The joys of motherhood come with a lot of new things one of them is breast feeding... I am one of those ladies that can not just breast feed with it all hanging out I was not taught that this was acceptable I was told to be discreet. Some women might be upset by me saying this but that's ok.. I mean I don't think it's the worst thing in the world to feed your kid anywhere they gots to eat but I personally feel more comfortable when I am covered up and when others are too.
I always feel so sorry for those men I see who are looking everywhere but at the breast feeding mother. Some women will say "Grow up!!! My kid is eating" my response to that is... Its because they are grown up that they are feeling uncomfortable ; D!!!
So you know why I needed a cover. I guess I am what some would call a prude and man am I okay with that : D The reason I decided to make my own was 3 fold; First I am learning to sew and am looking for every opportunity to practice, second all the designs and textures I found were not me at all, and finally the prices on the okay ones were ridiculous I mean $50 and I have to pay shipping and handling??? I do not think so... So I have never made a pattern before and I have only used a few so those of you who are expert sowers and have issues with my pattern just ask and I will try to explain anything that may be confusing you see I don't ever use a pattern when I am making mine I just do it because I came up with it so I know how to do it.... I made this pattern so others can do it too.... and to that end I am not sure if there are any patterns out there using anything even remotely similar. So if so kool and I haven't seen them at all this is how I make mine. And believe me it took a lot of trial and error to come up with it. My first attempts weren't pretty but my more recent ones aren't bad. Just ask my cousin Melanie if she likes hers I think I did pretty good on them if I do say so myself.
(OK quick side note I am not great at sewing and have only used a few patterns so if these instructions fail I am sorry just ask and I will try to elaborate)
List of supplies (do I need to put sewing machine on this or is that obvious???)
35" of fabric that is 45" across(your choice I used a really cute monkey print from Joann's 100% Cotton)
Matching Thread and bobbin(I think there are different size thread I used basic average thread I think)
2- 1" D-Rings (the ones at Joann's had 4 to a pack so you can make 2 covers if you feel ambitious)
14" of bowing ( This was interesting to work with)
Sewing machine and stuff to cut and measure your fabric.
So we have our stuff first things first make sure you wash your fabric because it can shrink and that is not fun after you sow. We are going to cut a strips off you fabric 4 inches thick and then the width of the fabric. Then cut this piece into two pieces one 12 inches long and use the rest for the other one.
So I take the smaller piece and fold it in half short way with the pretty sides facing each other then iron a crease sew about 1/4" - 1/6" seam along the outer edge, then I turn it right side out (you will have to feed it through itself). Re-iron but this time move the seam so that it is in the middle when you iron and not on an edge. Then fold this piece in half long ways and iron on the fold, feed this strip through the D-rings have them as close to the fold as possible and then sew into place you might not be able to get a close as you like this part was really hard for me I lifted the leg and placed it on top of one of the D-rings I am not sure if you should try this but it worked for me.
I then took the longer strip and fold it in half short way with the
pretty sides facing each other then iron a crease sew about 1/4" - 1/6"
seam along the outer edge for about a third of the distance then I tapper the seam in and get it really skinny at the end. I trim off the extra fabric and then turn this right side out you will again have to fee it through its self. Iron this flat again this time make sure the seam you made is in the middle when you iron just like on the smaller one then sew a cute little boarder around the edges of this pice to keep it flat mine was about 1/8".
Now put these pieces to the side. Have your main piece the one that will be about 45" by about 28" or 30" it doesn't need to be exact and if you need it bigger our smaller that is up to you this size was perfect for me as the fabric came about 45" across so I had a smooth straight sides : D. So you need to decide which way you want to be top you will want one of the longer side the 45" sides to be the top what I do is I put a safety pin to let myself know this is my top then I do the seam on the other three sides because those sides are easier my seams are about1/2" or so I am still learning sewing so yeah sometimes they get a little bigger
; P . Anyway now that you have that done you need to figure out the center of your top then place the bowing centered along this. What I do is sew along the "center" holding the bowing in place you are going to want the bowing sewed to the inside of the fabric along the edge then I roll/fold the fabric around the bowing one and the twice it doesn't need to be super snug I then pin it and get my other two pieces of fabric we got ready earlier. Slide them under the fabric that's wrapped around the bowing just under the last roll/fold is fine. One on each end I usually only have an inch actually under the bowing for each one. Depending on what side you want the D-Rings is what matters here just make sure you have the pieces on opposite sides. The rolled/folded part is your seam it might be a little bigger than the others this is okay It doesn't look bad I run an iron over at a few different times depending on how fast I am trying to do this once over after each roll/fold. I have everything pinned now I do my seam along the top I go over it just one to hold everything in place I them fold up the two smaller pieces that are attached and sew them more securely onto the main piece I also add the trimming to the one with the D-Rings on it so it looks pretty. I also do X over where these pieces are secured to the big piece of fabric so the are super secure. After this is all done I go over all my seams as they are for sure where I want them I am not the best sower like I have said numerous times so I go over it like 3 more times just to make sure : D..... and yeah you have a cover now.
My Husband read this and said it was super confusing so hopefully he will give me sometime this week to put up pictures so you can see what I am talking about but as this is already very late in coming I will post this if you have questions let me know and I will get pictures up as soon as I am able to sew again.
