How to make a nursing cover

1. Materials & tools

Materials (standard size)

• Main fabric (double gauze, light cotton or linen) — about 110 cm wide × 80 cm (44 × 31 in)
• Craft wire or shape-retaining tape — about 40 cm (16 in)
• Strap slider — 1
• Thread to match

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Baby” → “Nursing cover” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the finished width, length, gather allowance at the top and neck strap length. Presets cover compact, standard and generous.
3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Trace the pattern
   Trace the body, the neck strap and the wire casing. The body is a rectangle, so you can mark it straight onto the fabric.
2. Cut
   Cut one body, one strap and one wire casing. The body width already includes the gathering allowance.
3. Finish the edges
   Not needed — everything is double-folded. Pre-wash gauze before cutting.

4. Sewing

4-1. Hem three sides

1. Turn both sides and the lower edge under twice and stitch. Leave the top edge alone.
2. Doing these first is the trick — once the top is gathered, the fabric bunches and these hems become fiddly.

4-2. Attach the wire casing

1. Fold the long edges of the casing strip under and press.
2. Stitch it to the wrong side of the top edge, centered, with two rows of stitching. Leave both ends open.
3. Do not insert the wire yet — that comes after gathering.

4-3. Gather the top edge

1. Run two rows of long stitches along the top edge, at 5 mm and 10 mm from the raw edge.
2. Pull both bobbin threads gently until the edge matches the finished width. Using two rows keeps the gathers even and stops the fabric twisting.
3. Concentrate the gathers in the middle and keep the ends looser — that is what makes the front stand away from you.
4. Turn the top edge under twice, over the gathers, and stitch.

4-4. Make and attach the strap

1. Fold the strap in quarters lengthwise and topstitch both edges.
2. Thread the slider on, then stitch the strap ends to the top corners.
3. Sew them with a stitched rectangle and a cross — the whole weight of the cover hangs from these two points.

4-5. Insert the wire

1. Thread the wire through the casing.
2. The cut ends will work through the fabric as it is used. Bend each end into a loop or seal it with fabric glue first.
3. Close both ends of the casing with a few stitches, or add snaps so you can remove the wire before washing.

✏️ Finishing the wire ends is not optional — an unfinished craft-wire end will eventually push through the fabric and touch you. Loop or seal both ends before threading. It is the only step here with any consequence.

5. Tips & variations

• The wire is the point: without it the fabric falls flat against you and you cannot see the baby. That one piece changes the whole thing.
• Pre-wash gauze: double gauze shrinks about 10%.
• Afterwards: remove the strap and it becomes a scarf or a lap blanket.