maternity clothing make-overs...

E=Mc3 · March 2016

Hi, I am not really needing to modify my old clothes or buy new ones yet, but this bloating has me thinking ahead a teeny bit. I have been looking online and seen some ways to modify old clothes ex: jeans with stretchy jersey panels sewn on the sides or one stretchy panel sewn in the front instead of a zipper closure.
Also, I have seen some dresses modified to be a maternity skirt by cutting the top of the dress off and adding a stretchy band to the top of the skirt.
I've been thinking about getting some hoodies and cutting the front zipper with some extra on each side to sew in to the front of my winter coat for a maternity coat next fall/early winter.
I know that fabric and trims can get expensive quickly and sometimes negate the financial benefit of DIY, but I have just been looking at items I already have with an eye toward making a few simple changes to keep wearing them instead of buying a bunch of new things...anyone else with me? Think I'm wacky? Share your ideas...what do you ladies think?

mrszoess · March 2016

thinking of you doing all of this makes me tired! but seriously won't you need clothes after the baby too? it's probably going to cost the same to buy new stuff as it would to supplement whatever you can still wear with some key pieces.

also so I am quite lazy and not crafty so I can't get behind this idea at all LOL.

(post pics if you end up trying this, I'm super curious)

kmalls · March 2016

This sounds like way more work and expense than just going out and buying some maternity clothes. If you're worried about the cost, Target and Old Navy have super affordable options.

blaf322 · March 2016

I think the skirt ideas make sense, it's just a quick sew of some fabric in the top. You could even fold over the top so when you're not pregnant, you can pop the stitches and have a chance as using it as a regular skirt again. However, I anticipate that the jeans are going to be a bit tougher.

Also, remember that you're altering these items forever and your belly is likely to stretch out the material so you won't be able to wear them again unless you're pregnant... Which means you're just going to end up buying new clothes anyway, but while you're paying for a baby too. All that said, if you're just wanting to do this because you've got an itch to be crafty, I say go for it.

queen_frostine · March 2016

My plan is to buy some flowy knit tops that don't look obviously maternal to wear during the pregnancy and probably long afterwards. Also, one or two pairs of maternity pants that I can just wear repeatedly the whole time I need them. And possibly afterward. In fact, if I can become comfortable switching from more tailored clothes to flowy knit fabrics, then yay on me because I already hated my restrictive work clothes before the bloat.

Also, your situation may be different, but I have an entire box of button-up shirts that no longer fit me that I had big plans to enlarge by ripping out the sides and adding knit panels. That has not happened and most likely will never happen. Only you can know if your projects are too much for you.

LizaKate1213 · March 2016

I am team leggings all the way, and have a slew of maxi skirts and stretchy dresses for the summer. For shirts I am buying combo maternity and nursing tops on zulily as they come up. I don't want to alter my current clothes because I plan to wear them again someday.

mrskratt · March 2016

What I did with my last pregnancy, I plan to do with this pregnancy. I wear a lot of flowy, oversized tops because that's my style. Later in pregnancy, I'll buy a size up and it still works and usually stick to leggings and dresses. I always have a few pairs of jeans from when I lost a bunch of weight that got me thru my last pregnancy. It's also nice to have these clothes post-partum and I still wear most of them. I hate the rouched tops that the maternity style comes in and you can't really wear those after pregnancy without looking like your expecting.

BahamaRia · March 2016

LizaKate1213 said:

I am team leggings all the way, and have a slew of maxi skirts and stretchy dresses for the summer. For shirts I am buying combo maternity and nursing tops on zulily as they come up. I don't want to alter my current clothes because I plan to wear them again someday.

Exactly this. My current leggings are starting to slide off my butt, however I picked up a maternity pairs from Target and they're perfect. I didn't find out until recently but Walmart has a maternity line online and it has excellent ratings from buyers. That's another cheap option.

SuperNerd42 · March 2016

I managed to score during garage sale season with DD, and I kept all the best pieces. I'm ok with buying a few pieces at full price (especially work pants) but I'm way too cheap to buy a full wardrobe for just a few months. I wish I was crafty that way and could convert a few pieces!

E=Mc3 · March 2016

Everything I get will pretty much have to be online...even fabric if I try that. I live in bush Alaska. There are no roads here. Everything comes in by plane. Gotta love it...
I will maybe try some alterations with some old clothes that aren't my favorites and see how it goes. I'll also check out Zulily and see if the other mentioned retailers have options online.
I am also.feeling crushing fatigue, but somehow it doesn't slow down my brain...brain thinks I can do everything. Lol!

jillianpardo · March 2016

online garage sale groups, fb garage sale groups for maternity/baby could be a good option for those trying to find inexpensive stuff. Macy's has ridiculous sales on already discounted items. you might be able to online shop that too? sometimes you can find super sale stuff on Amazon too

jillianpardo · March 2016

I should have added that I agree with the others. projects add up pretty quickly unless you can coupon and sale shop your project supplies. you have sparked my interest so now I'm headed to pinterest for ideas

jillianpardo · March 2016

@E=Mc3 I found a bunch of very cute diy maternity clothing on pinterest. including one on modifying your jeans. well I found many on that but one in particular would be very easy to change back when you weren't preggo anymore. my phone doesn't like this app. I will hop on the pc later and share the link with you. thanks so much for bringing this up. I probably wouldn't have thought to do it and now I'm really excited to try some of these patterns out. I will post pictures here if I actually end up making something.

mrsman2018 · March 2016

I am going to buy some maternity leggings, shorts and tanks, but I have a lot of dresses and shirts that will accommodate my pregnancy for a long time. I am not a large person, but I always buy large flowy clothes. And before I got pregnant, when I bought clothes, I thought to myself if I could wear it pregnant. Worked out.

E=Mc3 · March 2016

I went ahead and bit the bullet in the buying clothes department. I have shopping carts on Zulily, Kohls, and Target. DH will help me pick out the ones to buy later tonight.

I am truly fortunate with the support I get from my DH. He has been helping out around the house and cooking. He has only once asked me (jokingly) if my name appeared next to neurotic in the dictionary.

I think if my exhaustion ever lets up I may take some of my older jeans, and T-shirts and see if I can take T-shirt fabric and use it to modify the jeans...maybe also to make some summer capri pants or shorts. I am curious to see how it goes. But the constant overwhelming urge to fall asleep has to end first. LOL!!

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maternity clothing make-overs...

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