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Ladies Caroline Dress (nursing modification)
Who says breastfeeding can't be glamorous? LOL
I modified MHC's Ladies Caroline to be nursing-friendly. When constructing the princess seams on the bodice, I chose to install invisible zippers into the seams rather than sewing them shut. I can't take credit for this stroke of brilliance, as I borrowed the idea from Charity, who writes the Say Grr Sewing blog. That article can be found here: saygrrsewing.blogspot.com/2013/11/princess-seam-nursing-d...
Taking note of Charity's method, I installed the zippers to open from the waist up so that the pulls wouldn't be prominently placed. After sewing the zips to the outer bodice, I attached the lining to the zipper backs. Because I used the sleeve option, I could then pretty much sew the rest of the dress as per the pattern instructions.
I have plans to make another with the faux cap sleeve option (btw, my sleeves are gathered at the top of the shoulder because my arms are larger than the pattern and I had to alter them ... the actual pattern sleeve fits very sleekly into the hole with no "puff" at the top of the shoulder). When I do this without set-in sleeves, I believe I'll have to sew the arm hole seam before attaching the lining to the zipper backs.
Other changes I made to the pattern were to shorten the 3/4 sleeve a bit and make my skirt not quite as full (the reason for both is that I was running out of fabric). Because my skirt wasn't as full, I made fewer pleats when attaching it to the bodice. I also scooped the neckline just a bit lower, since the previous versions I made covered my favorite necklace. ;-)
Pattern: The Ladies Caroline Dress by Mouse House Creations
Pattern Options: above knee length skirt
.........................3/4 sleeves (shortened)
.........................lower neckline (scooped even lower)
.........................belt loops
Fabric: thrifted navy and white polka-dot polyester blend
p.s. If you choose to attempt this with a delicate or light-weight fabric (lighter than quilting cotton), I highly suggest you put iron-on hem or bias tape on the wrong side of the fabric about 1/4 inch from the raw edge of your princess seams. This way, when you sew the zippers, the tape is there to make the seam stronger so your fabric won't rip if/when it gets pulled.
Thanks for looking!
~Joelle
Ladies Caroline Dress (nursing modification)
Who says breastfeeding can't be glamorous? LOL
I modified MHC's Ladies Caroline to be nursing-friendly. When constructing the princess seams on the bodice, I chose to install invisible zippers into the seams rather than sewing them shut. I can't take credit for this stroke of brilliance, as I borrowed the idea from Charity, who writes the Say Grr Sewing blog. That article can be found here: saygrrsewing.blogspot.com/2013/11/princess-seam-nursing-d...
Taking note of Charity's method, I installed the zippers to open from the waist up so that the pulls wouldn't be prominently placed. After sewing the zips to the outer bodice, I attached the lining to the zipper backs. Because I used the sleeve option, I could then pretty much sew the rest of the dress as per the pattern instructions.
I have plans to make another with the faux cap sleeve option (btw, my sleeves are gathered at the top of the shoulder because my arms are larger than the pattern and I had to alter them ... the actual pattern sleeve fits very sleekly into the hole with no "puff" at the top of the shoulder). When I do this without set-in sleeves, I believe I'll have to sew the arm hole seam before attaching the lining to the zipper backs.
Other changes I made to the pattern were to shorten the 3/4 sleeve a bit and make my skirt not quite as full (the reason for both is that I was running out of fabric). Because my skirt wasn't as full, I made fewer pleats when attaching it to the bodice. I also scooped the neckline just a bit lower, since the previous versions I made covered my favorite necklace. ;-)
Pattern: The Ladies Caroline Dress by Mouse House Creations
Pattern Options: above knee length skirt
.........................3/4 sleeves (shortened)
.........................lower neckline (scooped even lower)
.........................belt loops
Fabric: thrifted navy and white polka-dot polyester blend
p.s. If you choose to attempt this with a delicate or light-weight fabric (lighter than quilting cotton), I highly suggest you put iron-on hem or bias tape on the wrong side of the fabric about 1/4 inch from the raw edge of your princess seams. This way, when you sew the zippers, the tape is there to make the seam stronger so your fabric won't rip if/when it gets pulled.
Thanks for looking!
~Joelle