| Author | |
MicheleQ
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 23 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2193
|
| Posted: Sept 05 2007 at 8:07am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
Just an FYI that Blessed Designs now has a maternity skirt pattern.
More pictures here.
Looks lovely - though I am not in the market for one at the moment. 
__________________
Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
http://michelequigley.com
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
amyable
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 07 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3798
|
| Posted: Sept 05 2007 at 8:14am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Oh wow, that is lovely! Where were they 8 months ago?  Maybe I can adapt it into a postpartum skirt. Thanks for sharing it, Michele!
__________________
Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
DominaCaeli
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 24 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3711
|
| Posted: Sept 05 2007 at 11:24am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks so much for posting this, Michelle--it looks great! I had so much trouble finding skirts during my last pregnancy, so I'm going to keep it in mind for the future.
__________________
Blessings,
Celeste
Joyous Lessons
Mommy to six: three boys (8, 4, newborn) and four girls (7, 5, 2, and 1)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: Sept 05 2007 at 11:26am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Looks great, thanks, Michele!
What kinds of fabric to make this into a winter skirt, since that's the season we're entering?
I'm wondering what kind of waistband this uses. Just elastic, wide on top? Maternity Panel?
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MicheleQ
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 23 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2193
|
| Posted: Sept 05 2007 at 1:27pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
JennGM wrote:
| What kinds of fabric to make this into a winter skirt, since that's the season we're entering? |
|
|
Denim, twill, corduroy, heavy cottons, rayon, slinky (a personal favorite)
JennGM wrote:
| I'm wondering what kind of waistband this uses. Just elastic, wide on top? Maternity Panel? |
|
|
I'm on the Blessed Designs e-mail forum and the owner Angela posted this earlier: "It has a full panel and is cut straight grain. This saves fabric, but it still has a very nice drape."
__________________
Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
http://michelequigley.com
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: Sept 05 2007 at 1:51pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
MicheleQ wrote:
JennGM wrote:
| What kinds of fabric to make this into a winter skirt, since that's the season we're entering? |
|
|
Denim, twill, corduroy, heavy cottons, rayon, slinky (a personal favorite) |
|
|
Not familiar with slinky. Now the pattern looks like it would do better with lighter, flowy materials.
JennGM wrote:
| I'm wondering what kind of waistband this uses. Just elastic, wide on top? Maternity Panel? |
|
|
I'm on the Blessed Designs e-mail forum and the owner Angela posted this earlier: "It has a full panel and is cut straight grain. This saves fabric, but it still has a very nice drape." [/QUOTE]
"full panel" translates to "full maternity panel"? Sorry, my brain doesn't fully function and I need specifics.
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MicheleQ
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 23 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2193
|
| Posted: Sept 05 2007 at 2:01pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
JennGM wrote:
| Not familiar with slinky. Now the pattern looks like it would do better with lighter, flowy materials. |
|
|
My bet is you've seen slinky in the stores, it's pretty popular. . . and very flattering.
A straight grain skirt would work with anything. If you want it more flowing use a fabric with more drape. Options would include moleskin, ultrasuede, a nice heavy rayon or poly. Really the choices are pretty broad. Check a local fabric store for ideas. They have the fall/winter fabrics on display now. Heck I was at JAF over the weekend and they had Christmas wrapping out!
JennGM wrote:
| "full panel" translates to "full maternity panel"? Sorry, my brain doesn't fully function and I need specifics. |
|
|
I was wondering the same thing actually. I was assuming she meant a stretch panel all the way around but I'm not sure. I'll ask her and get back to you.
__________________
Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
http://michelequigley.com
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MicheleQ
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 23 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2193
|
| Posted: Sept 05 2007 at 2:57pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
MicheleQ wrote:
JennGM wrote:
[QUOTE=JennGM]"full panel" translates to "full maternity panel"? Sorry, my brain doesn't fully function and I need specifics. |
|
|
I was wondering the same thing actually. I was assuming she meant a stretch panel all the way around but I'm not sure. I'll ask her and get back to you. |
|
|
Her reply:
The panel goes all the way around--similar to the picture you sent. It is higher in the front than in the back to accommodate the extra length needed to cover the bump. I had originally intended the panel to be worn high above the waist, but my recent models find it comfortable at the natural waist and the longer lengths of shirts these days accommodate that well.
__________________
Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
http://michelequigley.com
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
mrsgranola
Forum Pro
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: North Carolina
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 442
|
| Posted: Sept 05 2007 at 3:55pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Okay, I really need to make this but that stretch panel scares me. Should I worry?
