I’ve been admiring this Art Gallery print by Katarina Rocella for quite awhile, so when I had the chance to sew it up as part of the Minerva Brand Ambassadors program, I was thrilled! The colors and grid print are a little more bold than my usual soft, feminine, floral and striped fabric choices, so I thought for a little while about what I might get the most wear out of in this printed cotton jersey, and decided that some Hudson Pants would be stellar – they’d pair easily with maternity tees, are still comfortable tucked low under my baby bump, and would get regular wear!
Art Gallery Fabrics cotton jersey is such a lovely substrate – it is thick and spongy while not feeling bulky, it is so soft to the touch, and the prints never seem to stretch out or distort in color or design under the regular strain and stretch of wear. I absolutely love AGF knits for dresses, the fabric softly hugs all the right curves while not highlighting any less exciting lumps and bumps like a thinner, slinkier knit may do. I imagined that while AGF Cotton Jersey might not be my first choice for leggings, it would probably be a very comfy and cute pair of joggers. My plans were set, and I waited for my fabric to arrive!
I sent it through a prewash as soon as it got here, and then I looked at it and looked at it… And realized I just didn’t really feel called to a pair of sweatpants right now. At the time, 20+ some odd weeks pregnant, I was in that weird stage where I just felt not like myself. I didn’t have the giant baby bump that makes me feel like a glorious pregnant human-making goddess, but I also didn’t have the body I know and recognized, and it was just making me feel rather ho-hum and a little self-conscious about almost everything I put on my body. While I knew I would feel absolutely comfy and cozy in a new pair of bright, fun Hudson Pants, I knew my brain could use something that made me feel simultaneously comfy, cozy, and cute. So I started searching.
I’ve seen so many pregnant ladies looking very cute in midi-length tank dresses, so I reached out in a Maternity Sewing Group on Facebook to ask what patterns some of the sewists there had loved for similar silhouettes. I came back with a few great ideas, one of them being the Made for Mermaids Ruby Dress! This one caught my eye originally because of the cute, thinner straps… But also because many of those who suggested it confirmed that they or their loved one comfortably wore this dress through much of pregnancy without any maternity modifications! I’ve mentioned this before, with my last pregnancy, but the idea of sewing something that I will only be able to wear for a couple of months makes me so sad – I want the option to wear it forever! So this one seemed like a winner.
I fall anywhere between three sizes in Made for Mermaids patterns, depending on the day and the pattern. In an effort to get maximum wear out of this dress, I chose to sew the largest of these three sizes for this dress. I think it turned out perfectly – I’m hoping it will still be a wearable fit this time next year, but for right now it seems plenty roomy and the stretch of the fabric more than accommodates my 24 week baby bump, as seen in these photos!
I wore this dress on Mother’s Day this year – it made me feel cute and put together, but wasn’t over the top for our backyard crawfish boil. I was comfortable throughout the day, got a little unexpected sun on my shoulders, and had no problem chasing my 2.5 year old around the yard all day long despite wearing a dress. I’m thrilled with how this turned out! I got a couple of compliments on this dress, and it feels very ~athleisure chic~ to me. I rocked my favorite sandals for Mother’s Day, but I am also looking forward to seeing how this looks dressed up with some black heels or dressed down with some white chucks. I think all are going to be great options.
This Ruby Dress is a current favorite of mine, and I plan on wearing it regularly through a hot, pregnant summer! It has been an excellent addition to my wardrobe, and I think the pairing of fabric and pattern, though not originally what I’d planned, is really a meant-to-be match!
Dress: handmade by me
Pattern: Made for Mermaids – Women’s Ruby Dress
Fabric: Minerva – Art Gallery Fabrics – Cotton Jersey Knit Fabric
Key Ingredients:
Brother XR9500PRW Sewing Machine
Brother 1034D Overlocker
Schmetz Jersey Ballpoint Needles
Dahle 36×48 Self-healing Cutting Mat
Heat & Bond Soft Stretch (Lite)
Thanks for reading my thoughts on this make! The fabric used for the dress in this post was provided to me by Minerva as a member of their Minerva Brand Ambassador Team, in exchange for photos of my finished garments posted on their website. The Ruby Dress pattern was purchased by me. All words and opinions expressed throughout this post are my own, as always. Links provided throughout this post may be affiliate links – if you choose to purchase any products through these links, I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you. This simply helps me justify the costs of my sewing habit and the time it takes to share it with you!! Happy Sewing!
- XX Elizabeth
