I decided I needed a nursing friendly house dress at around 7 months pregnant. I still had plenty of my favorite knit fabric left over from the LA fabric district and black 12″ invisible zippers, so I got right to it! This is the Santa Fe Top by Hey June lengthened to be a dress (no maternity adjustments). I love this pattern SO much, so it was an easy choice. Plus, I have plenty of room to wear it up until I’m due!
I used my trusty Wonder Tape to insert the zippers on the knit fabric. The top of the zipper starts about 1-2″ down the underarm seam. The pattern has plenty of ease at the bust, plus since it’s a knit fabric, it will be easy for me to pull the fabric to the front when I’m nursing. I’m doing the same thing with two other woven dresses right now, but I ordered 14″ zippers just in case. Most invisible zippers are about 3/8″ wide, so if your SA is 3/8″ then it’s super easy to line the zipper tape up with the edge of the fabric. Invisible zippers in the side seams are definitely my favorite nursing friendly hack, and after I’m finished nursing I’ll still be able to wear these easily without an extra layer of fabric underneath bothering me (like most nursing clothes tend to have).
Now that I have had Vanessa, I can attest that the dress is great and the nursing zippers work well!
Happy nursing dress sewing!
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