Today I interrupted my regularly scheduled crafting to try my hand at something completely new.
I’ve had a very hard time finding nursing tops that are stylish, comfortable, and not completely ill-fitting. And by “very hard time” I mean it’s been impossible. In the week before Allie was born, I realized I was going to need something at least to get me through the first couple of weeks, so I ended up with an 11 dollar nursing tank from Target.
This thing is the worst. On its own it’s boxy and shapeless and not something you wear unless you’ve completely given up on life. Underneath anything else, all the boxy shapelessness turns into bunchy bulkiness. Also not attractive. I did wear it a couple of times, but I quickly decided it had been a waste of 11 dollars.
Still, it sat in my drawer, because even though it was completely unwearable, it was still new, and only worn once or twice. I just couldn’t let myself part with my 11 dollars that easily. I kept thinking maybe some day I’d fix it. You know, with my tailoring skills that I don’t have.
So I opened my drawer this morning and there’s the tank top, taunting me. And I decided that I should finally bite the bullet and try to fix the thing.
So I grabbed a tank top that fit to use as my pattern.
See the difference? It has a waist. Novel concept!
I turned the big tank top inside out and laid it out nice and flat. Then I laid the pattern tank top (right side out) on top of it. I matched them up at the armpits and made sure the bottom seams were parallel.
Then I used a chalk pen to trace the small shirt onto the larger one. After that I pinned along the chalk line, and sewed a straight stitch right along the line.
Here I should note, in case it’s not obvious, that I didn’t actually do this the “right” way. Typically, one should use a serger for this type of sewing, but I don’t have one. And even I couldn’t justify that purchase for what basically amounts to an experiment. Anyway, a straight stitch isn’t idea for jersey fabric, because it can’t stretch with the garment. So I do have to take some care when taking the shirt on and off. But I figured if I was ever going to justify getting that serger I’d need to sew a few pieces first, and what better piece to start on than an throw-away shirt, right?
Anyway, once I’d sewn up both new seams, I turned the shirt right side out and tried it on. AND IT FIT! Thusly satisfied, I cut away the excess fabric and then finished the rough edges with a quick zig-zag stitch.
Look how great it turned out! They look practically the same! (The altered one is the one on the left.)
Really, I couldn’t have hoped for better results. It makes me want to run to Target and buy this horrible tank in every color. But you know, if I’m going to do that, I should probably get a serger first :o)