How I’m Rebuilding My Post Baby Wardrobe with Handmade Sewing Projects

Welcome back to the blog, makers! Today I’m sharing an exciting look at the sewing projects currently filling my creative space, including a fancy Vicky Sews Mallory blouse and a long paused blazer that I’m finally ready to tackle again. After having a baby and experiencing major body changes, I realized I need to rebuild my wardrobe from the ground up, and this post kicks off that journey. If you love dressy fabrics, shiny details, handmade pants, or thoughtful wardrobe planning, you’re going to enjoy what I’m working on. I’m also showing the fabrics I picked, the design decisions behind each project, and even my very first welt pocket (check out the YouTube video below), which I’m pretty proud of. Sewing has been such a fulfilling and inspiring craft lately, and I hope my projects spark ideas for your own makes. Whether you’re a seasoned sewist or just getting started, come along as I recreate my closet one handmade piece at a time.

Transcript

Hi everyone! My name is Teria with Peace and Make. In today’s video, I’m going to go over some projects that I’m currently working on. I’m also going to talk about how I have to redo my entire wardrobe, and I might tell a fun story at the end depending on how much time I have left or honestly how I feel. So if you’re interested, keep listening. Actually… if you clicked on this video, clearly you are interested, so let’s just get into it.

The first thing I’m working on is a blouse by Vicky Sews called the Mallory Blouse. It’s inspired by the 90s, kind of a nod to those shirts that had flounces. Not everywhere, but enough to give that signature 90s look. I’m so glad that style has come back. I just finished cutting out the garment, and here’s the fabric I’m using. I’m holding it like this so you can see the drape, it’s very flowy. It has a matte side and a shiny side. I’m using the matte side for the front of the blouse and the sleeves, and the shiny side for the front flounce and sleeve flounce.

When I was designing this garment from the pattern, I debated how bold I wanted to go. I decided I wanted it to look dressy but still comfortable or even business casual. Using the shiny side adds just a little pop, a break from all the matte. I’m really excited to see how it turns out. I had a moment where I wondered if I should even do it that way, but you know what? Go big or go home. So I went big.

Before I move on to the next project, here’s a little backstory. When I was looking for fabric for this blouse, I considered several options. The one I ended up using and the last one I showed are both from Joann Fabrics. RIP Joann. I miss you so much. Seriously. I was also going to use this crepe fabric at one point, but I decided I wanted the blouse to be dressier, which is why I didn’t go with it.

Another fabric I considered was this rayon twill from Core Fabrics. It’s so pretty, I think I bought it during a Black Friday sale last year, and I have about three or four yards. It didn’t have the right look for this project, so I’m saving it for something else.

The next thing I’m working on is a pair of pants. I don’t have the pattern in front of me, but I’ll put a picture on the screen of a pair I made in the past. I’m planning to make those again using this fabric I bought at Fine Fabrics in Atlanta. I bought it in person, and I’ve had it for probably seven years, which is wild. I’m really excited to finally use it.

It’s going to take me a while though because I need to make several fit adjustments. For those of you who don’t know, I just had a baby this fall, so my body has changed a lot. I don’t fit my previous size anymore. I went pants shopping recently and depending on the cut, wide leg versus flare, I was two to three sizes bigger than before. That’s a whole experience by itself. With my measurements changing, I’m going to have to redraft a pants pattern that fits me and redo most of my wardrobe.

Also, I’m nursing right now. If you’ve nursed a baby, you know that many dresses aren’t practical, especially dresses with an invisible zipper in the back. A baby cannot access what they need. So I need things like strappy dresses, button front dresses, or wrap dresses. Basically, I’m revamping my entire wardrobe.

Back to the projects: those pants I showed earlier? I can’t even fit them anymore, which makes me sad because I love that fabric and the whole outfit.

The third thing I’m working on is this right here, Butterick 6862. I’m making the blazer. I actually started it two years ago but got intimidated. It’s interesting because I know my sewing skills are much higher now than they were when I got serious about sewing during the pandemic.

Okay, I’m back, I had to step away for a second. But yes, during the pandemic I really committed to improving my sewing skills. I had the basics down before, but 2020 is when I really began learning and leveling up. I didn’t get good good until maybe a year to a year and a half ago.

When I first started this blazer, I felt intimidated because it has a lining, welt pockets, and a tailored collar. I still don’t know how to do a lining properly, but I did complete the welt pockets, and I still have the collar to do. I picked the project back up toward the end of my pregnancy but haven’t resumed working on it yet because I got distracted by the blouse.

Let me show you my welt pocket, I’m actually proud of it. It needs to be ironed, and okay, yes, there’s a little pucker, but it’s my first welt pocket. It’ll fold down nicely once pressed.

Here’s a quick try on. Surprisingly, it still fits. The blazer has one button, but I don’t think it’ll button right now. But here it is. You can’t see the bottom well, but it’s fairly long. I bought this fabric from Fabric dot com before they closed, Amazon bought them out for those who didn’t know. They used to have the best prices.

So those are the things I’m working on. With my changing family life and returning to work from maternity leave, my time is burned. I figure it may take me one to two months per project, so everything might be done around springtime.

Also, if you see me glancing over, it’s because my monitor is right there, and I have a new camera. I need to get used to looking straight ahead.

If you sew and you’ve experienced major body changes, let me know in the comments; how was that mental process for you? Because it’s taking me some time to accept that I need to redo my wardrobe. I like my wardrobe, but it has to change so I can actually wear things.

If you want to follow me on this wardrobe rebuild journey, like and subscribe. My name is Tera, my brand is Peace and Make, and I’m excited even though redoing a wardrobe is a lot of work. When I made my previous wardrobe, it leaned toward comfortable knits and casual dresses. This time I want fancy. I want glitter, like this fabric right here. I want shine. I’ll still make some cozy clothes and knits, but I want dressy options too. That’s why I’m making this blazer and these dress pants.

If you want to hear my fun story, I can tell it in another vlog. It’s basically about going pants shopping and discovering my new size. I went to White House Black Market and honestly had a great experience, but that’s neither here nor there. If you want it, let me know in the comments.

I’ll record as I make progress and when I finish garments. I also post Shorts more often than long form videos. Hopefully that will flip at some point, but for now, short videos are quicker for me to make. And one more thing, my videos won’t be as edited as they used to be because I just need to get them up so you all can see what I’m working on.

I watch so many sewing channels and Instagram creators. Seeing what other makers create gives me so many ideas. So if you’re one of those folks, follow along. If you’re new to sewing and want to get your feet wet, follow along, you’ll learn some things here.

Alright, I will chat with you all later. And yes, I want to see those comments. Talking to a camera is different from talking one on one, but it’s still fun. If you have any thoughts, let me know. Bye.