How To Modify A Garment Pattern To Fit A Growing Baby?

To convert a sewing pattern to maternity wear, print, tape, and cut out the desired pattern. Choose your size based on your upper bust and full bust, disregarding the waist measurement. For example, you can modify Women’s Tess and Women’s Pepper by adding stretch knit waistbands.

To convert a regular pattern into a maternity pattern, it needs to accommodate both the increase in length from the top of the belly around to the bottom of it and the increase in width around the waist. This tutorial by Nicole shows how to adjust almost any knit top for maternity wear.

To create the skirt pattern, measure the back pattern piece at the bottom and create the skirt’s length to your desired length. Measure from below your bust to the top of the skirt pattern.

Looking for maternity clothes patterns? Check out our collection of free maternity sewing patterns for dresses, tops, shorts, pants, and accessories. The goal is to add a little width to the bust and then add width and depth to cover the growing belly.

In general, about 5 inches more in width at the waist and about the same amount more in length at the longest part is needed for a maternity pattern.

Additional tips include taking plain fronts, adding a front button closure, and adding a collar. For swing tees or empire-waisted dresses, add at least two inches to the center front pattern piece, tapering the extra.

In summary, converting a sewing pattern to maternity wear involves choosing the right size, altering the pattern pieces, and adjusting the design to fit the growing belly.