How to Make Your Own Nursing Dresses
Nursing dresses are a nice addition to any breastfeeding mother's wardrobe. A dress can be thrown on and look casual or dressy, depending upon the style, fabrics and accessories. If you are breastfeeding, regular dresses do not offer the nursing access you need and purchased nursing dresses can be costly. Making your own nursing dresses is easier than you might think and allows you to choose the styles and fabrics you prefer.
Things You'll Need
- Basic dress pattern in a shift dress, peasant dress or T-shirt dress style
- Fabric as called for on your pattern, plus about 1/4 to 1/2 yard to account for nursing openings.
- Elastic 1/4 or 3/8 inches wide
- Sewing machine and coordinating thread
- Scissors
- Sewing pins
- Tracing paper and pencil
Instructions
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How to Make Your Own Nursing Dress
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1
Choose a simple basic dress pattern. A peasant dress with a gathered neckline will work well, but any simple, fairly straight dress can be used to create this elasticized nursing opening. You will also need fabric, preferably with some stretch for the best nursing dress result. If you are working with a very loose peasant style dress, woven fabrics can work as well.
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2
Trace two copies of your nursing dress pattern, without seam allowances. If your dress has a separate bodice and skirt, simply trace the bodice piece. Mark the bust point on each of your traced pattern pieces. Determine the ideal empire waist point for your body, sitting comfortably under the bust. Mark one pattern piece at this point, allowing approximately 3/4 inches for a casing. Slash across the pattern piece, discarding the lower section. Mark the second tracing from the underarm to the center front and slash across.
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3
Pin your nursing dress pattern pieces to the fabric, being careful that the stretch goes across the garment. Add seam allowances back to your garment, using an allowance between 1/4 inch and 5/8 inch as you prefer, using the allowance suggested by your pattern. Do not add a seam allowance to the top of the lower front piece. Cut the new front pieces as well as all other dress pieces.
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4
Apply elastic to the top edge of the underlay piece, stretching only slightly. Press and stitch a casing into the bottom of the nursing overlay. Thread elastic cut 1 inch to 2 inches shorter than the casing through this casing. Baste the underlay and overlay together at the side seams creating a single piece with nursing access.
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5
Finish sewing your dress according to pattern directions. Treat your new nursing dress front as a single piece while sewing. Press all seams as you go and work carefully to create neat finishes.
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6
Nurse in your new dress by lifting one side of the overlay up and pulling the layer beneath down. This nursing opening also works well for nightgowns or mothers nursing twins.
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Tips & Warnings
Use the same strategy to make cute and comfortable nursing tops.
