Sewaholic Renfrew top - nursing hack

This is a top that I made when I was in labour. True story. 

OK, I started this project when I was in my maternity leave waiting for the baby to arrive, but was about half way through when my contractions started. Since they were quite slow to get going, and in the calm spirit of hypnobirthing, I got on with my day and went to my sewing machine to finish this off. Good job I did, too, as it took about 24 hours before I went into "active labour". Isn't it lovely that my wonderful hobby of sewing got to form part of my positive birth experience?

I used the Sewaholic Renfrew pattern as a base, and basically followed Zoe's amazing tutorial to turn it into a nursing top. 

I have used the Renfrew pattern before, and used it as a base to make a maternity dress, but never got round to blogging it. 

Fabric looking familiar? This is the leftover Art Gallery cotton jersey from my Moneta dress. It's just as soft and cosy as I remember. The busy print was helpful in hiding the nursing access. 

The back is unchanged, straight from the pattern. 

For a project completed during labour, this has turned out quite nicely, don't you think? One maternity dress and a nursing top later, I am keen to try out the Renfrew pattern as a "normal" top next. Perhaps that can be a project for when I stop breastfeeding in a few months' time. 

For now, I am enjoying the special journey of trying out nursing hacks, and (spoiler alert) making a few things for the baby!