How to Make Maternity Clothes from Existing Outfits

Maternity clothes are very expensive for the short amount of time you'll wear them. There's no need to go out and purchase maternity clothes, though, when you can change some of your current clothing to fabulous maternity outfits very easily. All you need is a sewing machine and a few pieces of fabric.

Jeans are some of the most comfortable pants you can find - pregnant or not. Some women have favorite jeans that they have to give up when their belly begins to swell, though. You can keep your favorite jeans, to wear while you're pregnant, but after changing them to maternity wear it'll be impossible to change them back to their former design.

Cut the tummy portion out of the jeans beginning at the side seam. Leave about an inch of fabric, next to the seam, to sew in the new panel. Cut down the side seam stopping when you get to the area, at the side seam, that's directly across from the bottom of the zipper. Cut across the lower front part of the jeans, about an inch or so below the zipper bottom. Now cut straight back up, next to the side seam, until you have removed the entire tummy panel.

Purchase stretchy fabric that you can insert in the tummy area of the jeans. Cut a piece of fabric, that is an inch larger on each side and across the bottom, than the blue jean panel. The panel should be a couple of inches longer at the top waist portion for hemming and insertion of elastic. Hem the panel, at the top, and insert half-inch elastic. To insert the panel begin by sewing down the side seam, then across the lower front portion, and back up the opposite side seam.