Messing with Ottobre (again)

I Really Really Really like the Ottobre nursing top I made. I knew I'd be making it again, and here it is in the fabric I wanted to use if the first one worked out well.

It's a printed mesh with an underlayer of a heavy, drapey knit - not sure what it is. I decided to eliminate the bands, as with this fabric they'd be lost at best, and look patchy at worst. The back and lower front pieces are cut as one piece (each, naturally), which I acheived simply by overlapping the pieces on the fabric as I cut. They don't line up perfectly (there is some shaping there), so I just cut a "line of best fit" to join them up. I also lengthened the sleeves since we're heading into winter here. The sleeves are only mesh, but if I wear this top with a layer over it I'll be warm enough. The underlayer with the nursing access I left plain red because I thought that more mesh would look a bit busy, and this played up the lines of the top better.

I'm really pleased with how this turned out - now to dream up version #3! I'm thinking maybe another print with contrasting plain bands and neckline binding?

I also messed with Ottobre 01/06, #2 to make this sweatshirt/jacket for Isabella.

Here she is in her best model pose - she doesn't look like a baby who kept her mother up half the night for no discernible reason does she?

Since I was making it from polar fleece, I felt that gathering the hem band would just be bulky at the gathering line, so I decided to add flare instead. I did that by very simply adding width to the bottom of the pattern piece for the side front, and skimming in the side seams at the waist. I then added the same details to the back piece, because I prefer garments to have construction details on the front and back, not just the front. I also tapered the sleeves towards the wrist to avoid a lot of bulk, which is difficult to fit under another layer in the cold weather. Finally, I made it a jacket instead of a sweatshirt by adding seam allowances to the centre front instead of cutting it on a fold.

And here it is without her in it, showing the design lines better. (I know the sleeves are not evenly folded. One is out of the way of the side seam to show the shaping, and the other is carefully hiding a bit of weetbix which didn't quite make it to her mouth this morning!)

Nursing opening

This is how the nursing opening works on the Ottobre top:


This is what it looks like on the inside. The curved princess seams are actually the finished edges of the underlay.

And from the right side, this is how it works - you just pull aside the overlay and underlay to expose as much as you need to feed baby. It's easy to operate one handed and I found it stays securely closed during daily wear, and nicely out of the way while feeding.

Ottobre have come up with a real winner in this design!

Finally, sewing for ME!

It seems like forever since I made anything for myself! I have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Keely's Ottobre womens mag for this pattern, in the hopes that it would be good - I love my Jalie nursing tops, but after nine months of them, I'm ready for a change!

This looked promising - I liked the style, the nursing access looked practical, and the pattern has plenty of potential for customizing. So I made a trial to test it out - this fabric is some of a roll I bought for b***** all a while ago. I already have two tops made from it, and used it for a top for my sister as well. If this top was wearable, great, but no heartbreak if not. Naturally I was hoping for wearable - I hate investing time into something I'm not going to wear, even though I KNOW muslins are incredibly useful.

So yesterday's nap time (and some non-nap time) was dedicated to sewing this together. I made a straight size 40 (closest to my current measurements), and apart from shortening it by about 2cm, didn't alter it at all. And to my delight - it's GREAT! I have it on now, so I can say with confidence that the nursing access is as practical as I'd hoped, and the top is comfy and fits well. I'll do a proper review on Pattern Review next nap time.

I heard that someone has made this as a dress, and I really fancy that idea too. I breastfeed *a lot*, so anything that makes it easy is well worth spending time and money on!