I have a lot of $2/metre fabric that I've picked up at Our Social Fabric Sales. This seems the perfect way to experiment with all sorts of styles of maternity patterns without investing much money. Here's one of my first experiments, which I'd put in the category of really emphasizing pregnancy. The cropped sweater as well as the shape of the hem really draw a visual line around the belly, emphasized further by a very high waisted skirt that is SUPER tight. I actually have a short torso in comparison to my amazon length limbs but this style makes it look like I'm 80% midsection.
The sweater is the Briar t-shirt/sweater pattern from Megan Nielsen, the cropped version. I've made the briar pattern up a number of times in the regular length and it's a great basic that I've made as both a sweater and tee shirt many times. The instructions are clear and the pattern is super simple and goes together easily. The cropped version is just as easy to put together and takes less fabric. I used about 1m of mystery sweater knit to make a size L. The sweater knit doesn't have great recovery so I was nervous to pull the neckband too tightly so it's a bit puckered but I don't mind it.
The skirt is also a Megan Nielsen pattern which came in the maternity pattern pack I recently purchased. It's got an extremely high waist band and ruching on the sides. This is the knee length version without a ruffle. This is a super straight-forward pattern with clear instructions that goes together in less than an hour. The only thing that made me stumble is I lost my notches for adding the elastic to the sides after I serged the sides together. Better to mark these with chalk or a pen when cutting out instead. I used some jersey knit for this skirt but it does not have 40% stretch as recommended in the pattern. This is fine for right now but I imagine it won't stretch to accommodate me further in pregnancy. It's also a bit light weight for a tight-fitting skirt so shows off more bumps and lumps than I'd prefer (especially while I am more bumpy and lumpy than usual). The waist band sitting so high on the waist is extremely comfortable though and I have plans to make this up again in a more appropriate fabric.
The skirt is also a Megan Nielsen pattern which came in the maternity pattern pack I recently purchased. It's got an extremely high waist band and ruching on the sides. This is the knee length version without a ruffle. This is a super straight-forward pattern with clear instructions that goes together in less than an hour. The only thing that made me stumble is I lost my notches for adding the elastic to the sides after I serged the sides together. Better to mark these with chalk or a pen when cutting out instead. I used some jersey knit for this skirt but it does not have 40% stretch as recommended in the pattern. This is fine for right now but I imagine it won't stretch to accommodate me further in pregnancy. It's also a bit light weight for a tight-fitting skirt so shows off more bumps and lumps than I'd prefer (especially while I am more bumpy and lumpy than usual). The waist band sitting so high on the waist is extremely comfortable though and I have plans to make this up again in a more appropriate fabric.
I think I'll get some good wear out of the sweater for the rest of pregnancy. I think I might even like it more paired with dresses so it should be fairly useful.
As for the skirt, this one won't make it due to poor fabric choice. I'm not sold on the style but the comfort is amazing. I've been wearing this one as you see above which makes me feel less self conscious and on display. Perhaps as I get larger and more obviously pregnant, I'll be more into it. I also feel like the theme of this pregnancy has been comfort over all else so I'll probably wear it regardless.
As for the skirt, this one won't make it due to poor fabric choice. I'm not sold on the style but the comfort is amazing. I've been wearing this one as you see above which makes me feel less self conscious and on display. Perhaps as I get larger and more obviously pregnant, I'll be more into it. I also feel like the theme of this pregnancy has been comfort over all else so I'll probably wear it regardless.