Apparently, Monday is my day for posting! So this week, I'm sporting another non-nursing/non-maternity top that a minor tweak has made perfect for nursing. Really, why stick to "maternity" or "nursing" clothes when I can make fun things like this that I'll be happy to wear nursing or not?
This is V1282, a Donna Karan cowl neck top. Like my last nursing make, this is a pattern "encore" for me - I first made it about 2 years ago (here and pictured below left). As much as I loved the first version, it never found a steady place in my wardrobe for some reason. My new version, however, has already been worn twice in two weeks.
You may recognize the fabric from this maternity dress. I had about a yard leftover, which was perfect for this top. The only change I made to the pattern, aside from adding a little wiggle room at the hips, is that I didn't sew the center of the cowl up as high, which you can see compared to the original. This necessitates wearing a cami underneath for a layered look, but makes the top perfect for nursing.
This is V1282, a Donna Karan cowl neck top. Like my last nursing make, this is a pattern "encore" for me - I first made it about 2 years ago (here and pictured below left). As much as I loved the first version, it never found a steady place in my wardrobe for some reason. My new version, however, has already been worn twice in two weeks.
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| Original on the left; encore on the right. |
You may recognize the fabric from this maternity dress. I had about a yard leftover, which was perfect for this top. The only change I made to the pattern, aside from adding a little wiggle room at the hips, is that I didn't sew the center of the cowl up as high, which you can see compared to the original. This necessitates wearing a cami underneath for a layered look, but makes the top perfect for nursing.
This week I was thinking about how major changes to my wardrobe/style have accompanied all my major life changes - high school uniform to jeans and concert tees in college, to first job suits as a young adult, to really crafting my own style as a married career gal in my 30's, and now new mom on maternity leave. In addition to the change in my identity and lifestyle needs, the normal, healthy physical changes caused by pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding means that most of my clothing doesn't fit at the moment - physically or emotionally. And while I have some insecurities - like will my leather jacket ever fit again? - I'm trying to embrace the new and use it as a springboard to expand and experiment with my style rather than seeing limitations.
Easy knit tops have never been my thing, but I really like this top. I see it as a good segue between the old and new - very much my style, but also practical for the here and now.
What are your thoughts about changing style and life changes?
Easy knit tops have never been my thing, but I really like this top. I see it as a good segue between the old and new - very much my style, but also practical for the here and now.
What are your thoughts about changing style and life changes?
I would never have expected to see Donna Karan and Nursing top in one sentence! This looks really comfortable and still not to much like a nursing top - if you get what I mean?! I like it!
ReplyDeleteyou seriously are building the coolest breast feeding wardrobe ever.
ReplyDeleteGreat job! Isn't that what sewing is all about, making fashion and function for ourselves! You look great by the way!
ReplyDeleteAww, thanks! Yep, that's why sewing rocks!
ReplyDeleteHa! Yeah, that jacket will fit again dammit!
ReplyDeleteIf you can call 3 outfits a wardrobe...
Great job. Will bookmark this for the coming months when Im in need of b/feeding appropriate wear. Sewing rocks!!
ReplyDelete1. You will eventually shrink back down to something close to your old size, so don't throw out the moto jacket!
ReplyDelete2. I stopped wearing anything that fastened down the back, those years when I was nursing. Helps me still to make clothing choices (I have a hard time making decisions), esp. since I am of an age to consider that I will need front-fastenings to still be able to dress myself if I end up in a nursing home someday.
1- I would create a shrine around it before I would toss it. He he he
ReplyDelete2- I've given up all fastenings! 😀
Somehow I neglected to consider b-feeding appropriate when I was pregnant...
ReplyDeleteWow, I love this SO much — and I pretty much second everything you say here except for "easy knit tops have never been my thing" (because they totally are my thing).
ReplyDeleteDamn! The only phrase I can think of, and it's a cheesy one but I'm GONNA SAY IT ANYWAY, is "HOT MAMA!"
ReplyDelete