Posts Tagged ‘maternity’

Sewing: Body Pillow

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Time is ticking on this baby bomb. I’m getting bigger and more uncomfortable by the minute. It’s not a complaint, just a fact of life when growing a human. Sleeping has been particularly tricky with this baby as I find myself waking up on my back multiple times a night.

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I needed something to give me more back support while I was sleeping on my side, so I thought about buying a body pillow. Then Chris reminded me that we have a ton of memory foam just lying around that I’ve been hoarding for some undecided future project. BOOM. Done. I made myself a body pillow.

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I ended up rolling the foam like a crepe (or burrito?), measuring and sewing two pillow cases for it. The interior case is just to protect the raw foam from drool or any other liquid that may come in contact with it (via my disgusting – but adorable – kids or me). The second case is decorative, made from amazing fabric* that I’ve had in my stash for about a year. I fell in love with the print, but couldn’t think of something awesome to use it for.

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I boxed out the bottom of the case and made a simple drawstring for the top to keep everything in place. It weighs about 15 pounds and it’s a beast. We took it on a weekend family reunion vacation. It was brilliant in the car, both kids could cuddle and sleep with it. It also served as the perfect separator to keep Felix and Penelope from brutalizing each other in the back seat. HOWEVER, it was a little too big to sleep with.

I haven’t had much time to alter the design much, but I just plan on taking everything out and shaving off about 12 inches of the roll of memory foam. I think that’ll do the trick.

*Fabric provided by Modern Yardage. Check out the amazing collections available here.

Sewing: My Go-to Leggings

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SNOOZEFEST!! Yes. Another pair of leggings. In a floral print, no less. I just can’t seem to wear anything else these days. It’s all about comfy dresses and stretchy pants. I’ve been swelling more with this pregnancy than the last two (likely the fact that this is the first summer pregnancy I’ve had). No complaints, I just have to be mindful of what will and won’t work with my expanding and contracting body.

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I tried to wear jeans the other day, and within 15 minutes I was grumpy because of how restricted I felt. As soon as I switched back to stretchy pants, I was back to my cheerful self! These pants are magical! Family accord is again restored!

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I found this double knit 4-way stretch fabric at the thrift store on a complete whim. It’s very opaque with great stretch. Perfect for passing off leggings as pants. I keep meaning to pick up stretch denim to make more pants-like leggings, but that hasn’t happened yet.

I have only one shirt at this point that covers my backside, so I just own it and look forward to the day when I can dedicate more time to sewing a few tunic tops for the last 10 weeks of this pregnancy. YES. We’re almost in the single digits for weeks left! I can’t believe how quickly this pregnancy has just flown by.

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Time for some nesting. And baby clothes making!

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Outfit details:

  • earrings: Bijou Market
  • necklace: c/o Sole Society
  • top: H&M
  • leggings: handmade
  • bracelets: thrifted
  • shoes: c/o Sole Society

Maternity Style: My Mom-iform

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white-plum

This post is sponsored by White Plum. Find all sorts of great fashion items for the every day woman at a fabulous price. Use discount code MELISSA20 for 20% off your entire purchase until 7/7/14. 

I’m officially 25 weeks along now (how is it flying by so quickly?), spending more and more time each morning scouring my wardrobe for comfortable items that will stretch with me throughout the day. I’m finding I reach for my stretchy dresses and leggings more than anything. I’m also finding that I’m running out of shirts that adequately cover my belly.

Funny how clothes that I thought would fit for my whole pregnancy are already becoming too tight/short.

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To remedy that situation, I sewed up Megan Nielsen’s ruched maternity shirt in a mint jersey. The mint color is a bit of a gamble for me since I’m prone to stain just about anything lighter than middle-grey. But it’s such a gorgeous color I couldn’t resist.

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It’s also such a neutral color that I can pair it with just about any of my pants (that still fit). This one-layer wonder is going to get a lot of wear this summer.

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As all of Megan’s patterns, this was a breeze to sew up and fit was spot on the first try. Adjustments made:

  • lengthened shirt hem by 1 1/2 inches
  • lengthened the sleeve hem by 1 1/2 inches
  • tapered the sleeve at the hem by 1 inch
  • raised the neckline by 1/2 inch

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I added a raw band to the neckline and sleeve hem, then steamed the bottom hem so the knit would roll nicely. I need to launder the shirt so the sleeve and collar roll a little more, but as the hem is now, it doesn’t bother me.

