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Ruffled Nursing Tank (or NOT!)

***If you would like to purchase this tank, please visit my Etsy Page.  I have revamped it with a whole new neckline, fit, and attitude!***


Are there any sexy, reasonably-priced nursing tops out there? If there are I've never seen them. That's why I came up with this little beauty:The best part? It's ridiculously easy. I made 3 of these bad boys during Sweet Caroline's nap today. I call that a win! (If you would like to purchase one please visit my ETSY SHOP!)


Materials:

A tank you don't mind cutting up. (When I looked through my dresser I found 5 white wife beaters. 5 of the exact same shirt. How did I do that?)
elastic
ruffle fabric (For ruffle fabric please go to rufflefabric.com, they have a HUGE selection and are lovely people.)


Step 1: Put on your tank and mark a line under your bust. Cut from one side seam to the other.


Step 2: Measure across the line you cut and subtract 4 inches. Cut 2 pieces of elastic that length. For example, my measurement was 16 inches, so I cut 2 pieces of elastic 12 inches long.


Step 3: Pin each end of the elastic to the edges of your cut (on the inside of the tank), then pin the middle of the elastic to the middle of the cut. Do this for the top and the bottom.


Step 4: Sew the elastic to the shirt, stretching as you go. It should look like this:


Step 5: Measure around the top of your bust (right under your arm pits) and cut a piece of ruffle fabric that width by your desired length. Sew it together into a tube.

Step 6: Pin the ruffled fabric tube around the top of the bust line on your tank. I recommend putting the seam on the side. Fold under as you go so it looks like this:


Step 7: Sew all the way around with a small zig zag stitch.

If you don't need a nursing top just omit steps 1-4. You can also cut the bottom of your tank off if it's too bulky. The possibilities are endless!

I am super in love with this project! I hope you like it!
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40 comments:

  1. How cute!!! I wish I would've had some of those when I was nursing. Bravo!

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  2. I LOVE this. I'm a nursing mom right now and could use a fun tank like this for summer. Stopping by your Etsy shop! :)

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  3. a nursing top that's actually cute?!! LOVE it!

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  4. I love this! Where do you get your ruffle material?

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  5. Bobbie, the ruffle material comes from rufflefabric.com. I have added a link to the post. They are a GREAT company and so sweet to deal with. I highly recommend shopping there.

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  7. This is G.E.N.I.U.S! I'm bookmarking this post for future reference and might have to whip up a few for soon-to-be mommies in my life! Great tutorial! So glad I found it!

    Warmly,
    Stephanie from stephanie hillberry [dot] com

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  9. are you serious? these are beautiful I am so making one for my next baby I actually just stopped nursing this week my babe is one now. Thank you so much for sharing

    A mommy's life...with a touch of YELLOW
    tyandwhitneyulrich.blogspot.com

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  10. That is way too cute to be a nursing top! Wow! I highlighted this tonight at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com.

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  11. WOW! what a great idea. I need to find some ruffle fabric and make some. You are right, there are no cute nursing tanks anywhere for a decent price at least.

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  12. so cute! great idea and thanks for sharing it!

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  14. I am soooo impressed! I just found your blog and I can't wait to look at everything else!

    Steph

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  15. I'm new to following your blog and really love this tutorial. That top is the cutest:D I'm not nursing but I am currently giving my wardrobe a makeover and would love to give this tutorial a try (minus the nursing feature of course :))really soon. I will surely link back to you when I do. If you have time please stop by and give me a shout:
    http://slipstitchesandmore.blogspot.com

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  16. I am your newest follower........Love your tutorials. My granddaughter is expecting my first great grandchild and I am definitly making some of these for her..........sooooooo cute!!!

    Thanks loads for sharing, Joyce

    http://studiocarolina.blogspot.com/

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  17. I tried making this and am a little confused on how to fit the tube to the tank top. I have a few inches left when I pin it around the top, do you just tuck the extra on the side seam? I hope I explained it clear.
    Thanks, love your blog. Sorry to hear about your mom. My mom passed away in March. Grief is hard and confusing, I have 3 little girls that keep me pretty distracted.
    Cara

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  18. I totally pinned this. I cut some nursing slashes in a handful of tanks & camis to wear under my regular tops. It works well, but I like how this one doesn't need to have a separate layer.

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  19. I plan on making this, but I wanted to know if you could show a picture of the back or let me know how far up/down along the back you pinned it. How much of the tank is exposed? I love this idea!

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    Replies

    1. Hi there! I sewed the sides of the ruffle fabric right under the arm holes, and followed that line around the back. Does that make sense? So I guess if you were to draw a line around the back from the bottom of one arm hole to the other that is where to sew it. Does that make sense?

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  20. are you still making these for sale? i couldn't find any on etsy.

    Thanks

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    1. I am not selling on Etsy at this time. Hopefully I will start back up in the next couple of months. Thanks for your interest!

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    2. okay i'll keep checking...#4 (a girl after 3 boys!) is due in July/Aug

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    3. I will be selling on Etsy again starting next week! Hope to see you there :-)

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  21. Do you just lift up all the ruffled fabric above your chest while you nurse or is there another way in for the babe? I don't get it. It's super cute and I really want to try it, but not sure how it works exactly....

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  22. How does the baby get in? Do you lift up ALL the ruffled material above the chest? Or is there another point of entry? I don't quite get how it works. The top is darling and I'd love to make it....just trying to figure out logistics.

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    Replies

    1. Hi Marci! Yes, you lift up the ruffle material, like the second photo shows.

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  23. Nice tank top with fine fabric material!! In summer months it really sounds good to wear tank tops with good quality fabric material.

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  24. You are freaking beyond brilliant! I've been pregnant and/or nursing for about 5 years straight, and this is the cutest nursing top I've ever seen!

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  25. I am an instant fan! I love this top! Keep your nursing tops coming. We need more fashionable nursing shirts like this. Could I get a picture of the back. I am a very very new sewer and what may seem obvious to novice sewers is not instinctual for me.

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    1. Hi, I will take a photo today, and update the tutorial!

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  26. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! This is exactly what I need! I'm due with baby #2 in about 6 weeks and something cute and functional is what I need! You are AWESOME!!

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  27. Seriously!?! Amazing!!! Too bad I'm done nursing!!!

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    Replies

    1. Well just chop the bottom off and you can have a regular tank :-)

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  28. I totally like this, i'm breastfeading my boy so i could use this tutorial.

    come see what i make http://sanja-tosamja.blogspot.com/

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  29. Super excited to make this top! I just bought a bunch of ruffle fabric on sale and didnt know what to do with it! I'm making several of these!

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  32. SO cute!! I am definitely going to try to make one of these...although I may cut up a t-shirt instead of a tank (I'm due at the end of Jan, so it's definitely NOT going to be tank top weather yet! But this would be cute with a sweater over...)

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