Specs:
- Pattern: Waterfall Raglan by Chalk & Notch
- View A with long sleeves – Size 4
- Adjustments: None
- Fabric: Sweater Knit
- Pictured at 37 weeks pregnant
I’m so excited to be guest blogging for MaternitySewing.com today! I am so very near to the end of my pregnancy at this point, but I am thrilled that this resource exists and know I will most definitely be utilizing it even more during my next pregnancy someday in the future.
One of my main sewing goals over the past 9 months has been to sew things that will work through pregnancy and beyond. My sewing time is limited, and I am always on a mission to sew things that will last for many years in my wardrobe. Despite knowing the immense changes that my body would be going through, I decided early on in my pregnancy that I did not want to invest a large amount of time or money into clothing I would only be able to wear during pregnancy, and instead I chose to focus on pieces that could transition with me. For this particular post, I’m excited to show you guys how well the Chalk & Notch Waterfall Raglan can work without any modifications – even on a 37+ week belly!
I went back and forth on my fabric choice for a week or so – I had a great dark grey waffle knit that I had considered using, but I kept coming back to this striped sweater knit that I had in my stash. If I remember correctly, this fabric was purchased at JoAnn with a Christmas gift card last year. The pattern recommends a light to medium weight knit with 50% stretch, such as cotton jersey, cotton lycra, rayon jersey, french terry, or stretch velvet. I went little bit outside of the particularly noted fabrics, but with more than 50% stretch, this sweater knit still fell into the appropriate umbrella. Though it isn’t a particularly thick or cozy sweater knit, I wanted to make something that would transition into the cooler autumn weather with me, so this seemed perfect. Plus, I couldn’t wait to play with the stripes a little bit!
Though I’ve sewn raglan tops in the past, this particular pattern was brand new to me. I’ve been on a roll with Chalk & Notch patterns this year, so I had high expectations of this pattern from the start, and I was not disappointed. As with all of my Chalk & Notch makes, this pattern was easy to read and assemble, and had all of the information necessary within the instructions to lead to a pretty straightforward and simple make, especially when sewn up primarily on the serger.
As I mentioned above, I did not make any modifications whatsoever to this pattern! This top is meant to be relaxed and loose, and especially given the ruffle / peplum bottom, it is awfully loose and free from the waist through the hips. I chose to sew up a size 4 based on my current bust measurement, and continued on from there. I cut the long-sleeved option, and used the longer of the two neckband options… In hindsight, the shorter of the two neckbands (intended for fabrics with a greater amount of stretch) may have been the better choice. Although I really love the wider neckline of my Waterfall Raglan, I don’t believe that this is the intended look of the garment.
As I was cutting my fabric, I realized a little too late that this stash fabric was actually narrower than the recommended 60” the pattern calls for. II had the appropriate length of fabric, but because it was too narrow, I ended up needing to play pattern tetris more than I originally realized. To accommodate all of the pattern pieces, I ended up turning the sleeve piece at a 90’ angle and cutting the sleeves with the greatest stretch going vertically rather than horizontally. The final look of this is great – I love the vertical sleeve stripes in contrast to the horizontal stripes on the body of the top, and I actually love the way the sleeves fit thanks to this. However, I am worried that this messed with the integrity of the garment – the sleeve seams pull more than they are meant to, and especially as this is a looser knit material, I am afraid that these are going to pull apart a bit quickly. So word to the wise – make sure all your pattern pieces are going to fit before you cut! If not, at least give yourself a little extra wiggle room in the sleeves!! I see some mending in my not-so-distant future.
Aside from this mistake (which can be blamed only on me, not the pattern whatsoever!), this is a fantastic top. I will admit that I was worried that the ruffled bottom was going to be over-the-top when combined with an already very large belly, but strangely enough, I find the extra volume to be pretty flattering. To minimize any potential additional volume or width being added to my silhouette, I matched this top with a pair of darker colored leggings, and I really loved the end result. My belly is covered, and I feel cute and comfortable! Though I have not had the opportunity to experiment with this yet, I also imagine that this will be a great postpartum / nursing silhouette. The loose, relaxed nature of the top will be non-restrictive on my recovering post-baby belly, and it should also be fairly easy to pull up to nurse my little one!
For anyone who is not interested in sewing strictly maternity wear, I’d highly recommend the Waterfall Raglan. It can be sewn up in a variety of knits, with multiple sleeve options, making it a perfect pattern to play with year-round.
Photos: Seed Visual
Thanks for showing off your Waterfall Raglan Elizabeth! Want to make one too? You can find the pattern in our shop.
Elizabeth is a self taught sewist who shares her creations online at www.pinsandpinot.com, and through the handle pinsandpinot on Instagram. She is expecting her first baby girl any day now, and has loved the experience of sewing a maternity-appropriate wardrobe for herself this year.
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