Nursing Dress Sewing Tutorial (Mama’s Baby Wardrobe)

Here’s the nursing dress sewing tutorial for the pattern we helped you create.
Because Mama’s wardrobe deserves as much attention as baby’s.

 

Nursing Dress Sewing Tutorial

for sewing the Modest Nursing Dress Pattern with the pattern we made in this post.

 

Cut the Dress

1. Cut the back and sleeve pattern pieces as you always do. Place the skirt on the fold, which is essentially just as you normally cut the front, except the blouse isn’t attached.
2. This leaves cutting the front blouse. Place the Blouse Lining pattern piece on the center fold and cut as usual, then do the same with the Main Blouse pattern piece.
3. Read the ideas for styling the dress below if you wish to add any special details at this point.

 

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Sew your Dress

1. Turn the Main Blouse fabric piece underarm edge to the inside 5/8″ and stitch as you would a hem. Lay this on top of the Blouse Lining piece, matching the armholes and waist lines. Be sure the center waists are matched up, then pin or stitch in place.
2. Pin the Front Skirt waist to the Blouse waist. Most of this seam will be three fabric thicknesses. Stitch.
3. Finish sewing the dress as usual. Back to Front, then sew in the Sleeves.
4. Finish the neck and hem edges as you prefer.
5. One last, sort-of weird thing: Wield your scissors carefully! Cut a hole in the center blouse lining to make access for nursing. Be sure to leave the width under the neckline intact, just cutting above the waist, around the center, and about 2″ below the neck width. If you’re worried about cutting too much, start with a slit across the center front lining, about 8″ long, across bust line. Then trim from there after you’ve tried the dress.

 

 

 

Styling the Dress

This dress allows for “dressing up” by adding details. For example, attach a tie belt to the side seams over the waist seam and tie in front, or in back. Make the belt wide or narrow.

Change the sleeve design to get different looks on different dresses.

Make variations to the neckline. (Cut square or V-neck.) Add a band, or just turn over and hem. Another idea is lettuce stitching the raw edges.

 

 

 

Congratulations!
You’re done sewing your lovely new Nursing Dress!