Maxi dresses are crucial to every pregnant lady's wardrobe because of a few things - comfort and fit! I'm, like many of us, can't fit into my pants comfortably without our zipper teeth digging into my lower tummy and I despise maternity pants because they itch my belly like crazy. I've always had 2 or 3 good maxi skirts on hand so I can just throw it on, feel cozy and cool and still get lots of compliments without even trying hard! I refashioned the gray one from an oversized maxi dress and made the black one from material I bought in SF when I didn't have a belly (check it out HERE). The A-line knit maxi, non maternity you can see here.
Supplies:
2-3 yards of light knit fabric, avoid thick or interlock (see step 1 for the amount you will need)
elastic (I chose black 1″ wide elastic)
thread
sewing machine
scissors
elastic (I chose black 1″ wide elastic)
thread
sewing machine
scissors
Instructions:
Maxi #1: Very gathered maxi skirt
Maxi #1: Very gathered maxi skirt
1. Measure your belly and double or triple the measurement (this will be the length the amount of fabric that will be gathered at the waist). Make sure you make it the length you need (high waisted or just below the belly) and add 2" or (4" just in case, that belly can really take away from the length the bigger you get...better longer) for seam for hemming and waistband. Hem the bottom.
2. Gather the top, doesn't need to be the actual waist size because you will make it perfect with the waistband.
3. Sew the side seams together, RST (the front of the fabric touching.
4. Skip to which waist option below in step 4!
2. Gather the top, doesn't need to be the actual waist size because you will make it perfect with the waistband.
3. Sew the side seams together, RST (the front of the fabric touching.
4. Skip to which waist option below in step 4!
Maxi #2: A-line knit maxi skirt
1. Measure your belly and ad 5 or so inches to the measurement (this will be the length the amount of fabric that will be gathered at the waist). Make sure you make it the length you need (high waisted or just below the belly) and add 2" or (4" just in case, that belly can really take away from the length the bigger you get...better longer) for seam for hemming and waistband. Hem the bottom.
2. Gather the top a little, doesn't need to be the actual waist size because you will make it perfect with the waistband.
3. Sew the side seams together, RST (the front of the fabric touching.
4. Skip to which waist option below in step 4!
1. Measure your belly and ad 5 or so inches to the measurement (this will be the length the amount of fabric that will be gathered at the waist). Make sure you make it the length you need (high waisted or just below the belly) and add 2" or (4" just in case, that belly can really take away from the length the bigger you get...better longer) for seam for hemming and waistband. Hem the bottom.
2. Gather the top a little, doesn't need to be the actual waist size because you will make it perfect with the waistband.
3. Sew the side seams together, RST (the front of the fabric touching.
4. Skip to which waist option below in step 4!
Maxi #3: You can find here! Its the chiffon version (woven, non-knit)
REFASHION OPTION**
Find an oversized or loose maxi dress you can chop off the top half, then add waistband!
Find an oversized or loose maxi dress you can chop off the top half, then add waistband!
WAISTBAND OPTIONS:
Option 1: elastic waistband (hidden on inside)
hidden elastic: mark the elastic and skirt into quarters, then pin those quarters together laying the elastic over the top of the skirt, placing the edge of the elastic to the edge of the skirt, on the outside of the skirt. i.e. only the top edge of the elastic will touch the top of the skirt. Sew the top edges together, stretching as you sew. Then flip under inside the skirt. Stretch as you straight stitch a topstitch it under one to 1.5" down from top keeping the elastic in place. If you don’t want to topstitch it, it will still work but will flip up constantly.
Or you can have the elastic not hidden don't flip under just up after you sew the top edge together on the outside of the skirt.
Option 1: elastic waistband (hidden on inside)
hidden elastic: mark the elastic and skirt into quarters, then pin those quarters together laying the elastic over the top of the skirt, placing the edge of the elastic to the edge of the skirt, on the outside of the skirt. i.e. only the top edge of the elastic will touch the top of the skirt. Sew the top edges together, stretching as you sew. Then flip under inside the skirt. Stretch as you straight stitch a topstitch it under one to 1.5" down from top keeping the elastic in place. If you don’t want to topstitch it, it will still work but will flip up constantly.
Or you can have the elastic not hidden don't flip under just up after you sew the top edge together on the outside of the skirt.
Option 2: wide stretchy knit band
Measure your belly/hip/waist area and make a long piece of fabric that that will tightly fit around your belly/hip/waist area as well as make it 2x as long as you want so when it is folded in half and sewn to the skirt, it will the official length in the end. Then fold it in half and make it a tube. Then fold that tube in on itself hiding the seam on the inside. Then pin and sew the tube RST to the skirt. Pop up! Keep popped up or fold down once.
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