If you do alterations to regular patterns, make tops longer in front. I made a mix and match tops and bottoms out of double knit using a maternity pattern that had all pieces in one pattern. Four different tops and three bottoms I left the waist band open so I could adjust the elastic. Towards the end though the elastic bothered me. The only thing I wanted to wear was a "oamar the tent maker" denim "dress" (Sleveless, I think called a tunic?) that I could wear my "regular" shirts under. I think everyone got sick of seeing me wear but I really didn't care anymore as long as it was comfortable....Invest in a belly support thing you can buy at a maternity shop...really was worth the price.

You could also try on garments at a store and see what looks well on you. I have a colleague who loves a certain brand of trouser. She doesn't even have to try them on to know they will suit her. (She's a seamstress, and could easily make her clothes, too) I'm always scouting the Goodwill stores and Salvation Army. At those prices, even an ugly pair of pants, if they fit well, could be taken apart to make a pattern. Remember that the waist measurement of your pant should be about an inch bigger than your actual waist to be comfortable. Don't stitch the front darts, if there are any. Re-draw the side seams straight up from the hip. Best wishes.

*sip* *sip* *crunch* *crunch* *crunch* (I just LOVE tea time!) But bad news! I tried on my smock, and the front is hanging very weird! It actually pooches waaaay forward, and it looks like I am 6 months pregnant. I have no idea why this is happening. It is very strange. I can smooth it down, and then if I kind of swing back and forth, the front of the smock literally grows! I can watch the fabric actually pull out in the front! I thought maybe the fabric just needed to be washed. So I washed and dried it. It still does it. All I can think is that: 1. when I put on the pockets, I somehow gathered the fabric between them so there is a permanent pooch/pouch? 2. I pulled the binding too much in some places (but where?), and that is making the front swell forward? It is truly bizarre. It didn't do this before I put the edging on. I don't know if it started after I put the pockets on. I guess the easiest thing to try is to remove a pocket. But is that doesn't work, then my dear smock will be relegated to apron status. No way, no how am I removing that endless bias tape! Shoot--I'll bet it is the !@#$%^& bias tape. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr. francy

Thanks for the comments, they will be helpful. Research results: I found the following resources helpful as I have been planning my approach, mainly for bustling and hemming: 1. Singer "Sewing for Special Occasions" which has photos and excellent guides for the bustling. 2. The "Sew News" website library had a great description of bustling a wedding gown at this page: http://www.sewnews.com/library/sewnews/qa/aaqa0300a.htm 3. Another website which explains bustles including the Austrian, French [inverted] and over bustle. I learned a lot at the following: http://www.rencentral.com/oct_nov_fo11/bustles.shtml 4. A slim book from the library with no photos and only a few sketches, but titled: "How to Alter a Bridal Gown" by Susan Ormond. This book has a chapter on hems. The important point she makes is to follow the manufacturer's method of construction when you reconstruct. 5. Google search. It brought me back to the forum which I had not used for sewing. Good Laugh for all of you who work with brides: Use a search engine on the words bustle or bustling a wedding gown. You will locate the U-Tube video of bridesmaids searching for ribbons to underbustle the bride. Finally, the bride lays face down, with petticoats exposed while bridesmaids consider the mystery of all those ribbons! Bustle comments: The comment about a 2-point take-up--I understood as take the center back up in two parts, then do side bustles. There's no place to put a button part-way up the back, so a simple 3-point seems to look fine with pins. I will use the suggestion to fasten a small button on the wrong side of the fabric to support the fabric and weight. I may try a 5-point to see if it looks better. My daughter did not like the looks of the underbustle. I thought the Austrian could maybe be used to get the heavy satin pulled up [done like a balloon shade with loops sew to the inside seam allowance and ribbons pulled through to gather up the skirt, or scrunch it up]. Then the beautiful organza could be pulled up on top in the overbustle and attached to the waist area to emphasize the delicacy of the fabric and show off the beading and silver threads of sewn flowers. I did notice how I need to take the front hem around just a bit to the back for this bustle to work, so thanks for the comment about pinning the bustle, then mark the hem. Sleeves. These are totally decorative, the bodice and the nifty inside waist piece hold the dress perfectly in place. I will use the suggestion of shortening the caps at the junction with the gown. It seems the organza will allow me to fold it a bit and I could tack the edge a bit to keep the crescent shape coming to a point and not have to rip stitches in the organza. For the $20 most shops offered on this, they certainly weren't ripping many stitches! I found nothing on this small alteration in any resource I checked, so this forum was great! Research is done . . . I am nearly ready. I mailed the check for the cake today and finished a 4th revision of the seating chart for our sit-down dinner. The bride has calculated the meals and other charges at the reception site and we had to spend more! They have a minimum, so we added some appetizers for those arriving at the reception site early. The bride has her program ready to get printed and has finalized the flower order. The bridesmaids are wearing tea-length dresses and need no alterations! The bride chose these to avoid the usual $100 hem charge on simple dresses. Time to dig in! I am not scheduled for any meetings for two weeks. I am a local elected official. I have no one home expecting a meal today. The Elna was taken from her cabinet and is on the seldom used dining table. Thanks for that tip about a big table! I have a black lab to avoid and she dislikes her feet on wood floors. If I have time, I'll give a progress report.