I've never found maternity pants and I to get along well - I stopped trying several pregnancies ago and have stuck with (non-maternity) yoga pants and skirts ever since. It's just so much more comfortable, and as far as I'm concerned, that's really where it's at when you're carrying an extra being (or anytime, if we're being honest here). Comfort.
{Yes, that's my hourglass, and yes, that's a bonfire in rather close proximity. I know, I know....}
And these days, these months...add Warmth to that. For this winter pregnancy of mine, thank goodness for wool. In this new old farmhouse of ours (which is getting warmer as we work on it, but still...), I have surrounded myself (and those who will let me dress them) in wool - wool (silk) long johns, and sweaters, hats and mittens, scarves and shawls. Oh yes, WOOL is keeping me - and now my belly - oh so warm.
I used wool jersey (the same that I used for this hat - sorry I don't have a source!) to make a waistband with a bit of stretch, which was then attached to two skirt panels (of wool suiting fabric) traced from a low-rise skirt (so the skirt sits below the belly, with the panel above that, but not too high). My method of sewing something like this is hardly scientific. There are just a few measurements taken, and then it's a matter of cutting, sewing, trying it on, and repeating until satisfaction is reached.
{We're cleaning up the pastures, in case you're wondering about the bonfires this week.}
Satisfaction was reached, warmth acheived and happiness is mine with this simple little skirt. I won't tell you how many days in a row I've been wearing it, but I do assure you that at least all the other layers around it have changed several times. Ahem.
I intend to get back into the studio to make a few more of these to carry me through the season. A piece for layering that will transition well for inside to quickly outside and back in again (and out again...such is my day). I'm not so sure it's a style thing (unless Maine winter farming has it's own category of style, which could be a very interesting study, indeed), but definitely a practical comfort thing. Yup, comfort and warmth. That's where it's at.
