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I have an awesome Lisse Hoodie from New Horizons that I made over a year ago and loved the look of, and I knew it would be a great choice for postpartum wardrobe because the petals are flattering on a mommy tum….so I decided to hack the pattern to be slightly more nursing friendly. Remember this is my first cold weather baby so my usual Florida nursing wardrobe of tanks is not the best…so here goes.

 

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I didn’t take pictures of the process but I’ll do my best to explain anyway….

There’s only two small changes to cutting it out…one, for the front top bodice piece, you’ll need to cut it about an inch longer than the pattern piece. Also, you’ll need to cut a second front upper bodice for the nursing layer (this one does not need extra length).

 

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This is a picture from the Valencia nursing hack, but same idea

To construct it, I first layered the outer top bodice over the nursing layer, both right sides up, then but the back bodice right side down, lining up shoulder seams. I stitched the shoulder seams together, then flipped it right sides out. Next, I added elastic to the top of the outer top bodice. I measured below my bust line with a piece of 1/2″ elastic, stretching it to be snug (just around the front of me, from side seam to side seam). I serged this to the bottom of the top front bodice on the bottom so it was on the inside, then folded it under and topstitched it down.

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Next, the nursing layer. I used really lightweight french terry for this with poor recovery so I didn’t want to just cut holes because I worried they would sag….so I folded the bodice piece in half and cut curves from bottom through armscye, all the way through. img_9885.jpg

Risky move, I know. I serged clear elastic, barely stretching it, to all the cuts then basted it back together (very very slightly overlapping it).

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Next up, I basted the top of the front bodice pieces together and sides, making sure the elastic was just past the nursing layer so that it wouldn’t show the nursing layer when it was down. The rest of the construction I followed the pattern, except only attach the front lower bodice petals to the nursing layer only, leaving the upper top bodice free to pull up.

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Hope that helps! I’m here for questions if you have them.

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