I actually made this dress to wear with my black blazer to my husband’s work Christmas party. I abandoned it when I was 95% done for the following reasons
- The proportions didn’t work with my blazer.
- It made me look way more pregnant than I was ready to admit to all of my husbands coworkers at the time.
- I felt like a giant Christmas tree.
I’m 20 weeks along now, and there is no hiding the growing bump. I wore the green dress, minus the blazer, to my cousin’s wedding this past weekend, and received many hearty congratulations and a couple of belly rubs. It didn’t feel too Christmas-tree-like now that the season has passed.
Can I brag for a minute? We were going to have to cancel our wedding weekend plans due to my children getting the flu, but my in-laws volunteered to drive down to our house and them so we could leave for the weekend. A 48 hours child-free date weekend. IT.WAS.GLORIOUS. They now go down in history as the best in-laws ever.
Back to the dress.
It’s Vogue 1236 – a loose fitting sleeveless dress. I started fitting it Before Baby Bump. So I cut it to my pre-pregnancy measurements (Bust: 40.5 in, Upper Bust: 38.25 in, Waist: 36.5 in, Hips: 49.5 in, Height: 5 ft 10 in). I traced a size 16 in the chest and graded it out to the size 24(+some more) in the hips. In all, I added a total of 10.5 inches to the circumference of the size 16 for my hips. I also added 3 inches to the length.
The fabric is yummy isn’t it? It is a linen-blend from Jo-Ann Fabrics, and I lined it fully on the inside, because dresses are supposed to be easy and I don’t want to have to over-think about my undergarment choices.
oh, also… POCKETS! It was wicked cold that weekend in Michigan and it was nice to have somewhere to put my poor freezing hands. (Which is also why I am wearing the sweater. That and I have a bit of bra peeking out in my underarm. This dress could use a bit of an armhole raise.)
I hope this still fits me as the weather warms up, because it would be lovely in the summer months.
I love this, clever you! Plus it shows off your baby bump beautifully, congratulations x
Jodi, you are gorgeous and this dress looks so lovely on you 🙂 Sounds like you have the best in-laws ever!
Lovely dress. And lucky you for having such great in-laws. Weekend get aways are a very special treat. Congratulations.
I am very lucky.
Oh, I love this so much!! I was thinking it was going to be a maternity pattern, but I love that it’s just a regular pattern you can make work!! That bright green is so pretty on you, I have no idea what my ‘colors’ are, but I think blogging might help figure that out. You look beautiful, and not even remotely christmas-tree-like.
Thank you! I am all about the regular-wear as maternity-wear this time around. At least while I can still manage it.
Amazing job! I’ve made this pattern twice and forms that the balance was off with a bit too much length in the front so it makes sense that it works as a maternity dress. Looks so good!
Congratulations! I love that color green. I almost bought some of that same fabric the other day 🙂
Super cute! I love green no matter the season and this totally works for all four, with the right accessories. I love your bump in the dress. It’s great because it looks like you have room it in to have the baby grow and you can wear it through a lot of your pregnancy. Right? (PS, if I haven’t said this already: congratulations!!)
you have said it. and thank you very much. 🙂