Sewing: Maternity Raglan Circle Tee

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YUP! Another baby bump!

We’re so thrilled to announce that we will be welcoming Esplin #3 into the world the beginning of October. The news wasn’t completely real until I heard the heartbeat last week (at 14 weeks!). That first listen to the heartbeat gets me so choked up every time.

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All the discomfort and nausea is for something. Although, I must confess this time around has been much easier than with Felix or Penelope. As long as I’m consuming a steady stream of soda water, gummy bears and pot stickers; I seem to be just fine. It’s mostly been my energy and focus levels. They’ve been at an all-time low lately. I’ve been working on clearing my plate of extra work, slowly but surely that’s happening (as you can tell with the lack of posts here).

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Penelope is thrilled with the news. She’s hoping for a girl. And secretly, we all are. We only have a girl name and girl clothes! Felix destroyed all of his clothes, so we’d have to start completely from scratch if we had a boy. I don’t know why, but my heart has been set on a girl from the beginning. We’re happy with a baby, boy or girl. But I still want a girl. ;)

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I’m about 15 weeks along and quickly starting to show. I’m at this awkward point where I still fit in my old clothes, but I feel like if I wear anything too form-fitting; I’ll look like I ate a giant burrito, not pregnant. That’s pretty much what I’m thinking all the time. Can we blame those crazy thoughts on hormones?

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Besides that, I’ve been thinking and sewing up various pieces that I feel may be versatile during and after pregnancy. I don’t want pieces that make me look like a giant tent; but things that I can wear alone, with a belt or a blazer and feel perfectly comfortable in my own skin.

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Inspired by this look, I used the base of Hey June’s Raglan tee, did a little slash and spread (I use the same technique in the maxi wrap tutorial) and lengthened the hemline by about 7-8 inches and created a slight high-low curve to the base.

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The funny thing about this fabric is that it seems to stretch vertically as the day wears on. I steamed the shirt not long after and instantly added 4 inches to the hemline! Strange, right? I’m thinking this hemline will work for now, but I won’t know for sure until after I have washed and dried the garment for the first time. I’m tempted to keep the longer hemline because my belly is only going to grow 10 fold, too.

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Adjusting the pattern of this top took about 20 minutes and sewing up the top took just under an hour. I used a slightly different method for hemming the sleeve and neckline. instead of sewing the bands with folded side out, I sewed them with the raw edges out. So the top is finished with all raw edges, but it looks more finished than if I had just left it as is. Given the pattern on the shirt, this detail is incredibly subtle, not something that the camera could pick up really well.

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I’ve got Penelope to thank for pictures today. She was such a doll, beaming with excitement to help me in the studio. It’s fun to have my own little assistant in-house!

Outfit details:

  • glasses: c/o Coastal.com (use code SAC1PE6T for 25% off)
  • necklace: c/o Cambria Cove
  • earrings: etsy
  • bracelet: THP Shop
  • skinnies: Forever 21
  • shoes: Forever 21
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    1. Alana says:

      Congratulations!!! Here’s to feeling great all the way through :)

    2. Debbie says:

      Love the baby bump! Thank God the young have the babies though. At 62, I don’t think I could deal with it. LOL you are absolutely glowing.

    3. alicia says:

      Congratulations! That’s so exciting :)

    4. Danelle says:

      Yay yay yay for baby #3 on the way!!!! :D

    5. Lady ID says:

      Congratulations!!!!! Such a blessing!

    6. Brigid says:

      Congratulations!!! God is so good! I hope the rest of your pregnancy will be smooth and easy.

      On another note, I LOVE your top! The length and style are perfect, I think it’s one of the most stylish “maternity” tops I have ever seen!

    7. Merrick says:

      Such a perfect maternity top! You look FAB.

    8. maddie says:

      Melissa, congratulations! I can’t believe you’re going to be a mother of three on top of what you already do. You’re a rockstar!

    9. Katie says:

      Congratulations friend! I love that you have to bend backwards and really get that bump out for it to show.

    10. Nicole says:

      Yay! We’re both having our third within about a month of each other! :)

    11. Marcelle says:

      Congrats you guys!! You look BEAUTIFUL Melissa! I know the burrito feeling..ugh. Can’t wait to see more prego fashion!

