Sewing prowess, thrifty or just cheap??

Either way it worked like a charm!

I just wanted to share my handy tips for creating cheap maternity wear. I recently lost weight, prior to getting pregnant, and have a lot of clothes that I have piled in a corner for goodwill. Fortunately, since I have been too lazy to take them to the drop off I have been able to use some of the items to make new and improved recycled items. I did hold on to a pair of black Dockers that were large and took me through my 4th month, but I knew come post pregnancy I wouldn’t wear them. So I figured if I could find a clever way, I could make them into maternity pants. Here are the instructions. The photo shown is similar to what I did, but not my handy work, I'll try to take a photo and post for comparison!

2” Elastic (sized for your waist)
Stretchy material (black) (I used an old tankini swim top that was in the good will pile)
Old pants (black) (standard rise waist)
Misc. Notions

So I cut the stretchy fabric so that it was about 2 ½ times the elastic width and finished the two edges (that is the benefit of using the premade top, one side is done already). I then made a tube for the elastic by sewing the stretchy fabric in 2” (or just slightly more than the elastic). I then cut the top off the pants. Right under the belt loops (right through the zipper which you should close and discard the pull tab). I then hemmed the pants so I had a finished edge. Nothing fancy (I’m not that good of a sewer!), just a small hem. Then I took my covered elastic and sewed it to the pants. Voila, low rise maternity pants with full elastic! They came out great. I was very proud of myself and I saved $30! Here is what I would have bought at Old Navy.

If it is even neccessary to establish some sense of direction...

With all the people out there blogging about this and that, I'm not sure why my blog needs any direction at all. But alas, I owe it to you the reader (and that may be just you at this point, Michelle) to let you know where I'm going. Thus, giving you a reason to actually come and read my blog.

I've been doing a lot of research into all kinds of interesting things these days. I've discovered the local library and have been reading, reading, reading. I've been told that this is a luxury that will soon to come to an end, being 5 months pregnant and all! So in the past year I have learned a lot about things you all may or may not care about, but I am here to share.

Some topics you can look forward to in the near term are...
-book reviews (mostly pregnancy books thus far, but I've read a couple of main stream books for my book club as well)
-nutrition tips and websites I have found
-cloth diaper info (I'll let you know how that works out after the baby arrives, hopefully as well)
-dog training and baby intergration
-the DVORAK keyboard and why I dumped QWERTY
-my new maid "Rosy"
-why I'm a Jethro Tull fan

ETC...

and then maybe just some other misc things as I think of them.

Hopefully someone will find this information useful.. and if not.. isn't that the whole point of a blog!

Happy Blogging

Is there anybody out there...

Just wanted to send out the first post of my blog to see how it all works and what it will look like on the main page. Stay tuned for the real first installment of Stephanie Says... possibly tomorrow... if you're lucky...