Modest Maternity and Nursing Sewing Patterns

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The McCall Pattern Company headquarters in New York

Headquarted in New York City with additional offices in Kansas, Canada, England and Australia, The McCall Pattern Company is one of the largest home sewing pattern manufacturers in the world. McCall also offers pattern printing services to independent patternmakers. McCall retails several brands, all with modest options.

Simplicity Pattern Company

Simplicity Pattern Company has been manufacturing home sewing patterns since 1927. The founder of the Fashion Belle website was privileged to tour Simplicity's New York offices in 2008, and the scene was much like that at any other clothing company, with designers and merchandisers collaborating around trend inspiration boards and clothing samples. The provided link leads to views of Simplicity's various pattern collections, including New Look and Burda, which are not particularly known for modesty but which offer a broad and frequently updated style selection that dressmakers can alter for more coverage as needed.

Sewing Patterns directory website for many pattern brands

The mega-retailer of sewing patterns online, SewingPatterns.com sells most pattern brands, including independent ones, often with promotional sales. This site is quick to navigate, though links are not always updated, and many of the featured brands offer a larger selection of patterns on their home sites than are available through SewingPatterns.com. However, a few brands use this site as their exclusive online pattern outlet for North America.

Common Sense Patterns

This company offers a mixture of classic styles that are still worn today along with some vintage 1980s and 1990s styles. Several special pattern options make this collection worth a look, like a culotte jumper, simple silhouettes with tie-back waistlines, and an extended plus size range and nursing clothing patterns.

Modest Handmaidens pattern catalog

This online store stocks a significant collection of exclusively modest patterns from independent brands, including several patterns that you may not be able to find anywhere else. Most of the styles are classic in design.

Candle on the Hill Modest Sewing Patterns including maternity and nursing

This company sells regular women's as well as maternity and nursing patterns. Most of the styles touch back to trends of a few decades ago and include patterns for headcoverings. A short list of seamstresses for hire is available for locations in the eastern United States.

Baker Lane Maternity and Nursing sewing patterns

Only three patterns are offered by this company, but the styles are classic and well designed for expectant and nursing mothers.

Angela Coffman maternity and nursing patterns

Several basic maternity and nursing top and dress patterns are offered by this designer, including a style that utilizes smocking. This brand was formerly known as Blessed Designs.

Practically Pretty by Design sewing services

Patterns and custom sewing services are offered for girls' dresses and women's regular, maternity and nursing dresses from several original designs plus the pattern labels Sense and Sensibility, Baker Lane, Serendipity Studio and children's pattern brand Olabelhe.

Fresh Modesty: Creating Custom Swimwear

Tutorial downloads provide instructions for drafting a four-piece swimwear ensemble according to your measurements (including maternity) and sewing with Spandex fabrics. Author Olivia Howard provides detailed drawings and photos to show how the shirt, skirt, bra and shorts can easily be sewn to fit, even for beginning seamstresses. A similar tutorial is available for sewing long denim skirts.

Screenshot of maxi skirt by Leanne Barlow on her Elle Apparel blog

Leanne Barlow sells several tutorials for creating patterns and sewing custom apparel. Our favorite tutorial is this maxi skirt from knit fabric, designed for both regular and maternity wear. See also the following links for maxi skirt variations: dress it down, dress it up and color pop.