Mardi Gras Maternity Gown

A week ago Sunday, I got a call from my sister and pregnant niece. They had been looking for a Maternity Evening Gown fit for a Mardi Gras party to take place early February. My niece had looked everywhere, but could find nothing that fit her figure or her budget, and it could not be black. They had searched the pattern books, but the Big 4 had nothing that worked. Hence, the phone call and plea for help. I pulled out my pattern magazines and found some maternity gowns in the Patrones, issue 274. She loved # 35 in the magazine. I sent them to Joann's for fabric. It is the only fabric store in the area, and they came back with eleven yards of knit, used my 40% off coupon and spent under $30 - definitely affordable and very pretty blue on the side of purple.

Patrones is a pattern magazine from Spain. I do not speak Spanish, I used Google Translater and typed in all three paragraphs of the instructions, which were still vague, but doable. There were no diagrams.

You can see in the model's photo that the dress is pretty revealing. I recut the front pieces for more coverage under the arm and added a pretty modesty panel out of some fabric that my mother had. It matched perfectly and there was enough to make a beautiful shawl. I also added a twist of the fabric under the bust that will expand with the growth of the baby. I don't have a picture of that yet, but hope that my niece will send a pic of the entire ensemble on her. I used my coverstitch machine for the hem and used Steam a Seam. I love that stuff.


The skirt was lined in the same fabric. I added elastic under the bust for a little better fit.

I am very please with the end result. My mother added beads to the shawl. It is ready to be shipped and I can't wait to see pics of her wearing it.