u/VadMayores

Hello! I'm back with my first post partum dress.

This dress was designed to be nursing friendly as my baby girl is exclusively breastfed. I've used the pattern from this older dress

https://www.reddit.com/r/sewing/s/fxIxAvFyt7

except I lengthened the bodice (no need for empire waist since I'm not pregnant anymore) and I switched the sleeves for adjustable straps.

Other adjustments I made was adding boning on the sides, back, and lower front of the bodice. I also made sure the strap adjusters are at the front. The idea is that I can easily loosen the straps and bring down the bust and the rest of the dress will stay put since there are bonings to support it.

The Van Gogh prints are 100% cotton I found online for Php740/ USD12 per yard. (App I bought from is only available in SEA) I used up 2.5 yards of the green and 1.5 yards of the purple.

It feels good to finally be able to make myself something, as this doubles as my belated annual birthday dress. Lucky, too, since the moment I zipped it up this morning, my boss called asking if I can show up to work already 🤣. At least I looked pretty showing up.

I've received so many well wishes from here. Thank you all!

I was 2 weeks post partum on my birthday so my traditional annual handmade birthday dress is almost 2 months delayed.

Van Gogh inspired prints were bought from Shopee for P740 per yard.

Earrings from Bagel Girl, watch from Calvin Klein, sandals from Vita Linya

Next photos are my 31st and 30th birthday dress.

August is Buwan ng Wika (month of the mother tongue) in the Philippines, and the school is hosting a traditional wear competition as part of the festivities.

I made my son a Barong Tagalog, which is traditional men's wear. Only I added a twist- notebook lines (made with a sewing machine) which my son drew on using heat erase pen. I then embroidered my son's drawings.

The pattern I used is Boy's Short Sleeve Shirt from AlyaPatterns.

The fabric is piña cocoon for PHP650/ USD11 for 1.75 yards. I used up all the 1.75 yards since I had to double up the fabric so it's not too see through, and for additional structure to support the embroidery.

I used French seems for the sides and shoulders. I hand sewn an invisible hem and then removed the temporary machine stitching from the sleeves and bottom hems for a clean, professional finish.

My partner complained our son has better "formal wear" than him 🤣 Our son is 5.

First two headbands are hand embroideries. Last headband are handmade flower beads made with clay.

I'm not used to not working so I had to keep my hands busy while waiting for my C-Section

All the sewing details are itemised below.

1. Collared Buttoned Dress

I used "lacose cotton," very lightweight for Php 70 per yard and I used up around 5 yards.

For the pattern, I used the Noella Top from Etsy. I altered the pattern as follows:

1. I cut the hem of thw bodice shorter, where my waist naturally falls. I also shortened the sleeves.

2. To give more room for my stomach, I added more angle to the side seems.

3. I simply added a gathered skirt to make a dress.

I know the dress will get shorter as my stomach gets bigger, but for now I find rhis thw most comfortable dress I own!

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2. Floral Applique Shift Dress

All fabrics used are Lacose cotton. The appliques are 2 layers of fusible facing against the cotton fabric.

For the pattern, I used the Taylor Linen Top Pattern from lovelessjaime. I did alter it to lengthen it into a dress, widened the waist circumference to accommodate my tummy, and I also added a garter on the back for a better fit.

I made the appliques using the satin stitch of my Singer Denim.

This dress is kinda early maternity and also something I could wear post-maternity while waiting for my stomach to heal.

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3. Boxy Shirt + Wraparound Skirt

For the top, I used a blue and green Batik wrap and the Noella Pattern. I altered to shorten both sleeves and the blouse hem.

For the skirt, I used a dark green prima cotton voile and the skirt pattern for the Roselyn Wrap Midi Dress. I altered to put a full lining instead of just facings. The skirt is a wraparound and I added some allowance to accommodate my tummy as it grows.

You can wear the blouse tucked, or hanging loose, or even as an open blouse over a tube top.

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4. Shacket (shirt jacket)

Fabric is printed Mikado silk using the same top pattern in # 3

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5. Front Tie Dress

For the fabric, I used 4 yards of white cotton eyelet (though I think the thread used for the embroidery is synthetic) and I dyed it maroon using Rit Dye.

For the pattern, I used JunePatternStudio's Double Bow Tie Top and altered as follows.

• The pattern has upper (bust line) and lower (waist line) bows and I only used the upper part.

• The pattern has no zippers, and you would normally close the blouse by tying the bows closed. However, since this is a dress I had to add a 1 cm allowance on the mirror back pieces (instead of being cut on fold) to allow for a zipper.

• The pattern has a shorter sleeve. I made the sleeves both wider and longer for a more dramatic effect.

• Lastly, I gathered the rest of the fabric for a full skirt.

I love how it can accommodate my stomach, and how dramatic the sleeves are. The gartered sleeves also allows you to wear it multiple ways.

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6. Front Tie Dress v2

Same pattern used as # 5 but I decided to alter as follows:

• Re-drew a higher neckline curve.

• I added more width to the underbust to allow more allowance for me to gain weight as my pregnancy progresses.

• I re-drew the top of the back of the bodice to be a little dipped (a little v) instead of it being straight.

• Re-drew the sleeves to make it off-shoulder and made the garters sit horizontal instead of vertical

• I removed the cuff garters at the bottom of the sleeves. I was finding it annoying.

The fabric was listed online as cotton brocade for Php 400/ Usd 7 per yard. It is very lightweight and flowy and has a glossy sheen to it. I used up 3 meters.

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7. Front Tie Dress V3

Same as #6 but with very short sleeves due to fabric constraints

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8. Zipper-less Maternity Dress

The fabric is made from printed cotton twill for Php310/USD5 per yard. I used up a little over 2 yards (and have some remaining to make matching clothes for my kids).

The bodice was based on Kiana Bonollo's strapless corset. I had to cut it on the underbust since that's where my waistline currently lies 🤣.

For the sleeves, I cut up 2 different sized oblongs around 16 inches long. I sewed them together with the bigger oblong as the outer sleeve and the smaller oblong the inner sleeve. The bigger oblong was then gathered on the sides for the volumed effect. I made sure the bodice had boning so that it won't slouch outward with the weight of the sleeves.

For the skirt, I made a gathered front attached directly on the front of the bodice. The back of the skirt is gartered attached on either sides of the front panel of the skirt.

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9. Spaghetti Strap Bow Dress

The dress is made with 4 yards of 45" wide pure cotton fabric. The pattern is very loosely based on JunePatternStudio's Double Bow Tie Front Summer top. If you check my posts, I have made various dresses with front bow closures.

For this dress, though, I just drafted triangles with "bow arms", an underbust band, and a back panel. In this instance, the waistline is right below my bust so that's the circumference I followed when drafting the pattern. I also made use of adjustable straps using a turtorial I found on Youtube.

The skirt is just a simple gathered one.