My youngest is only two and a half, but lately I find myself saying, "Why didn't they have those when my kids were babies?" There are so many great baby products out there that I think I'll have to have another baby eventually just to have the chance to use them (let's hope my husband isn't reading this!). Case in point: the nursing cover. These simple aprons keep baby (and your chest) covered while you nurse. It's lightweight enough that baby doesn't get sweaty (like under a blanket), and with the neck strap, they can't yank it off and expose you to the world. Brilliant. Plus, a piece of boning gives you a view of the baby that nobody else gets. Double brilliant. And they're pretty simple to make, too.
Nursing Cover Tutorial
What you'll need:
* 1 yard fabric of your choice
*1" D rings
*12" boning
*8"x8" piece of soft fabric like flannel (optional)
*Cutting tools (scissors or rotary wheel, mat, ruler)
*Pins
*Wooden dowel
Okay, let's get started.
1. Cut a 35" x 30" piece from your fabric. This will be the main part of the cover. Set aside.
2. Cut a 4" wide strip along the length of the remaining fabric.
2. Fold the 4" piece in half lengthwise, right sides together, and pin.
3. Starting at the left-hand corner (fold side), sew a 1/4" seam diagonally until you come 1/4" from the side. Turn and continue down the rest of the length with a 1/4" seam.
4. Using a long wooden dowel, turn the strip right-side out.
5. Flatten strip with the seam down the middle and press flat, carefully forming a point.
6. Starting at the wide (not pointed) end, topstitch a 1/4" seam around entire strip, up one side and down the other, turning at the top of the point. This will keep it from twisting when it's washed.
7. Cut the strap into two pieces. The pointed end should be about 26" long. The other end should be about 8" long.
8. Thread one end of 8" piece through both D rings. Fold end over 1/4" and press. Fold over another 1/4" and press.
9. Stitch the hem along the edge, then again closer to the D rings to keep them in place.
10. Cut a triangular piece of flannel or terry cloth to fit one bottom corner. This will be used for mom to wipe baby's mouth after nursing, but it is totally optional.
11. Sew a tiny hem on the edge of the flannel that will be exposed.
12. Position flannel in corner abouth 1/2" from each edge. Fold side edge over 1/2" and press. Fold over another 1/2", press, and pin.
13. Stitch side hem along outside of fold from top to bottom.
14. Repeat on opposite side, then along bottom. Leave the top unfinished.
15. To attach straps, find the middle of the top edge and lay 12" piece of boning 1/2" from top with the boning bowing toward you (opposite of finished direction). Pin the straps to the ends of the boning with the long strap on the right and the shorter strap on the left (as pictured). I actually pushed the pins directly down into my ironing board for this step since it's hard to pin through boning and you're going to remove them in a moment.
16. Here's where it gets tricky. Leaving the straps in place, fold entire edge over 1/2" to cover the boning. Press seam.
17. Fold over 1/2" again, this time turning the boning, too. Now the boning should be bowing away from you. Press and secure with pins.
18. Sew along edge as you did the other sides. Then go back to where the straps connect and sew three sides of a rectangle to keep them flat.
19. Thread the long strap through the D rings. Clip any loose threads and you're done! If you like you can stitch decorative ribbon, ric rac, etc. along top or bottom edges to dress it up a bit.
Here are some examples of other covers I've made. Sorry the photos aren't great--I just took quick pictures before I gave them away!
P.S. For those of you friends and family who recognize the models, NO, this is not an announcement! :)