Up until the 1950’s there were no fashionably designed maternity clothes for everyday wear.
Historically, in early days before fitted clothes this was not a problem, as the shapeless clothes were often larger than required and were cinched at the waist by belts, when a lady became pregnant the belt was simply worn higher.
By about 1600 onwards richer ladies actually had clothes designed that used a higher waistline to accommodate pregnancy, but were basically the same styles as those worn by other ladies of the time, but with substantially more material in the skirt.
Poorer ladies simply made do with their existing clothing – letting out (some even opening) side seams or maybe wearing a voluminous apron to cover where clothes no longer fastened.
In the 19th century many garments for wealthier ladies were actually tailored to HIDE pregnancy, their poorer counterparts were not so lucky and had to continue to make do with their normal wardrobe, perhaps wearing skirts higher on the body.
It wasn’t until the 1950s that fashion designers actually started to design proper maternity clothes, usually skirts and smock type tops or smock style dresses. By the late 1970s trousers had also become fashionable for the expectant mother, although the tops were still smock type.
Nowadays ladies require fashionable maternity clothes for the many different facets of their lives, from socialising to going to the gym, and pregnancy is no longer hidden away as it was in the past.
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If you wish to knit some maternity clothes for your dolls house doll then we have a 1:12th scale knitting pattern to knit the items shown in the photo above.
Ability level: Experienced
Materials required:
Skirt – One pair size 19 (1 mm/US size 5/0) knitting needles, 50 metres/56 yards 1-ply wool or 2 skeins DMC Broder Spécial No 25.
Note: This skirt is designed to go under a jumper and therefore is only pleated in the part that shows beneath the jumper. The remainder of the skirt is ribbed to make it fit close to the dolls body and have less bulk.
Yellow jumper – One pair size 19 (1 mm/US size 5/0) knitting needles, 50 metres/56 yards 1-ply wool or 2 skeins DMC Broder Spécial No 25., stitch holders, small length of narrow ribbon for bow.
Green Jumper – Size 22 (0.75 mm/US size 6/0) knitting needles, stitch holders, approx. ½ x 5g ball No. 80 crochet cotton or tatting thread No. 70, small button or bead for neck, small length of narrow ribbon for bow.
Approximate finished sizes:
Jumper – 1½-inches/4 cm wide at chest; neck to hem – 2-inches/5 cm; sleeve length – ¾-inch/2 cm,
Skirt – 1½-inches/4 cm wide at base, 1-inch/2.5 cm wide at waist, 2½-inches/6 cm from waist to hemline.
Gauge – Gauge is not important as dolls house dolls (like humans) vary greatly in size and proportions
Pattern price £2.75 (NOTE: EU VAT or other digital taxes will be added to price where applicable)
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