"Seamingly" Thrifty Sewing - Part 1

One of the things I didn't get at my baby shower - (gasp - can you believe there was something that I didn't get in all that stuff?!?) - was a nursing cover. Sooooo my sister advised me to make one and I quickly agreed. I have heaps of fabric remnants in my craft room - so all I would need was an old double ring belt.



Said sister and I ventured then over to the thrift store to donate some clothes and books (thereby clearing out a smidge more of our house) and came across a heap of fabulous belts at somewhere around a hefty $0.50 each. I knew the raspberry colored one would be perfect for some of the old fabric I had. We also came across the most awesomest (yes spellcheck, that's a word) orange fabric that used to be an IKEA duvet cover for a twin bed. The fabric cost $5, and I scored another bright orange belt to match; then I was off to the races with a HUGE smile on my face for my purchases.

For nursing cover 1 - aka the "winter" nursing cover, I used an old curtain panel that I had made a few years back which had a more heavy-duty fabric. I already had sewed up the sides and even had spent the time giving it a muslin backing. Finishing the cover would simply be a matter of cutting away the hook end and stitching up the new open end.

Then I took the belt, cut about 8" off of the ring side, and sewed it in between the front layer and the muslin. Way too simple, and hello, it cost maybe $0.50.

So onto my "pricey" summer version of the nursing panel. This one used that fabu ikea duvet and the orange belt. I just cut away a square corner of the material (so that two of the sides were still stitched together) and sewed in the belt. The fabric is cotton and stretchy, light, and airy - and I made it intentionally smaller so I wouldn't be sweating with a baby and all that fabric. I did need both sides though to make sure it really did act as a cover. Heck, you could even use a large pillow case or two to make these.

This one was a portion of the $5 panel and the $0.50 belt. Even if I threw away the rest of the unused material, that's a far cry from the $35 one that all the other moms will be sporting at the park. AND it's green since it's reused stuff. (Hooray!)

And here's me modeling it on my very pregnant belly.

But of course it would look better on someone else. Enter my very willing (and adorable) model:

Just don't tell his dad - he's afraid that life as a model will ruin his street cred.