JoAnna
__________________
Mom to Jacob, Grace, Mary, Lucas, Emma, Carrie and Gianna
Parente Adventures
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SuzanneG
Forum Moderator
Joined: June 17 2006
Location: Idaho
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5465
|
| Posted: Sept 05 2007 at 5:40pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
That's a GREAT skirt.
MicheleQ wrote:
| ......and the longer lengths of shirts these days accommodate that well. |
|
|
Are the shirts indeed getting longer? That would be GREAT if there were shirts out there like the WHITE one the model has on.....but I'm still seeing short shirts.
__________________
Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MicheleQ
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 23 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2193
|
| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 9:32am | IP Logged
|
|
|
mrsgranola wrote:
Okay, I really need to make this but that stretch panel scares me. Should I worry?
|
|
|
Not at all JoAnna! It's just a piece of knit fabric. Once you get used to sewing with knits you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.
SuzanneG wrote:
MicheleQ wrote:
| ......and the longer lengths of shirts these days accommodate that well. |
|
|
Are the shirts indeed getting longer? That would be GREAT if there were shirts out there like the WHITE one the model has on.....but I'm still seeing short shirts. |
|
|
Honestly I have no idea - I was just quoting Angela in her response about the skirt. I haven't seen longer shirts either...but then I haven't really been looking.
__________________
Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
http://michelequigley.com
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MicheleQ
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 23 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2193
|
| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 9:37am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I did go ahead and order the pattern anyway. I like Angela's pattern's and well, hopefully I'll need it down the road. It's always good to be prepared. 
__________________
Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
http://michelequigley.com
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 9:39am | IP Logged
|
|
|
MicheleQ wrote:
SuzanneG wrote:
MicheleQ wrote:
| ......and the longer lengths of shirts these days accommodate that well. |
|
|
Are the shirts indeed getting longer? That would be GREAT if there were shirts out there like the WHITE one the model has on.....but I'm still seeing short shirts. |
|
|
Honestly I have no idea - I was just quoting Angela in her response about the skirt. I haven't seen longer shirts either...but then I haven't really been looking. |
|
|
Thanks for the all the info and follow-up, Michele. I'm a bit fearful of the knits, mostly because I don't have a machine to do knits.  But I can trot over to my mother's and have her help me.
Since I'm pregnant now, I have noticed the length and width of shirts have changed since 4 years ago. There are shorter shirts, of course, that the so-called chic like to wear (belly shirts) but then I find the t-shirts have changed quite a bit. They are longer and slimmer. My old t-shirts barely covered the larger maternity panels, and these t-shirts have lots of room. I'm shorter than the average bear, of course, but just within my own maternity wardrobe I've seen the difference. I bought 4 high v-necked t-shirts from Motherhood this time around, but found similar kinds at Gap, too.
The knits themselves are different, too. Thinner and with a little spandex/stretch, compared to thicker cotton knits.
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MicheleQ
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 23 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2193
|
| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 10:07am | IP Logged
|
|
|
JennGM wrote:
| Thanks for the all the info and follow-up, Michele. I'm a bit fearful of the knits, mostly because I don't have a machine to do knits. But I can trot over to my mother's and have her help me. |
|
|
Jenn,
All you need is a regular sewing machine - REALLY. Even though I have a serger I still do a lot of knits on my regular machine. There are a few ways to go about it, one technique is sewing with a long straight stitch of 9 sts/in. (3 mm), stretching the seam as you sew it (as much as the fabric stretches easily) to add elasticity. When the seam returns to its normal length, the stitches are closer together and the upper and lower thread tensions have loosened. You can also use a zigzag or stretch stitches if your machine has them (most do). Get some knits scraps and play around a bit to get a feel for your machine. You may have to adjust tension etc but you don't need a special machine for knits.
What you might find helpful is a walking foot attached to your regular machine. It helps when sewing with knits and I do use mine about half the time but it's not absolutely necessary. They are generally easy to find and fairly inexpensive but it depends on the machine you have. I got mine at JAF and used my 40% off coupon when I did.
Also you want to use a stretch or ballpoint needle when sewing knits. It slips
through the threads instead of piercing them like a regular sharp needle does.
Denver fabrics has a nice page on sewing with knits here.
Oh and since so many more of you are sewing I want to say this- change your needles OFTEN. Just because your needle hasn't broken doesn't mean its still OK to use. They get tiny burrs in them and can cause your stitching to skip and otherwise act crazy and drive you nuts. If your machine is "acting up" while you sew the best remedy is to put in a brand new needle and re thread (not with old or the super cheap thread) and start again. It works for me 99% of the time!
__________________
Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
http://michelequigley.com
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: Maternity Skirt pattern
