Selfish Sewing Week starts today and I’ve already got something to show you. I did kinda cheat and make it early, but that’s ok…right?! Selfish Sewing Week is being organised by Rachael from Imagine Gnats and Jill from Made with Moxie. What a great idea! I think most of us sew a lot more for our kids than ourselves.
Fashion and breastfeeding don’t really go that well together. It’s not easy to look nice and feel good about yourself when you’re wearing breast pads, wire free bras and pulling your top up all the time. I came up with the idea of this top and I’m so happy with the result! It’s really easy to cut out and sew and can be dressed up or down as needed. It’s called The Big ‘T’ because the shape of the top is just that…a big T. The big sleeves make feeding easy, just pull the sleeve across. No need to bother with hidden flaps or hitching up the bottom of your top… As much as I love to flash my flabby post baby belly 😉
I used a lovely soft viscose jersey knit fabric that I had in my stash. It looks like I don’t iron, but the fabric is actually a crinkle knit. I chose to leave the sleeves at t-shirt length which meant I didn’t need much fabric at all…less than a yard! I also added a banded bottom, but you could leave this off. Want to make your own?
Here’s how you calculate the fabric pieces you’ll need:
width – Measure across your body from arm to arm where you want the sleeves to end. Instead of measuring, I chose to use half the width of my fabric as I only had a little bit. This meant I could cut the back and front next to each other.
length – Measure from your shoulder down to where you want the top to end. If you want it baggy on the bottom or want to add an optional band (see below) then take this into account.
hem – Measure around your hips where the top will finish and add 2″ or so. The more you add the fuller it will be. Divide total number by 2.
sleeve – Measure from your shoulder down to under your boob. This makes the sleeve easy to pull across for feeding.
For the neckline, I copied the shape from a top I already own.
Optional band – Use your hip measurement and take off about 2″. The amount depends on how stretchy your fabric is so you can cut a piece the length of your hip measurement and trim down as needed. The width of the fabric is double the finished width of the band you want.
The top is made up the same way as this top by Ashley from Make It Love It. If you need a step-by-step, check out her tutorial.
The baggy arms mean it is a bit ‘peekaboo’ on the sides, but since I’m only going to wear it with a feeding tank, I wasn’t bothered.
And the all important ‘action shot!’ Geez Ted looks enormous in this photo…maybe it’s the angle. Did you get any selfish sewing done today?
Emma ForMyLittleMonster says
Ted is so cute! He has grown so much 😀
I love the top…when I have another little one I will definitely need to make one of these – first to get over my fear of sewing with knits though, lol 🙂
thingsforboys says
Don’t be afraid! They aren’t that scary. Just get the right needles and you’ll be fine. They are so quick to sew up because you can be so lazy trying to get the fit right 😉
Cassandra says
You’re a clever one! I think this will be a must do project for me as soon as my babies give me the time. I live in nursing tanks, so this top is perfect for me.
Look how big Ted is now! Such a cutie. How do you feel about arranged marriages? Hehe xo
Jane@Buzzmills says
Oh man that is brilliant!!! I wish I would have had some of these when I was nursing my babes…such a great idea! 🙂
Melissa Antolovic says
what a great idea – It looks great too
thingsforboys says
thanks ladies!
Jane from Lil Pip says
Fantastic idea. Well done!
Nicole says
Echoing the other commenters, boob access via sleeves is seriously a brilliant idea! (And what a beautiful little boy you have there!)
Jenya @ While she was sleeping says
nice! great idea 🙂 I was going to do a little selfish sewing tonight… until it took my daughter two hours to “need to do wees”… Too tired now 🙂 Maybe tomorrow 🙂 Came across your post on The Sewing LIbrary on FB 🙂
Alisa @ A stitch in between says
OK, I wasn’t going to do any selfish sewing, just follow you ladies from afar, but this is brilliant! I am in such need of nursing shirts and this one looks like it will hide my bingo lady flabby arms that both of my pregnancies blessed me with. I have a perfect knit for this too…
Suz says
That is fab and so discreet!! I could have done with some of these over the past five years!!
Anne Rosean says
Thanks for sharing this lovely tutorial! It delivers a functional and flattering item that all new mothers can appreciate. My readers at AllFreeSewing would absolutely love this.
thingsforboys says
thanks Anne 🙂
motherof5 says
What an amazing top, I feed for a long time so I appreciate great clothes.
Well done!
Stephanie says
While I am not a mom, I am a fluffy girl! I plan on making a few modifications to this pattern so I can make myself some shirts that actually fit well. Thanks for the idea!
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