Nursing Dresses

ND-KD-1: Katrina~ Pure, Unspotted

ND-CD-2: Celeste~ Heavenly

ND-SD-3: Susanna~ a Rose

Front View

Front View

Front View

Although this dress is very easy to nurse in, it is not recommended for short or extra large sizes.  This dress is a more of a blouse style with a gathered elastic waist and a full skirt.  The shoulder seams are dropped forward and the front shoulders are gathered into the back shoulder seam.  The sleeves are puffy with either an elastic edge or a pleated one.  The neckline can have a peter pan collar or be plain with ribbon stitched around it.  Lace can be added the collar, the plain neckline, the elastic sleeve end, or the pleated sleeve end.  Nursing openings are from the armhole seam to the waist seam with two slits in the under layer for convenience.  The dress opens in the back with a 22" zipper.   [4 yards needed for ladies sizes 8-14]

With a half vest on the front of this one it has a more tailored look.  It buttons down the front on both the bodice and the vest.  A puffy short sleeve with pleated end or a straighter long sleeve with a button cuff is only two of the sleeve options.  The long sleeve can be made fuller and the short sleeve made straight or less puffy.  The skirt can be made either A-line (a more slimming effect), or full.  A stand-up collar with rounded front or a peter pan collar can be added.  Ribbon or lace can be added to either collar, or just stitched to the plain neckline, vest and sleeve ends.  The vest is attached into the shoulder seams and armhole seams, but is snapped to the under arm seam making nursing easy and modest.  Elastic is put in the back waist seam to pull in the extra room need for nursing mothers without eliminating it.  [4 1/2 yards needed for self lined vest or 4 yards for contrast lined vest in sizes 8-14]

A fun and pretty dress with a classic look for nursing mothers this dress has a similar nursing style to the Katrina Dress.  The under bodice is made with princess seams (a curved seam from the armhole to the waist to make it fit better), but the center bodice has a horizontal opening for easy nursing.  The dress is made of one color with a white or contrasting sailor collar.  Puffy sleeves with pleated ends make for a cooler dress, or a classic straight sleeve can be a warmer option.  The skirt can be made full or A-line and is pleated instead of gathered to the waistline.  Ribbon can outline the Sailor collar and be added to the sleeve ends and hemline.  It opens in the back with a 22" zipper.  [3 ¾ yards for dresses size 8-14, and 1/2 yard for sailor collar.]

ND-KD-1

Cost $24

Fabric Needed: 4 ½ YARDS

ND-CD-2

Cost $28

Fabric Needed: 4 ½ YARDS

ND-SD-3

Cost $26

Fabric Needed: 4 YARDS and 1 YARD CONTRAST

ND-AD-4: Adelaide~ Of Noble Birth

ND-AD-5: Anna~ Graceful One

ND-HD-6: Hanna~ Grace

Front View

Front View

Front View

This dress has a squared neckline and a smocked yoke to add a pretty touch.  The waist is elastic with the side nursing openings starting at the yoke and ending in the waist.  Two zipper openings underneath ensure that the nursing openings do not gape.  A puffy sleeve can make for a cool summer option, or the straight long sleeve gives a more tailored look.  The back opens with a 22" zipper. The skirt is full, but can be made A-line for a slimmer look.  Ribbon can be added at the neckline, sleeve ends, and the hemline.    [5 yards needed for self lined bodice or 4 1/2 for contrast lined bodice in sizes 8-14.]

Called a "Garibaldi" in the 1860's this dress is very matronly and motherly (one of my favorites).  This dress opens in the front with buttons and has a placket into the skirt for easy dressing, but the nursing openings are underneath the front "cape" or added layer that starts at the lowered shoulder seam and ends in the waist.  The front and back bodice is gathered into a waistband, but under the arm is "smooth".  The sleeves are very gathered both at the top and into the pointed cuff that can be overlaid with lace (the cuff points into the sleeve).  The flat rounded collar has a large button at the center front to make it meet.  Smaller buttons, usually numbering 8, are used for the rest of it.  The skirt can be very full (Caution for those who are not used to such things!), or regular like the previous dresses.  Two ruffles or two ribbons are stitched in rows near the hemline.  I have changed a few things from the original design to make it a more sensible and convenient dress to wear, but it could be worn as period dress to a Civil War Reenactment.  [5 1/2 yards for extra full skirt or 4 1/2 yards for regular gathered skirt in sizes 8-14]

This is a very comfortable dress and yet it is still very pretty.  The bodice is gathered to either a peter pan collar, or a stand up collar at the center front.  A half vest is attached into the shoulder seams and secured under the arm with snaps.  Two placket-like opening for nursing are hidden beneath the vest.  The back opens with a zipper into the waist.  The sleeves can be either short and gathered or long and gathered with a cuff at the end of both, or with an elastic end and ruffle.  The skirt can be full, or A-line.  Lace or ribbon can be added to the collars and cuffs.  [4 1/2 yards needed for sizes 8-14.]

ND-AD-4

Cost $30

Fabric Needed: 5 YARDS

ND-AD-5

Cost $30

Fabric Needed: 5 ¼ YARDS or 6 YARDS FOR WIDE SKIRT

ND-HD-6

Cost $26

Fabric Needed: 4 ¾ YARDS

ND-AD-7: Andrea~ Strong, Courageous

Front View

With a very similar style to the Hanna dress, this one has fewer options.  The bodice is gathered into a standup rounded collar and has a mock vest concealing two placket like nursing openings.  Piping edges the collar and cuffs on the gathered short or long sleeves.  The skirt is a-line and the dress opens in the back with a 22” zipper. 

ND-AD-7

Cost $26

Fabric Needed: 4 ¾ YARDS