(**UPDATE: THANKS TO ALL THE AWESOME WOMEN WHO HAVE OFFERED TO TEST THIS PATTERN. I NOW HAVE ENOUGH TESTERS. THANKS AGAIN**)
This camisole pattern is designed to be made in jersey knit fabric, and has a gathered section at the front to accommodate a third-ish trimester bump. My model, Cordelia, was eight months pregnant when we took these photos. The upper edges are finished with fold-over-elastic, which also forms the straps, like my free vest/camisole/singlet pattern. The bottom edge is finished with a waistband so the camisole sits neatly and snugly underneath the bump and won't ride up. And arguably the best bit? An internal optional bust support panel, a bit like you get in some sports/yogawear tops, to give a little extra support if you want to wear this without a bra.
Obviously, the third trimester of a pregnancy covers just three months per baby of a woman's life, so even the keenest of seamsters may not wish to spend very much time making clothes for this period. However, this project is a relatively quick one, requiring less than 1m of fabric, and may really help out when nothing else fits! Wear this camisole as sleepwear, to go to pregnancy yoga classes, as an under layer in colder months, on its own in hotter months, or underneath a loose shirt or kimono style top to expand your clothing options at a time when you feel that you have none!
So the stage that I'm at now is that it is ready to test! This was SUCH a helpful step whilst I was developing my Dolores batwing and Anya shoulder bag patterns. And although I know there won't be as many volunteers in a position to test this pattern, I'm really hoping that there may be some pregnant ladies or friends/relatives-of-a-pregnant-lady out there who are up for testing this pattern and giving me your feedback?!
If you feel you may like to test this pattern, please drop me an email at sozoblog (at) gmail (dot) com. I will email you the pattern and instructions as PDF files. The pattern will require printing out at home or in a copy shop. The instructions PDF can be printed out, or better still, read directly from your computer/laptop/tablet. I will also send you some questions about the pattern, instructions and finished garment to help you review them, and you would be required to make the garment and send back your feedback within three weeks. I really hope to hear from some of you. If you know someone else who likes to sew and is pregnant or knows someone who is, please send them the link to this post. Much appreciated!
8 comments:
That is so exciting, a new pattern. Go you! Sadly, I may be the right shape for this pattern but am definitely not pregnant or else I would have volunteered. This will be so useful. Every top I had rode up at the front when i was pregnant and this would have been very useful to wear underneath plus a good support for the last uncomfy bits. What a fab idea. Good luck with your search. Xx
I could test this pattern for my sister, if you are still looking. My contact is meghann.white@gmail.com
Good luck with your pattern looks great.
I'm 7 months pregnant and I would jump at the chance to test if this were my first baby, but it's my second and I dismantled my sewing room to make space for another human in my apartment. I'm not sure it will get put back together in a time in time to actually help you out. But this is so awesome, RTW maternity clothes are awful and I hate them. I wish I had more time to sew this time around.
Good luck! That pattern looks great! I´m 40 weeks pregnant now and due any day, so would not really sew this any more;-) However, I think it would extend the live of this garment a lot if one would put clips at the base of the straps to make it nursing friendly. Kind of like this tutorial: http://keepupwithusjones.blogspot.de/2012/06/get-used-to-me-saying-bra-lot-in-this.html Maybe a thought for the future? It anyhow takes a while until the bump is really gone...:-)
Ooooh, I'm SO excited for you and for this pattern! Can't wait for you to get some great feedback and launch it :-). -Jessica, too lazy to switch Gmail accounts :-).
Great idea! There aren't enough maternity patterns out there. This could probably work well for breastfeeding too. If the elastic was stretchy enough, you could just pull one side down (I did that with some cheap rtw camis and it works well layered under another top). Pity I don't plan on having any more babies!!!
Lovely dress and great print! I like the clean contrast, it gives the whole thing a nice edge.clothing patterns
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