Sewing for Me
2004 Projects
Nursing Dress, March 2004
Okay, this isn't new, but I completely altered it and made matching dresses for my daughters, so I'm adding it to my 2004 page. (Here's the original version, and more pics where you can really see how pregnant I was.) I was pregnant when I made it originally, and it was too big even then, so it's been like a tent ever since. I took off the skirt, took about 10 inches out of the bodice, then re-gathered and re-attached the skirt. Much more flattering! Lucy now wears the dress I made for Melanie and I made a new one for Melanie just in time for Passover, so these were our Passover outfits.
Nursing Nightgown, March 2004
Pattern: MotherNurture 105
Fabric: turquoise flannel from G-Street Fabrics
Nursing Turtleneck, January 2004
Pattern: Kwik-Sew Method for Easy Sewing
Fabric: Ivory interlock from Jo-Ann Fabrics
I used the KS Easy Sewing T-Shirt pattern for this turtleneck, but I cut out two backs and two fronts. I used Elizabeth Lee Designs 107B to get the shape of the side access nursing armholes in the underlayer, which is 1 inch longer than the overlayer. I lettuce-edged the two bottom hems, the sleeves, and the turtleneck. The pattern was for a mock turtleneck but I doubled the width of the neckband to make a regular fold-over turtleneck. I also made two muslins before cutting this fabric. Based on those muslins, I narrowed the shoulders 3/4", increased the bust 2", and narrowed the sleeve 1 1/2" (without changing the armscye). I will use those changes in every shirt I make from this pattern from now on. I'm especially pleased with the sleeve adjustment, as it reduced the bulk of having too much fabric under my arms, and decreased the vertical wrinkles I've gotten in my sleeves in the past. This is a very plain shirt, except for the lettuce edging, but it will be a great basic to wear with flannel shirts, etc.