Finally... the new and improved "Perfect Maternity Dress" tutorial.
Remember these dresses that I made for my last pregnancy?
They worked great, but honestly, they weren't completely the most ideal for a growing belly. As you can see in the picture of the mustard yellow dress the hem line seems to come up just barely because of my baby bump.
I loved the idea of simply attaching fabric to a t-shirt due to the fact that it is cute, but also because it is dang cheap to make. I think I made each of these dresses for only $6 a piece. You certainly can't find that price in a maternity store.I just knew there had to be a way to fix this rising problem. Here is what we did!
Supply list:About 2 yards of fabric one t-shirt
(I have found that it is best to use stretchy fabric when doing this project. Knit is ideal.)
Neither of the DIY Divas is currently pregnant, so we had to improvise...
Step 1: Measure just above your baby bump. Add a half inch for a seam allowance. Remember that number. Ours was 29". We remembered the number 29.5".
Step 2: Find the spot you will mark to cut the t-shirt. Just eyeball it.
Step 3: Cut t-shirt
VERY IMPORTANT Side Note
*** (When you make this dress you can either attach a band directly to the shirt, which is the "your measurement" from above. For example, our band would have been 29.5" at about 3 inches wide. After attaching the band, you can then attach the skirt to the band, which I am going to teach you to make below. Making a band is only possible if you use knit fabric. In this tutorial we did not make a band, but attached the skirt directly to the t-shirt. Making ties is essential to making this dress look cute if you do not make a band, and acts like the band that we did not make.)
If you do choose to make a band here is what it would look like before attaching it to the t-shirt.
Step 4. Cut the front piece of fabric using the number that you "remembered". Ours was 29.5". Cut a piece of fabric that is your number wide and long enough to touch the ground when you hold it just above your baby bump while you stand. (Hemming the dress to the desired length is the very last step.)
Step 5. Measure 3 inches from the top of your fabric down on both sides. Mark with a pencil.
Cut a gradual curve from that 3" mark to the top of the fabric. Your fabric will have two rounded corners now like the picture below.
Step 6: Sew a basting stitch from rounded corner to rounded corner (This simple step of rounding the corners will solve the rising hem line crisis! Tricky huh!?)
Step 7: Cut the back piece. This time take 3/4's of your number for the width. We don't want our backside to be too full and the dress to become tent-like. Using only 3/4's of your number solves this problem. For example, our back piece equals about 22".
Here is a little formula that will help you out:
(your number x .75)
Use a basting stitch at the top of the back piece as well.
Step 8: Make Ties. Cut two pieces about 6 inches wide and at your desired length. I made mine long so they can tie around the front.Sew right sides together, making sure to come to a point at one side. Leave other side open so it looks like a fabric tube.
Turn fabric tube right side out. 
Iron flat.
Below is a picture of what we have been working on, just as a re-cap.
Step 9: Line the top of your skirt up. Pin and sew right sides together along the sides. At the top of the skirt leave three inches open on each side so you can attach the ties.
Because the front has three extra inches of fabric that rounds at the top for your belly bump, the bottom will not line up. This is a good sign you are doing things right. (Hemming is the last part of this project.)
Step 10: Attach ties at the top of the skirt where you left the front and back unattached. Always sew right sides together.
Step 11: Pin and sew shirt to the skirt. Always sew right sides together.It helps to line up the seams of the shirt with the seams of the skirt on each side. Pin this in place.
After pining at the seams, pin the front and the back like the picture below. Pin the rest of the skirt where you see needed.Sew it together.
Hem the bottom to the desired length.That's it. Now this is REALLY the Perfect Maternity dress!
Happy sewing and Happy growing.
-Megan and Stephanie
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