Announcing Our 2005 Sewing Contest Winners

You can still enter our 2006 Sewing Contest. The deadline is November 1, 2006.
Contest Information

Congratulations to Summer Yule of Liverpool, New York, our first place winner for the 2005 sewing contest!

She wins a $100.00 fabric shopping spree!


She sewed up a darling top from NC#307 and a coordinating Baby Sling from NC#202! NC#307 is a great basic pattern for sewing nursing tops! It includes 6 different views and lots of variations. It is easy to sew, even for beginners!

Summer shares her story below:

In the first photo, I am wearing a top a made from NC 307 (option 5, with long overlay) and carrying my son in a sling I made from NC 202. I originally decided to try my hand at sewing a baby sling, because I knew I wanted a sling, but I did not like the colors and prints of most of the slings I was seeing for purchase. So I just loved being able to pick out exactly the fabric I wanted (I chose a shimmery blue star print) for my sling. I found the directions to be easy to follow, and I was able to finish my sling in a single evening. My son has since spent many hours being carried around in his sling, and we've found that it also makes a nice makeshift blanket on chilly car rides when it is unfolded (you can even use the shoulder cushion as a little pillow). Talk about versatility!


I also decided to try my hand at making a nursing top, and I loved the mock sweater set look of NC 307. I've seen similarly styled nursing tops sold in stores and they are quite pricey... however I made mine with fabric I bought on clearance for $2 per yard. The fabric is an extremely soft textured purple/white knit that has almost a chenille feel to it... perfect for cuddling with a baby! I have never worked with knit fabrics before, so I was a little nervous at first, but again, I found the pattern to be straightforward, and I was able to finish my shirt in a few short nights. I was extremely pleased that the fit was just right, and the nursing openings were large enough and placed well.

I have received many compliments on this top, and people are always shocked when I tell them that I made it myself; no one has a clue that it is a nursing top unless I tell them!

 


This photo shows the full length version of Mary’s dress. In the original design, Nursing Classics #302 was designed to be just opposite of this view with a more streamlined look. (See other photos of this dress).

Mary Harley won 2nd place in our 2005 sewing contest with this cute entry sewn from Nursing Classics #302!

This entry was fun to receive because Mary was very hestitant about sewing the dress and was worried she wouldn’t have time to sew it! Not only did she have time to sew, she developed an all new variation! Be sure to file this story in your pattern envelope because it is a GREAT variation! To make this variation Mary switched the roles of the underlay and the overlay! If you have this pattern and have sewn it before, you will immediately understand what she did. Instead of a basic dress, she ended up with a “Jacket” type look and it was very creative! Thank you Mary for your creativity!

Mary writes:

“Thanks for your encouragement in making this dress! I thought you might be interested in this variation: switch the roles of the overlay and underlay, and cut up the middle of the new overlay to make a cardigan-like style! I bought a pretty clasp to hold it together at the top. There was no need for nursing slits; it was very easy to nurse in this dress for my baby’s Baptism and for Easter.

This photo shows Mary with her Baby.

I have to credit my husband Matt with always encouraging me to try something new. He does a lot of woodworking and builds beautiful furniture that he designs himself. When he heard me describing the dress I wanted, he encouraged me to figure out how to make it. If I made the dress again I’d make the overlay a little wider so the finished “cardigan” would meet in the center. I’m looking forward to getting lots of use from Nursing Classics #302. I’ve never had such a versatile pattern. Thanks again - I love my dress!”

 

See Past Contest Winners

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