Quick Fix for a Breastfeeding Mama

I have been sewing maternity and breastfeeding tops! I'm just about 2 weeks away from my due date and am so ready to meet our baby girl. In between chasing the 3 year old around, I've been working on creating a breastfeeding-friendly wardrobe.

When I worked on my swim suit, I realized that swim wear construction can help make breastfeeding easier. I started with Vogue 8641. It has a loose silhouette and a drapey front.

I usually cut out my patterns with a rotary cutter. It saves me a bit of time if I don't have to use pins. I also find that it is more precise than using scissors. My pattern weights are gigantic washers from the hardware store.



This pattern is incredibly easy. Just three pieces: front, back and sleeve!


Here's a picture of the neckline assembly. I pinned the four seams and ran them through my serger.


Here's where I deviated from the directions. I used a length of 1/2" elastic on the neck instead of stitching a neck band out of fabric.

I experimented to find the best length elastic. It should be smaller than the opening you've got so it will gather up the extra fabric. I draped the elastic around my neck and took a leap of faith. Don't be scared, it's only fabric!

I quartered the elastic and the neckline and matched the pins so I could pin it to the wrong side of the fabric.


Use a nice big zig zag stitch to attach the elastic to the neck. Stretch the elastic in front and in back of your presser foot.


Here's what you get after you've sewn all the way around. At this point, you could try it on and see if you like the way the fabric is distributed. If not, it isn't too hard to rip out the stitching and try again.



Now you fold the elastic to the inside and stitch on the right side of the neckline. I used my coverstitch machine for this, but you can use a zig zag too.



Remember to pull on the elastic in front and behind the presser foot to keep the fabric flat.


Here's the elastic-ed neckline!!!



I stitched up the side and sleeve seams and hemmed the bottom and sleeves. Piece o' cake!


And, when you yank on it, you have access to all the right places! The elastic helps keep the neckline's shape so you don't look droopy when you release the neckline. That whole process is how you insert elastic into a swimsuit...whether it's the legs or straps. I prefer having a shirt that will either pull down or has a secret opening instead of pulling the shirt up. I'm looking forward to testing this shirt out!



I cut a size that is large enough to work as a maternity tunic. I figure I can either belt it or take it in when I am not shaped like a watermelon.




Here is the opening on a live model...so fancy is my lingerie!



Here are two more of the same type of shirt with the elastic neck. I'd say three is enough for now!


This is a nursing top based on Simplicity 4076.


I sewed a mini shirt to the outside of the actual shirt. The mini shirt has elastic at the bottom to hold it in place. I'm going to cut a 2-3" slit in the under-shirt, which will be hidden by the mini shirt. I've been wearing this as a maternity shirt too, so I didn't bother to put in the nursing holes yet.


Also from the same pattern, I made this sleeveless maternity/nursing shirt. I made no real changes other than adding more fabric to the belly area. This was easy to do since there is a seam down the front. Any shirts with plunging necklines work fairly well for me as nursing-wear.


See!
And, that is that! Maybe before I deliver, I can finish a few more delinquent projects...quilts I started a while ago? Here's to hope!

First Swim Suit

Ah, black is slimming. But, can it help in a maternity swim suit? Oh yeah!

This was my first swim suit project. I'm just happy that it is wearable and it seems to fit! The pattern was great, simple directions and good pictures. Check out the pattern picture here. The pattern is for a one piece suit. I felt that two pieces would suit a pregnant body better. I added about 3" to the length of the body plus a little extra in the front and center. I made a size M and added just a little extra (maybe 1") to the sides.



Here I am at 18 weeks! I have plenty of room for more belly since the due date is July. I get the feeling that we'll go to the pool often this summer.


The back on this suit is cut too low for my taste. My shoulders tend to roll forward, so these straps could fall off if I'm not careful about posture. I might add a little cross strap in the back if it seems too risky. Would it look strange?

For the bottoms, I used a different Kwik Sew pattern, 3636. I didn't line them, hopefully they won't show through when I get them wet.


Here's the suit on a flat surface. The front is a cut a bit low, which isn't a problem for me since I'm not busty. I still might add a bit more fabric and close it up 2 more inches. Only the front is lined, not the back. This should be fine since the fabric is black.

Squeal! My Fabric Is Coming!

Here is the pattern I have chosen to adapt for a maternity swimsuit.

Kwik Sew 3779:


I got both pink and black fabric, plus lining, elastic, and bra cups. I think I'll make a pair of swim shorts and leave off the "underpant" bottom. I'm not sure yet how I'll work the gathers in the front to accommodate a pregnant belly. Hope that something magical will happen.

I am still alive!

If anyone is still reading this, I am still alive! I have been neglecting my sewing machine for knitting.

Here is a cropped cardi made out of a cotton bucle yarn (Knitpicks). It is so soft. I want to wear it with a dress in the spring or summer.


This is another spring/summer top to wear with almost anything. It is cotton and acrylic, also from Knitpicks.


This is an alpaca tweed yarn. This was my reintroduction into cable knitting. I haven't done it in ages...I admit that I loved it! I chose to add a ribbon facing to the button bands and do machine buttonholes. I was a little wary of combining knitting and machine sewing, but it works really well. Many of the rtw sweaters that I have involve machine buttonholes.



This is a superwash wool. It is very soft!


Me, wearing it...I am so happy with the fit! For many years, I made awful awful sweaters. Ugly colors, weird sizes. I am starting to understand how to match the yarn and pattern. Working with the guage swatch has been a big focus of mine.



Some of you may not know, but I am pregnant! I am due July 6th. I nursed my son for 18 months, and I regret not having many breastfeeding friendly tops. My bras were ugly and my clothes were ugly. Here is a Jalie criss-cross top that is specifically for nursing. It was easy to assemble. It is worth mentioning that if you want to use it as maternity wear, you need to size up a little and use a fabric that is super stretchy. I think the pattern recommends fabric with 70% stretch. That info is not well advertised...I'm glad I picked the right fabric!




I managed to knock out this Simplicity dress this weekend! It is also for maternity wear. I made no alterations for pregnancy so I could wear it afterward. I don't mind if the front creeps upward.

The gray leggings are a Kwik Sew pattern. It is so easy that you could do it with your eyes closed! Instead of using elastic in the waistband, I made it into a yoga-pant type that can be rolled up or down depending on the belly size. I think I need some in black.


I tend to be a little boring with my outfits...I need to try new things and learn about how and what goes together. So, do these leggings go with this outfit, or are they weird?