Made By A Fabricista: Nursing-friendly Tops

Hi! This is my first post since becoming a mom! These past weeks have been a rollercoaster, but I am happy to report we are all healthy and doing well.

I made two tops for this post, but let me give you some context first. When I gave birth to my daughter, I suddenly lost all sense of modesty in favor of practicality. In simpler words, my boobs have been out more often than not in the last few weeks. Some women may be able to keep some sense of glamour in postpartum, but I can't count myself among those yet.

Fast forward to today. My baby and I have proudly overcome these challenging weeks, and I am finally allowing myself to believe we can go a long way in our breastfeeding journey. I am not planning on staying topless, so I have started to invest in a nursing-friendly wardrobe. In part, I feel it is wishful thinking: you know the saying "dress for the job you want"? I want to keep breastfeeding for a long time, so I better find ways to dress the part!

There are multiple nursing outfits in the market, but I don't want all my clothes to scream, "These boobs are made for feeding!"

Enter this t-shirt pattern. It is nursing-friendly thanks to the cross front, but it is still versatile enough to be worn even when not breastfeeding.

I made the first version with a ribbed knit, which is very soft and light. I intended to make a lounge set with it, thinking that this texture and colorful pattern fit a pajama. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough fabric for the set, so I thought about making some coordinating pants with another fabric, using remnants of this one for accents such as pockets or piping. Nevertheless, once I finished and tried the top, I decided it was a shame to keep it behind closed doors! It is very wearable, easy to coordinate with any pants or leggings, and a good light layer for Florida winters.

The project is very easy to put together: it has only four pieces (one back, two front, and the waistband). I was able to cut it and sew it in several 10 or 20 minutes sessions, advancing two or three steps at a time while my daughter napped. She even accompanied me sleeping in the carrier while I was sewing the last stretch! I loved this moment and asked my father to take a picture. Who knows, maybe she'll want to sew one day, and I will tell her this was her first lesson!

I finished it faster than I anticipated, and since I already had the pattern on hand, I decided to sew another t-shirt with the heathered knit fabric left out from my October post.

This fabric is a little heavier and stretchy, so I could have gone for a smaller size. It is something I will take into account on future occasions. I realized this too late when trying the unfinished top and saw that the sleeves were too long and clingy. So instead of finishing them with a simple hem, I cut them and improvised some cuffs, adding a slightly elegant touch. I can wear this top a lot, dressing it up or down depending on the occasion.

I am glad to add these two pieces to my nursing-friendly wardrobe, knowing I can use them for months beyond breastfeeding!

INES | @bynunis

Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following categories: KNITS, RIB KNITS, & SWEATER KNITS.