And Baby Makes Three? No, It Makes Me Make A Shirt

Someone’s having a baby? YES! My cousins Russell and Marisa announced at Thanksgiving that they were expecting! It was the most wonderful news we had all gotten in a while. I immediately thought of all of the vintage maternity patterns I have in my collection. I sent contenders to Marisa and she chose this one, from 1965. She chose the long sleeved top. She let me pick the fabric. Such trust! HA!

Marisa isn’t one for whimsical prints, so I chose this blush pink. I got to work, but not fast. Life has been slowing down my sewing significantly.

I had Aunt Tamy get her measurements for me, since she lives two hours away. I realized right away that this pattern was meant for someone who must have taken some doctor advice from the 1960’s, and didn’t gain any weight. HA!

I would have to up size the pattern. No matter though. I felt confident in my ability to do it. I laid out the front piece of the shirt and figured how to make it bigger.

Am I doing this right? Who knows! I just do what makes sense to me. Again, I’m not formally trained so lots of the things I do I figure out or make up along the way! HA! I marked with tailor’s chalk where I needed to add to make the shirt bigger.

Marking the bust darts.

This pattern called for two pockets on the front and I didn’t like the way the instructions told me to make them, so I did my own thing.

Pinning the zipper. What’s all that stuff in the back? Well I went to a yarn sale! It’s organized chaos.

Once the collar had interfacing I began to stitch it together.

Once the collar was basted on it was time to pin the neck facing. This looks like a mess, but it turns out in the end!

The sleeves have two darts in them.

Sewing the sleeves together. All that was left was to attach the sleeves and hem the bottom. Oh, and sew together the tie belt.

We found out that the new baby that was coming to the family was a boy! Russell said they were naming him Bert Holliday. Bert after Grandpa Bert, and Holliday as a tribute to Russell’s brother, and my cousin James. James was a HUGE Doc Holliday fan. I love this name so much! Our little Bert Holliday is already so loved, and we can’t wait to see him! (I didn’t spell Holliday wrong, Doc Holliday spells it with two “L’s”.)

Of course I wonder what he will look like. Perhaps he’ll look like his namesake, Grandpa Bert. For a cuteness reference, here’s Grandpa Bert’s baby picture!

Or perhaps he’ll look like his other namesake, his Uncle James. Here he is for more baby cuteness!

Back to the sew and here’s the finished product. Of course with a baby belly under it, this shirt will have a different look.

I love this classic look, it would be cute even if you weren’t expecting! I had to use Guinevere as a model. There was no time to deliver it and do a photo shoot. I’ll be mailing it off tomorrow morning, and hoping that it fits, Bert Holliday is growing fast!

Grandpa Bert would be thrilled to have a new great-grandchild, and even more thrilled to have him share his name. James would be even more thrilled to be an official Uncle!

Whatever our little Bert Holliday looks like, we’re going to love him like crazy. We already do.

As for me onto the next!

*I’ll update this post when the shirt gets delivered.

UPDATE!! The shirt was delivered and Marisa went out and took amazing pictures in it!

Baby Bert is growing fast but the shirt fits and looks amazing on her!

So cute! I can’t stand it!

Marisa looks amazing in this shirt! When I was making it I wasn’t sure if I had the sizing right, and I wasn’t sure if it would turn out. Well, I got the sizing right and it is so cute and vintage. This shirt would be cute for anyone, pregnant or not!

As for me, I’m still onto the next!