Circle Scarf/Nursing Cover

Here’s another Etsy item! I had bought this fabric a few months ago with the scarf in mind. To get the length I was wanting I bought two yards and cut the fabric in half lengh-wise to keep it from being overly bulky.

I used this project to try out a french seam. I thought that since you’d be seeing both sides of the scarf it would look nicer if it was a clean, edge-free seam. After I wrapped my head around how exactly to put the fabric the seam came together nicely, albeit time-consuming. I LOVE my scarf. I’m hoping for some extra money to buy the same fabric in other colors so I have some more options; alas bill paying comes first. American Apperal makes this scarf and has this great idea brochure on ways to wear it. So far I’ve kept it simple. If you have other ways you wear your circle scarf I’d love to see them!

I have also found that this scarf works great as a nursing cover! It’s perfect for those days that I forget to bring something extra with me for more discreet breastfeeding.

Though Adelaide thinks it’s more fun for peek-a-boo. Oh well, what can you do?

Happy Crafting!

Easter Dress 2013 (Nursing Friendly)

This year’s Easter dress was a little more fun than usual because I had an idea in my head and I was trying to match it. Thankfully I was able to match it nearly PERFECTLY with only a small change to an existing pattern.  The patten came from the pattern cabinet and was the first one that I’ve used that was a send-away pattern. I don’t know the brand but I know that they come from New York and the mailing date on the pattern was Sept. 1960.

I wanted the dress to have two different fabrics, the sides to be a solid white and the front and back panel to have a pattern. I wanted a square neckline so that had to be changed from the pattern and I wanted a full skirt using this petticoat that I had made before. This meant that I needed to add extra fabric to every panel equally so that the skirt laid out correctly. The dress also had short sleeves but considering that we had 13″ of snow the week before Easter I thought 3/4 length sleeves were a good idea.

I also noticed that on the pattern they had shown the design with buttons. I am not great at buttons and this was before I made the Hub’s vest and rocked the button holes.  I decided to add pearl snaps down the front and voila! The dress is now nursing-friendly.

I didn’t want to make a belt because let’s face it, I was tired. I opted to use a wide satin ribbon to tie everything together and I think it turned out well. I even got to have fun putting in a side zipper, which I had yet to do. I think next year’s dress is going to be a challenge because I’ll want to outdo this dress.

Happy Crafting!

Sleeve-less Shirred Nursing Shirt

I had seen a nursing shirt online and thought that I could replicate it fairly well to avoid paying the outrageous price and shipping fee. So I set to work. I made my shirt sleeveless because I get hot very easily and I would rather layer with a lightweight cardigan. Here’s a basic tutorial to make your own!

First I laid out the fabric and used a shirt that I liked the fit of for the the pattern. It’s important to use similar fabric for the shirts.

Here’s the outline of the basic form. I cut on a fold to make it easier on myself.

On the second attempt I found it’s easier to cut three pieces the same size. The back you are going to leave alone.

The piece you are going to use for the undershirt of the front you want to cut the arms in a bit more otherwise it’s going to dig in to your armpits (no fun). On this piece you are also going to cut a VERY deep V. You want it to be deep enough that you can nurse comfortably from either breast by moving the V to the side. I also have mine cut with a scoop and then the V. You are wanting almost a shelf effect. 

The front piece you are going to shirr will have the same arm cuts as the undershirt piece. Cut a neckline that you are happy with for the piece as well. I went with a basic scoop because it was easy and I was trying to figure out if I could make this work.

Start sewing the undershirt piece neckline. I did a small rolled hem. 

Now shirr the front piece. (If you don’t know how to this is a great tutorial and how I learned.) I started about three inches down on each strap and continued until the crest of my bust line. After you’ve shirred to your heart’s content hem the sides. The last 3-4 inches on the bottom of  each side you will want to leave unhemed because they will be sewn into the sides of the shirt to connect everything better. Hem the bottom of the piece.

**Your front piece will not be this wide. I made a mistake when I cut this and made it WAY too big.**

Sew the front pieces together; at the shoulders and the bottom. You’ll use a 1/4 inch seem. 

Now it’s time to sew all three pieces together. You’ll want to use a 5/8 inch seem. Make sure that when you are putting everything together make sure your sandwich is back piece, shirred front, undershirt piece. The shoulders are going to be sewn together and sides. You’ll also hem around the arms and bottom.

Almost finished! Add a piece of elastic on the “shelf” you’ve created so that you won’t become exposed on accident. Keep in mind where you put the elastic because when you nurse it’s going to go over or under your breast. 

After I was finished and tried everything on I decided to take it in a bit and added two darts on the back. 

Now that I had made a few minor adjustments here was the final product! 

And it opens nicely to the side for easy access. 

This was probably not the best tutorial but it’s the first I’ve ever done. I think if you know how to sew it’s easy enough to figure out on the fly. I’d love to see what you’ve done with the skeleton pattern here!

Happy Crafting!!

Side Opening Nursing Top

This will most likely be one of my shortest posts but I wanted to share in my excitement; I have successfully created my first nursing shirt! There are some more modifications that need to be made so after I do the next one I plan on posting my very first tutorial! After searching for months to find a pattern and never finding something quite to my liking I created my own. It has s side opening for nursing and was somewhat inspired by this:  I will post pictures soon but I wanted to be sure to share this will all of you. I am going to make another one tonight or tomorrow and fix some of my mistakes. Next week I’ll have the tutorial up! Look for it soon!

Happy Crafting!