Pregnancy has a lot of upsides, like guilt-free ice cream and regular foot massages. However, clothing selection is definitely not one of them. Your old clothes don’t fit and you don’t want to spend a fortune on something you’ll only wear for a few months. If you are dealing with a quiet desperation every time you have to pick an outfit, you are not alone! I struggle with this every day so I decided to turn to DIY maternity clothes projects. My first experiment was turning an old T-shirt into a DIY maternity top.
This idea is no sew and can be wrapped up in about 30 minutes. I used one of my husband’s old shirts, a seam ripper, and blue tape. You probably have most of these things at home, but I have included links at the end of the post if you are missing something.
1. Cut the excess fabric at the back of the shirt
Start by taping two pieces of blue tape at the back of the shirt. Leave a strip of fabric between the tape.
If the shirt you are working with is wider, the fabric strip between the tape can be 2″-3″ wide. It all depends on how baggy your shirt is. Try it on to figure out how much excess fabric you need gone and adjust the fabric strip’s width accordingly. Baggier is better and more comfy, so don’t try to make it super tight!
Next, cut along the two pieces of tape. Make sure to only cut the front of the shirt.
2. Make slits 1″ apart
Use the seam ripper to make slits that are 1″ apart. These slits should be at least 1/2″ away from the edge of the fabric. Each slit should be between 1/8″ and 1/2″ inches long. Make the slits shorter if the fabric is stretchy.
3. Lace it up
Lace up the DIY maternity top using a thin long piece of fabric. You can use any fabric that matches the shirt or the excess fabric you removed in the beginning.
If you use the excess fabric, cut the piece in half. Then, tie or stitch the ends of the two pieces. This will give you the extra length you need.
4. Cut the sleeves
Get rid of the boxy look of the shirt by cutting its sleeves. Depending on your preference, you can leave the sleeves wider or make the cut deeper.
5. Lace up the sides
Fold the shirt sideways and tape a piece of blue tape on top of the side stitch. Then, cut the fabric along the edges of the tape.
Use the seam ripper to make small slits 1″ apart. Next, lace up the side of the DIY maternity top using a piece of fabric.
Repeat the same steps on the other side of the top.
Below is the result of my DIY maternity clothes experiment. I am relieved that the top turned out tighter and more interesting than the over-sized old tees I’ve been wearing so far!
There are a lot of easy options for DIY maternity clothes when it comes to tops and shirts. Things get a little trickier with pants, though! I recently discovered what I am convinced is the best invention ever- the bellaband. It allows you to wear your old pants, jeans, shorts, and skirts. It will save you a lot of money and closet space! If you don’t have one of these, it is definitely worth buying!
If you are looking for more ways to cut a baggy t-shirt and turn it into a tank top, you can also try this no sew DIY top design.
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