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Chris said he liked the ruching. I do too. I’ve tried to sew items that will work for both maternity and postpartum, but this may be the only exception. I don’t see how it will flatter post-pregnancy, because it’s ruched only in the front, but I’m more concerned about comfort at this moment. The leggings will definitely be great after baby arrives, though! I live in leggings these days.

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Outfit details:

What are your go-to summer items for comfort? Leggings? Tees? Skirts?

 

Maternity: Yellow Bridesmaid Dress

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Speaking of Eric and Margaret’s wedding, the girls were asked to wear yellow. Before searching online for maternity options, I knew I needed to make my dress. Afterall, chances are really slim that I’d be able to find a maternity dress that hits close to the knees with sleeves in yellow. A quick search confirmed it. NOPE. No problem though.

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I found this comfy bright mustard jersey, but it was so plain. I didn’t want a solid yellow dress, so I immediately thought of my friend Miriam and her magical stamps that she carves. She’s such a sweet friend and let me borrow her geometric rose stamp (here and here). Isn’t the design simply brilliant? Sometimes I covet her artistic genius, so it was fun to be able to borrow it for this little (ahem, big) dress.

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I’ve been living in my jersey shift dress that I made last year (it just stretches right with you), so I made another one with raglan sleeves. I used Hey June’s Raglan tee pattern as the base. I can’t get enough of that pattern. By the end of the summer, half of my wardrobe will have raglan sleeves, I just know it.

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The sewing was pretty quick, but printing took about 3 hours to do for front and back pieces. I was trying to get it done in time for Eric and Margaret’s first reception, but it didn’t happen. It’s one of those things where I have to let go of any previous expectations or I won’t be any fun. I’m glad I let go and took my time on this one.

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I paired the dress for the reception with cream and gold accessories. I feel like it toned down the bright yellow while still keeping it light and summery. I believe I’ve worn this exact outfit a handful of times since finishing the ensemble the beginning of May.

 

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Outfit Details:

  • glasses: c/o Coastal
  • earrings: Aldo
  • blazer: H&M
  • dress: handmade
  • belt: vintage
  • watch: c/o Tai Pan
  • shoes: Aldo

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I hemmed everything with a serged blind hem so it’ll stretch with me as I do. Can you tell my face and arms have started to fill out? I can!! There’s no denying that I’m pregnant anymore.

Tangent: I’m 24 weeks along now and I feel so much bigger at this point in my pregnancy than with the last two. I’ve certainly had my fun eating my way through Phoenix and Salt Lake this time around. I don’t feel bad about it though. I’m so stoked to be growing a baby again! Also, it’s been fun that Chris has kept the fridge and pantry well-stocked with ice cream and anything my baby belly desires. Since he’s been home (it’s been over a year since he left his job!) he’s been more involved in the pregnancy. I love that. I’m terrified of the transition from two to three kids, but if I’ve got Chris by my side I’ll be able to handle anything.

Calligraphy: Memorial for Miss Daisy

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I got an email from an acquaintance of mine asking if I would do some lettering for her daughter’s memorial. Not the kind of news I like to hear. Her precious girl left this earth before getting a chance to take her first breath.

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There are no words, really. This hits me so close to home as I’m waiting for our little girl to arrive. And it breaks my heart to think about the pain of their loss.

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Our family has been incredibly blessed with two beautiful, healthy children and one on the way. I haven’t experienced that pain of infertility or loss first hand, but there are so many women I know that struggle with it daily. It’s really changed the way I view this pregnancy.

I moan about the discomfort pregnancy brings, but it’s never with an ungrateful heart. The discomfort, frustration, emotional roller-coaster is because of a baby. A beautiful baby that I hope to meet in October and love as much as I love Penelope and Felix. I can’t forget that.

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The quote below the name and date is so perfect. “Faith tells me that no matter what lies ahead of me, God is already there.” The perfect reminder that we’re not alone in our struggles.

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The final piece is 11 x 14. Bonny wanted watercolor and gold like last month’s wedding calligraphy and little flourishes like my gold wedding inspiration calligraphy. I used a #1 liner brush with the watercolor and a gillott 404 with Dr PH Martin’s Spectralite gold for the calligraphed text.

 

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