dress number of summer of the dress-athon

Finally got around to taking some photos of the next dress in the summer of the dress saga. I made Simplicity 3874 which looks like it's now OOP even though it is only a 2007 pattern. I used a stretch cotton that I bought in Bangkok at the beginning of this year for some crazy price like $1 a metre (so I bought 5m, I was a little constrained by luggage weight sadly). I fully underlined it with white cotton poplin, which is equally cheap, throw in an invisible zip and some thread and I have a pretty nice maternity dress for next to nix!

Anyway I chose this pattern because with the empire line and bodice tie, I knew it would lend itself to maternity wear very well with only a few small changes. I cut out the top half of the bodice and the back at my normal size, but cut the lower front dress piece out at the largest size (size 16), and added a triangle shaped wedge piece to the waistline by placing the pattern edge on an angle to the fold. This way the dress is still somewhat fitted around my legs, but has enough room to cover my preggy belly. It meant that I had to gather the fabric under the casing for the tie, but since it gets pulled tight when it's tied anyway it's barely noticeable. And here is the final product:

And a shot from the side doing the obligatory 'place hand on stomach pose to make obvious I am pregnant and not just weirdly rotund in the middle' pose:

Yes I am wearing high heels in the photo, and probably will keep wearing them for a few more weeks yet! So far no problems like stumbling or lower back pain, although I am sensible enough to wear flats to and from the bus stop to office (it is an up hill trek). Can't believe how obsessed I was with what shoes I was going to wear when I first fell pregnant, I shouldn't have worried about it at all. I only have about two months work left before going on a year's maternity leave, so I think my current shoe collection will see me through.


A few people have asked in the comments to previous posts how I am managing to sew so quickly. Well it's all in the fitting, or in my case lack of having to do it! I realise now that tweaking patterns, darts, side seams etc to get a nice fit over the bust, waist and hip line is what takes so long during pattern alterations and garment refinement at the end, not the actual sewing of seams. But now that I'm aiming for a loose and easy fit around my waist and hips I'm not spending too much time on that and I'm finding that I can just plow through the sewing in no time. Of course post pregnancy I'll be back to the agonising fitting that takes so long (but is essential to a good outcome) but for now I have a pressing deadline to meet - I need clothes that fit and I need them now! - so I'll keep on with the easy sewing.