.  One thing that bothers me is the fact that the sleeve seam slips off my shoulders and feels a little strange.  I'm assuming it's supposed to be that way since there is no shoulder seam.  I even caught myself in a photo sliding the seam back up on my shoulder.  I also stitched down the sides of the front pieces where they crossover in the front.  The drape part takes a while to situate just right otherwise.   I figure the seam there just resembles a bust dart.  It's pretty well hidden.


Any clue why the back of my top rides up so much?  Is my swayback becoming more extreme before my eyes?  I think I've always had a slight swayback, but now I think I'm actually going to have to accommodate for it.  With the belly I've got, I figured the front would ride up instead.  I may not have slashed and spread the front wide enough.   The side seam pulls toward the back.  And my ruching is almost non-existent.  I'll still wear it, though.  It is comfy.


And this is my little bump at 21 weeks.  I think the snugger stuff makes the bump look a little bit smaller, if you can believe that.  I feel huge, yet when I look at these photos I don't think I look very big.  I'm sure that will change ;)  I'll be cursing myself for saying I look small later on.  I agree with some of the comments on my last top that maybe the snug stuff is good for a bigger bump.  Little bub is definitely growing.  I felt some kung fu kicks and punches for the first time this week.  It sure is wild!

26 comments:

  1. I really like that top, you did a great job with it. And the red looks fabulous on you.

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  2. Great top and I agree, the color is great on you. Your shoes are super-cute too - any chance you got them recently? I've been looking for a new pair of red shoes.

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    1. Thanks! I've had the shoes for a while though. They are bcbg.

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    2. Thanks - I'll do a search and see if they're still available.

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  3. I love that top! Red is definitely a good color for you.

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  4. Nice maternity top. The colour looks great on you. I really like the seaming on the back. The shoulder seams are a little oddly placed aren't they? It doesn't look strange but I can appreciate it may feel a little weird. First kicks - so exciting!

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  5. Not sure what happened to my comment so I will write it again....

    Great maternity top. The colour looks really nice on you. I really like the seaming on the back. The shoulders seams are a bit oddly placed aren't they? It doesn't look odd, but I imagine it could feel a little odd. First kicks - so exciting!

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  6. Ooh, this is gorgeous! It's so flattering! I looooove the red, too. I like that this looks comfortable, but it doesn't scream "maternity". Great job!

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  7. Look at that little tiny baby bump! I really need to start sewing clothes! Have you told us the sex yet????

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    1. I DO know!!! But I want to sew something first before I post it here. Tee hee!

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  8. I think my sewing teacher has this pattern and has made up about 5 versions of it, she loves the pattern!
    The red looks great on you!!!

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  9. You are looking lovely! Over halfway now. The rest of the pregnancy is going to fly by. Love the new top. I was so slack with sewing when I was pregnant. I had zero motivation to sew for myself.

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  10. Wow that's a lovely lovely colour on you? Wonderful red red red ... Pretty top all in all and it will keep you snug.

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  11. You'll probably see more of a swayback than before pregnancy because your posture changes to counterbalance the new weight in front. Great color on you!

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  12. Great job on the top. Nice color and fit.

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  13. A lovely snug and cosy top. And I think red is your colour :)

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  14. Your red jumper looks very cool!! Now I want red too%))

    My instruction in pictures was ok, till the end, may be someboby in the local edition decided to cut it%)

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  15. This is looks very flattering on you and the colour is gorgeous. I really liked the flower power backdrop too, so no need to apologise :)

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  16. You look beautiful! Really like that top and the colour.

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  17. Looks great on you! I think the top sleeve seam is supposed to be dropped a little, it bothers me too sometimes and makes me think my bra is slipping.

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  18. Beautiful and so flattering- a happy draped bump indeed.

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  19. Love the red, and your bump is so cute! It's fun to see how easily you can adapt a knit pattern for maternity. Something I'll hopefully have to think about eventually...

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  20. What a great top! I love the color on you. I don't know what's happening in the back, though I've read that the pelvis (and therefore the hips) expands during pregnancy. I don't know when that happens. But it could be that the widening of the pelvis is changing the fit and causing the riding up.

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  21. I am so impressed! Sewing is something I've always admired and you do it beautifully.

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