    12. Jessica says:

      I am so thrilled! I watch your blog faithfully. I am so happy for you and your growing family. I wish you the best. I absolutely LOVE your blog and everything you have done. You have definitely inspired me to sew clothing as opposed to quilts/table runners/blankets all the time. I was always a bit hesitant to try but because of you I will! Thank you so much for who you are and who you stand for. You are not only a beautiful example to me but to everyone that reads you. Hang in there, we love you. (fingers crossed it’s a girl)

    13. Celeste says:

      Congratulations Melissa! Crossing me fingers for your health and that it’s a girl. :)

    14. tara says:

      Congratulations! Felt it was just a matter of time :)

      Don’t worry, you look pregnant and lovely.

    15. Belle says:

      Congratulations of baby #3! You look fabulous! Love the top. Now I just wish I could sew!

    16. iralee says:

      congrats!!!! that is so exciting and im so happy for you guys!!! i can’t wait to see the progress and little baby clothes!!!

    17. Congratulations!!!!! You always do look so lovely preggo or not. I’ve been going through your old maternity category posts from Felix’s pregnancy for inspiration (I’m 7 months and only have a few dresses that I can still fit into, but I’m a novice sewer…. So here’s hoping that something will work for me without having to go out and spend much moolah on new stuff. So happy for you guys. Welcome little Esplin baby!

    18. Congratulations!! What fun!!

    19. Heidi says:

      Congratulations! I’m hoping my next is a girl too… We have a girl and two boys, and number 4 is due about three weeks before yours.

      I like the top too. And at least it’s stretching vertically and not horizontally, lol!

    20. Heidi Lassila says:

      Congratulations! I saw your pin and my mouth fell open in an, ah, how exciting! kind of way. You look so great. Definitely leave the longer hemline! That is one thing I am really wishing for right now but with only a week or 2 until baby, I’m done making/buying maternity clothes. I cannot wait to see the maternity clothes you make!

    21. Elaine says:

      oh, congratulations lady!!!!!

    22. Summer says:

      Congratulations on Baby Esplin No. 3!!!

      Super exciting and you are the most darling preggo there ever was!

    23. alexis rasmussen says:

      Hooray! We been thinking of you guys! Congrats! I’m so excited and happy for you!

    24. Julia says:

      WOOHOO!!! I’m so happy for you! What a blessing. I totally remember the in-between-phase. The worst. Good thing you always look good!

    25. nole says:

      Ahhhh! So excited for you!

    26. Virginia says:

      How exciting!!! Congratulations to you & your family! You look amazing, and I can’t wait to follow along in this new, exciting chapter. Sending best wishes for a healthy baby and smooth pregnancy! Xo

    27. Congratukations! I’m 30 weks and resorting to maternity DIYs too – maternity clothes in the stores are so tedious!

      Looking forward to seeing how you get on

      X Elena

    28. Brooke says:

      Congratulations! I have one question about your top which is great btw. How tall are you? I just bought the Hey June pattern so I can make a maternity top for my daughter who is due in September and I am wondering how much to add to the length. She is 5’3″ and petite. How much did you add to the sides? That is two questions, sorry. Thank you! Brooke

      • Brooke says:

        Also, did you cut an extra small in this top? I know my daughter is an extra small in Megan Nielsen but I am unsure of the Hey June pattern. Thank you!

      • Melissa says:

        Congratulations to your daughter!!

        So the quick and dirty explanation of how I adjusted the pattern:

        1. You’re going to need a lot of tracing paper. Trace the front and back pieces onto a separate piece of paper.

        2. Fold the front and back pattern pieces (separately) in half along the longest part of the pattern. Fold in half again.

        3. Cut from the bottom hem along the fold lines leaving 1/4 inch of the pattern piece attached at the top along the neckline.

        4. With sewing weights, arrange the split pattern pieces on top of tracing paper and spread the bottoms of the pattern pieces about 3 inches apart, keeping the top of the pattern pieces from puckering. This is called the slash and spread method, it allows you to evenly expand the hemline of the pattern piece so the drape ends up falling uniformly.

        5. Trace the outline of the spread pattern piece and add extra length to the hemline. I ended up adding about 7 inches to the hem. It’s a pretty short top since the pattern uses a band to hem the bottom. If your daughter wants to wear it through her whole pregnancy, she may want to add 5-7 inches to the original hem.

        6. Repeat so you have a spread version for both front and back pattern pieces

        7. Cut and sew with original pattern sleeves.

        Hope that helps!

    29. Pauline says:

      Melissa, congratulations! You look so adorable with a bump. :) xoxo

    30. […] skirt last week, I busted out this maternity top. I used the same pattern here as I did in my long sleeve version blogged here, but I ruched the sides. The side ruching helps the top duck under my belly just a little bit, so […]

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