Groovy Mama 3.0

Alrighty, friends. This is the last of the maternity clothes around these parts, I swear. I realize it was probably a little foolish to make two maternity dresses so close to the end of my pregnancy. But I don't regret it. I got a rush from being able to have my choice of two different dresses to wear to the baby showers I've had recently. I get what some of you were saying about sewing things that make you feel good at this stage in pregnancy. True. So true. And on a sidenote to any irl friends or family who read my blog: Thank you so much for the awesome baby showers you've put together and traveled long hours to attend for J and I. We feel so loved and blessed.

Look! The sun is out! Come on spring...
I actually made this dress several weeks ago. Before the wrap dress. Or I should say I started it several weeks ago. It's from a vintage Butterick maternity pattern. I couldn't find a year anywhere on the pattern, but with that collar I'd say it was the early 70's. I obviously didn't sew it up exactly as drafted. I really liked the inset yoke, placket and gathering over the top of the belly. I also liked that the pattern didn't call for jersey. Everything I've made for maternity wear has been out of jersey. I was craving using a drapey woven for something. The recommended fabrics listed several different wovens and also double knit. Double knit really doesn't behave like a stretchy knit, does it?

I knew it was a risky make when I started out. I figured it would be fantastic or be a giant, dated muumuu with the print I chose. I had a weird burst of energy a few weekends ago and I made a muslin. I managed the corners of the inset yoke just fine, but struggled with the bottom of the placket. I decided life was too short and extended the placket to the end of the yoke. Solved that issue and it was way easier to sew. I tried out several different buttons and didn't like the look of any of them. I left the placket without buttons. It's tacked shut about halfway down.

I was very happy with the fit other than taking in the back princess seams quite a bit. I predict that a swayback alteration will be a common one in my future now. So I went ahead and cut out my fashion fabric. I used a 100% percent polyester crepe that I found on the bargain table at my local fabric store. Now before you go and judge me, answer me this: If you can't use 100% polyester for a groovy 70's sewing pattern, when can you use polyester? I really liked the print. Every pattern piece is underlined with a super soft navy rayon challis (which you can see on the placket) so the poly never touches my skin anyway. I think the combination worked well for this dress. I actually sat down and basted my fashion fabric to the underlining by hand in the same weekend. Like I said before, it was a weird burst of productiveness.

I sewed up the dress right away but I was stumped about the sleeves and collar. The dress then sat for a while until I finished it right before one of my baby showers. I knew I didn't want the giant 70's collar. Even the collar stand piece looked large and exaggerated. Instead, I cut a piece of bias and bound the neck edge. I like the way the placket looks partially open. The bound edge is simple and wasn't fussy. I also knew the sleeves would be too slim for my liking. I did a major slash and spread, cut them off at elbow length and then put in some elastic at the sleeve hem. The actual dress hem is pretty bad. I turned it up twice and machine stitched. What is the proper way to hem something that has been underlined? It was a little stressful getting an even edge. I used my serger to finish all the seams inside. Love that machine.

This photo cracks me up. It's a classic sewing blogger pose-- touch hair and look down at feet. Little do you know that I can't actually see my feet :)
Sewing has been a godsend during my pregnancy. I'm so happy I was able to make somewhat stylish things to wear without spending an arm and a leg. This was a situation where I was so thankful I can sew. Click here if you'd like to scroll back through all my maternity wear posts.

And here is the 36 week belly from all angles. These photos are from this past weekend. I am only a little over three weeks away from my due date at this point. I can't believe it. I am so incredibly excited about what's to come yet so anxious about how much there is left to do. Thank you all for all the well wishes and good vibes during my pregnancy. I really appreciate all the support, advice and commiseration! I'll probably be pretty quiet around here for a while, but I'll have some news at some point I'm sure ;)