how do you make a nursing shirt w/o a pattern?

[mama_kass]

Any suggestions? I make all sorts of cute patchy dresses, tops, and skirts w/o patterns. I would like to make some new spring clothes and am looking for suggestions on nursingwear. Thanks ladies!

[RasJane]

Sounds like you have a cute wardrobe going!
I think it would be pretty easy to make a front panel style opening. Make your shirt like you usually would. Then cut an extra front panel that is the same height as the shirt and mid shoulder to mid shoulder in width. Sew the panel into the neckline and hem as part of the shirt. Cut a long slit in the middle of the whole original shirt front so that it will be the nursing opening and be covered by the new panel you created.
Or cut a new top half and do the top half style shirt. Check a nursing wear page for diagrams. Sounds like you have enough sewing know-how to create from there. I would love to see pictures and see what you came up with!

[LunaMoom]

Strange,I was thinking about the same thing myself last night. Usually I make apron tops but with my big ugly nursing bra now I'm trying to figure out nursing wear too,no more open backs for a while.With an 8 week old I still havent found any time to actually sew but I am thinking about it alot.

[Beck]

I made a tank dress last summer with a front panel as RasJane described. The top panel is cropped just below the bust, though. I haven't made a shirt, but I do have some links sitting here waiting for the day I get motivated. They're all instructions for ready to wear shirts, but if you already sew without patterns they might give enough info.

http://web.winco.net/~sbcortlu/makeyourowntee.htm

This wouldn't give me enough coverage, but you might like it: http://members.tripod.com/thepalmerpages/dinert.htm

this shows how to convert 2 tshirts to a nursing shirt, but it would give you a good description of how make an alternate style panel: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/River/9596/RTW1.htm

[lucimomster]

Is it that you don't LIKE patterns or don't need them or what?

I've got several Elizabeth Lee patterns ... and I'd send them to you if you'd sew something for me ... I'd even send you the fabric!

I bought them during my first pregnancy, but didn't get around to making them ... and now that I've got TWO boys, it's unlikely that I'll be getting to them now. I hired a seamstress to sew a few tops for me using two of the patterns, but ended up spending more than they would've cost if I bought them from a catalog. *sigh*

So ......? Email me if you're interested.

L